It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (2024)

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (1)

There are so many reasons to go for a more plant-based diet. Not only is it better for your health (and great for your waistline) but it's also smart for the planet, good for our animal friends, and it can be easier on your wallet, to boot.

But first: What exactly is a plant-based diet? Though it's similar to vegan and vegetarian diets (we've got lots of vegan dinner recipes and vegetarian recipes for you too!), there are a few key differences. A plant-based diet changes the focus from what you're not eating to what you are, which is mostly plants! That means that while meat and dairy aren't necessarily entirely off limits, they're generally eaten only very rarely, and mostly only as a garnish, if at all. Also, plant-based eaters tend to focus on whole, fresh foods, eschewing a lot of the highly processed fake meats and/or cheeses that many vegetarians and vegans enjoy. Ultimately this means eating a lot of fresh, colorful foods, and having dishes that are packed with interesting flavors, as opposed to packaged foods with long lists of ingredients.

Whether you're doing a plant-based trial period or have adopted this lifestyle full time, it's likely that you're in the market for some fresh recipes for simple meals. Luckily, we've got you covered! Here are a few dozen of our favorite plant-based meals. All are meatless, and most are dairy-free, or the dairy can be easily left out. But what they do have is a ton of flavor, and a wide variety of fresh ingredients. And the best part is that most of them are easy enough to whip up on a weeknight without too much trouble.

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1

Shaved Asparagus Salad with Raisins

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (3)

Looking for a side salad base that's a little heartier than lettuce? This shaved asparagus needs no cooking, tastes incredibly fresh, and is very filling!

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SHOP VEGETABLE SHAVERS

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2

Carrot and Black Bean Crispy Tacos

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (5)

Spiced, roasted carrots form the backbone of this surprisingly robust taco.

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3

Cauliflower Mac 'n' Cheese

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (7)

This cold-night staple serves up ample creamy gooeyness, while a stealthy vegetable (puréed cauliflower!) boosts vitamins and fiber.

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SHOP BAKING DISHES

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4

Vegetarian Chili with Grains and Beans

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (9)

This recipe is ideal for those just starting to go plant-based. It's so hearty, you may not even notice the lack of meat.

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SHOP SLOW COOKERS

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5

Bulgur and Cashew Stuffed Eggplant

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (11)

There's no meat or dairy, but plenty of sweet and spicy flavors in this heart-healthy meal.

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6

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (13)

Apples, hazelnuts, and Pecorino cheese elevate this salad to a whole new level. Or, skip the cheese and make it fully vegan.

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7

Farro-and-Acorn Squash Salad

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (15)

This hearty grain and winter squash dish is delicious warm, but tastes arguably even better after it's had a day for the flavors to marinate. If you're dairy-free skip the blue cheese and add a little nutritional yeast instead.

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8

White Bean and Peppadew Salad

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (17)

Get a zesty kick from the pickled Peppadew peppers in this delicious white bean salad.

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9

Vegan Gluten-Free Noodle Bowl

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (19)

This combo of rapini and soba noodles from Sarah Yates of A House in the Hills has it all: It's simple, spicy, packed with flavor, and hearty enough to keep you going.

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10

Steamed Wild Rice with Toasted Hazelnut Butter

This protein-rich combo of nuts and wild grains makes a good side dish or a hearty main all on its own. Pair with a salad for a full meal. One note: Vegan substitutes won't "brown" the way butter does, so you can skip that step, but the toasted hazelnuts will impart plenty of rich, nutty flavor.

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11

Grilled Summer Squash With Lemon-Scallion Dressing

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (23)

The jalapeño gives just the right amount of spice to this refreshing grilled squash side dish.

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12

Chopped Salad

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (25)

Packed with crunchy greens and hearty chickpeas, this salad can be a meal all on its own

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13

Roasted Butternut Squash With Cider Vinaigrette

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (27)

Whole grain mustard and red onion give this dish some serious flavor, while apple cider sweetens it up just enough. It's a must-have in any healthy recipe arsenal.

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14

Wild Rice-and-Cider-Cranberry Pilaf

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (29)

Cranberries, apple cider, and cinnamon, oh my! This just-sweet-enough dish tastes like autumn in a bowl, and it'll keep you full too.

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SHOP SERVING SPOONS

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15

Marinated Mushroom-and-Charred Broccolini Salad

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (31)

Got a family of meat-lovers? A mushroom-based dish is the best way to convert them to vegetable-centric meals.

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SHOP CHARCOAL GRILLS

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16

Pearl Couscous With Leeks and Peas

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (33)

The genius of this dish is that it can be served warm or at room temperature.

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17

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Barley and Arugula

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (35)

Dress a simple arugula salad with fresh and tasty ingredients like barley, sweet potatoes, and feta for a light weeknight dinner.

