Fake meat, chips, veg — rinse and repeat. Tired of eating the same old vegan food every day? Start looking forward to your next meal with these tips.
1. Go for Diverse Cooking Methods
Use different cooking methods such as grilling, roasting, sous vide, steaming, stir-frying and slow cooking to add variety to your meals.
Experiment with raw food recipes to enjoy the natural flavours and textures of fresh produce.
Invest in kitchen gadgets like a high-speed blender, food processor, spiraliser and air fryer to create diverse and exciting meals.
2. Create Theme Nights
Designate specific nights of the week for different culinary themes. For example, “Stir-Fry Wednesday,” “Noodle Monday” or “Grill Saturday”, etc.
This approach ensures variety and gives you a fun, structured way to explore different cuisines and cooking styles.
3. Try Food Pairing and Plating
Learn about food pairing to combine ingredients that complement each other in flavour and nutrition.
Experiment with different pairings like sweet and savoury or spicy and mild to create balanced and exciting meals.
Enhance your meals’ visual appeal by focusing on plating techniques. Use vibrant, colourful ingredients to create beautiful and appetising dishes.
Follow plating tips from professional chefs to elevate your home-cooked meals.
4. Experiment with Creative Meal Prep
Try batch cooking. Prepare large batches of staple foods like grains, beans and roasted vegetables to mix and match throughout the week. Store prepped ingredients in airtight containers for quick and easy meal assembly.
Get creative with mason jar salads. Create layered salads in mason jars with different vegetables, grains and legumes. Store dressings separately to keep salads fresh. Try different combinations of ingredients and dressings to keep your salads interesting.
5. Opt for Seasonal and Local Produce
Eat seasonally to enjoy the freshest and most flavourful produce. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are often more nutritious and cost-effective. Visit local farmers’ markets to discover seasonal produce and support local agriculture.
Consider subscribing to a local community box to receive a regular supply of fresh, local and seasonal produce.
6. Invest in Cookbooks and Follow Blogs
Invest in a variety of vegan cookbooks, explore vegan food blogs or follow vegan food social media creators to find new recipes and cooking techniques.
You’ll be surprised at the world of exciting vegan recipes you’ll find!
7. Rotate Your Protein Sources
Don’t stick to one protein source. Incorporate a range of legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, black beans and kidney beans into your meals.
You can also try different types of tofu, tempeh and edamame for variety and added protein. Nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, chia seeds and hemp seeds not only provide protein. They also offer healthy fats.
8. Use Whole Grain Flours for Baking
Incorporate whole grain flours such as spelt, oat and buckwheat into your baking. Make homemade bread, muffins and pancakes using these nutritious flours and serve them with your meals.
9. Make Healthy Snacks and Treats at Home
Make your own healthy and delicious snacks such as energy balls, granola bars and roasted chickpeas. Keep a variety of fruits, nuts and seeds on hand for quick and nutritious snacking.
Experiment with vegan baking to create delicious desserts like cookies, cakes and brownies using plant-based ingredients. Use natural sweeteners like dates, maple syrup and coconut sugar to keep desserts healthy.
10. Incorporate Fermented Foods
Incorporate probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, miso and tempeh into your diet for added flavour and gut health benefits. Try making your own fermented foods at home to customise flavours and ingredients.
Explore plant-based yoghurts and probiotic drinks like kombucha and kefir for a variety of probiotic sources. Add fresh fruit and granola to plant-based yoghurts for a nutritious and satisfying snack.
11. Replicate Traditional Dishes with Plant-Based Alternatives
Try plant-based meat substitutes like veggie burgers, sausages and plant-based ground “meat” to replicate traditional dishes. Experiment with homemade versions using ingredients like lentils, beans, mushrooms and nuts.
Use plant-based milk (almond, soy, oat or coconut) and cheeses in your recipes. You can even make them from scratch for a personalised touch.
12. Experiment with Exotic Fruits and Vegetables
Look for less common fruits and vegetables like dragon fruit, jackfruit, persimmons and purple sweet potatoes.
These ingredients can add unique flavours, textures and colours to your meals, making them more appealing and exciting.
13. Grow Your Food
Is there anything cuter than a little garden, abloom with tiny little flowers, fruits and veggies?
Eating the food you grow with your hands can be an exciting and fulfilling experience. Plus, it ensures you have access to fresh and organic food without digging deep into your pockets.
Start a small garden to grow your herbs, vegetables and fruits. Even if you have limited space, you can use pots, window boxes or vertical gardens.
14. Attend Cooking Workshops and Classes
Join a few vegan cooking workshops and classes to learn new techniques and recipes. Look for online courses or local classes that focus on plant-based cooking.
Cooking workshops are a great way to meet other vegans and exchange ideas and recipes. Building a community can provide ongoing inspiration and support.
15. Explore Culinary Diversity
Try dishes from different cultures, such as Indian, Thai, Ethiopian and Mexican cuisines, which often have rich, plant-based traditions. Use spices and herbs to create unique flavours. Experiment with ingredients like turmeric, cumin, coriander, basil and rosemary.
16. Make Use of Vegan Meal Delivery Services
Sign up for vegan meal delivery services that provide pre-made meals or meal kits. These services can introduce you to new ingredients and recipes.
Use meal kits to learn new cooking techniques and try dishes you might not have attempted on your own. Rotate between different meal delivery services to experience a wide range of culinary styles and ingredients.
17. Get Inspiration from a Professional
When in doubt, seek help. You can even consult a registered vegan dietician for more inspiration.
Conclusion
Eating should contain equal parts nutrition and enjoyment. You can maintain a lifestyle you don’t enjoy but luckily you don’t have to with these tips. Now, get cooking!
Really liked the tip about rotating protein sources, been trying to get more variety in my diet. Anyone got creative recipes?
intrigued by using whole grain flours for baking. Could you suggest where to begin or any particular recipes that work well with them?
Ellie_Bakes, you might want to start with something simple like whole grain pancakes or muffins. They’re quite forgiving for first timers!
The section on growing your own food was spot on. Nothing beats the taste of homegrown veggies. Started my own kitchen garden last spring.
Theme nights are a cool idea but don’t you think it might get a bit gimmicky after a while? How do you keep it interesting?
Love the push for seasonal and local produce. Makes such a difference in flavour and it’s way better for the planet too!
Incorporating fermented foods is a game-changer, trust me. Been doing it for months & my gut health is so much better.
Experimenting with exotic fruits and vegetables can be a lot of fun. You’d be surprised at the flavours you’ve been missing out on!
Make healthy snacks and treats at home? So, you’re saying my homemade cookies aren’t healthy? Guess it’s back to the drawing board.
Your section on vegan meal delivery services is interesting. It’s a helpful option for those transition phases into veganism.
Attending cooking workshops and classes has not only improved my skills but also expanded my social circle. Highly recommend it!