3 Tips to Save you Time(and money!) when cooking plant-based or vegan

A lot of people who are shifting towards plant-based or vegan eating are worried about how much time it will take.

When I talk to people and clients about changing to plant-based or vegan eating, they are almost always worried about time.

They think they will spend much more time in the kitchen and no one has extra time these days!  I get that.

But whether you are a meat eater, vegetarian or vegan, nourishing meals don't just happen, they take planning and preparation. 

Here are 3 tips to save you time (and money!) when cooking plant-based or vegan

1. Meal Plan.   Meal planning is one of the best ways to save time (as well as saving money and reducing your stress).   No more scrambling and stressing at 5 pm, trying to figure out what you are going to serve for dinner. 

You will feel confident because you know what you are serving and you are sure that you have all the ingredients on hand.   Like forming any habit, meal planning may take a little while to become consistent, but once you do, you will be happy that you stuck with it.

2. Convenience foods.  Yes, that's right, this dietitian is recommending convenience foods.  I'm not referring to frozen dinners but to nourishing convenience foods. Using frozen vegetables will save you time when compared to chopping up fresh vegetables.  

There is very little nutrient loss when vegetables and fruits are frozen so you will still be getting the nutritional benefits of vegetables and fruits. Avoid frozen fruits and vegetables with added sugar, sauces, and salt though. 

Plant-Based Cooking Tip

Canned beans and lentils are a quick way to add protein to your meals.  Rinse well with water to remove some of the added salt.

Plant-Based Cooking Tip

3. Cook once, eat twice.  Ok, so do I mean leftovers? Well, sort of.  For example, on Monday you make a stir fry.  Prepare extra vegetables to use on Tuesday for soup or chili or to pack in your lunch.  It's that simple!

These are a few of the many kitchen hacks that will save time in the kitchen so that you can spend more time enjoying the meal with your family.

Learn more about meal planning in my article “The Benefits of Meal Planning”