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18

Lentil Stew with Butternut Squash

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (37)

Rich in vitamins A and C, butternut squash adds a subtle sweetness to this hearty, slow-cooker lentil stew.

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SHOP SLOW COOKERS

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19

Savory Pumpkin Soup with Spice Shake

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (39)

This puréed soup is quite delicious as-is, but don't sleep on the spice shake! It's good enough you may find yourself putting it on other things.

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SHOP SHAKERS

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20

Sweet Pea and Avocado Soup

It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (41)

This chilled soup is made extra easy by relying on a bag of frozen peas.

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It's Easy to Eat Your Veggies With These Plant-Based Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is it called when you only eat plant-based food? ›

Vegan: This is a diet that consists of plant-based foods only and excludes meat, dairy, eggs, and often honey.

What foods do you eat on a plant-based diet? ›

Plant-based or plant-forward eating patterns focus on foods primarily from plants. This includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes, and beans. It doesn't mean that you are vegetarian or vegan and never eat meat or dairy.

What is the downside of a plant-based diet? ›

Some negatives of a plant-based diet include giving up foods you enjoy, finding restaurant meals, finding affordable plant-based foods, and getting enough protein.

What vegetables are easy to eat? ›

15 Vegetables for Kids and Picky Eaters
  • Sweet Bell Peppers.
  • Sweet Potatoes & Squash.
  • Grape Tomatoes.
  • Sweet Corn.
  • Spinach.
  • Peas.
  • Jicama.
  • Carrots.
Apr 17, 2018

What happens to your body when you only eat plant-based food? ›

Plants are high in fiber.

Eating a plant-based diet improves the health of your gut so you are better able to absorb the nutrients from food that support your immune system and reduce inflammation. Fiber can lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar and it's great for good bowel management.

Can I eat eggs on a plant-based diet? ›

Eggs can and should be part of a plant-based diet, and these five suggestions showcase how easy it is to incorporate the incredible egg into your plant-forward dishes.

Can I eat pizza on a plant-based diet? ›

You may think that because cheese is not vegan, those who don't eat meat or animal products cannot enjoy a good pizza. But, this simply isn't true! There are many vegan options at restaurants these days, including pizzerias.

Can you eat potatoes on a plant-based diet? ›

Potatoes are loaded with Vitamin C, most B vitamins, potassium, fiber, and more. Potatoes absolutely can be part of a healthy plant-based diet! We love to enjoy potatoes in plenty of plant-based recipes from pizza to lasagna to soups, and more!

Can you eat bananas on a plant-based diet? ›

Let's start, then, with a vegan diet grocery list that can be the baseline for all vegetarian diet foods list: Fruits: apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, bananas, etc. Choose in-season fruits, and opt for frozen fruit for smoothies.

What are unhealthy plant-based foods? ›

Using the NOVA classification system, which categorizes food products according to the extent of industrial processes they undergo, “junk” foods can include many plant-based products, such as: commercially-produced breads, pastries, cakes, and cookies. carbonated beverages. pre-packaged snacks.

Can you eat pasta on a plant-based diet? ›

Unfortunately, not all pasta is vegan. We've found pastas of all varieties, from spaghetti to lasagna noodles, with eggs in the ingredient lists. But don't worry—there are widely available vegan pastas that don't involve eggs or dairy and don't skimp on the texture you've come to love.

What is the number 3 healthiest vegetable? ›

What Are the Healthiest Vegetables?
  • Spinach.
  • Carrots.
  • Sweet Potatoes.
  • Broccoli.
  • Kale.
  • Green Peas.
  • Tomatoes.
  • Brussels Sprouts.
Jan 23, 2024

What is the absolute best vegetable to eat? ›

Here are 14 of the most nutrient-dense veggies available.
  1. Spinach. This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. ...
  2. Carrots. Carrots are packed with vitamin A, delivering 119% of the DV in just 1 cup (128 g) . ...
  3. Broccoli. ...
  4. Garlic. ...
  5. Brussels sprouts. ...
  6. Kale. ...
  7. Green peas. ...
  8. Swiss chard.

What is someone who only eats plant foods called? ›

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who practices veganism is known as a vegan.

What is the term for individuals who eat only plant foods? ›

A vegan diet includes only plant foods—fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds. People who follow a vegan diet don't eat any animal foods, including dairy, eggs, and honey.

What do you call someone that only eats plants? ›

A vegetarian is someone who follows a vegetarian diet—they don't eat meat of any kind (beef, chicken, fish—no animal flesh at all). The word vegan typically refers to someone who doesn't eat or use any products from animals—vegans don't eat meat or dairy, and they often don't eat other animal-derived foods like honey.

What is a flexitarian? ›

Added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2014, flexitarian is a portmanteau of “flexible” and “vegetarian,” referring to an individual who follows a primarily but not strictly vegetarian diet, occasionally eating meat or fish (1).

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