There's nothing worse than being unprepared at meal times. That's why we do what we do. Check out these six vegetarian meal prep ideas and you'll be ready to roll when hunger strikes!
We know we're sort of beating the drum here repeatedly on the same thing, but we'll say it again. Planning ahead is never a bad thing, especially when it comes to mealtime. So often, it's 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon and I'm anxiously looking through IG or Pinterest to figure out what's for dinner. When you don't have the answer to that question within a couple of hours of dinner time, you know you're in trouble! Sadly, we all know that such indecision doesn't end well. Instead, it often leads to takeout or other choices that you might not be thrilled about later on.
5 benefits to a plant-based diet
Wondering if this vegetarian meal prep is a move you ought to make? Curious about all this plant-based talk? Here are some benefits. But keep in mind your doctor or nutritionist may have other ideas about why you might want to start eating more plants, too.
- Helps reduce the risk of heart disease
- Decreases the risk of diabetes
- Lowers cholesterol
- Easier to maintain weight
- Lower mortality rate
Source: Medical News Today
How Long Will These Vegetarian Meal Preps Last?
We like to meal prep on Sundays. It just feels right. Go ahead and do all of these in one day if you like and you'll be set for the week. Keep 'em sealed in a prep container in the fridge and your Thursday self will thank your Sunday afternoon self for being so smart. Furthermore, you might just get the bug to do this on the regular.
Here are 6 Vegetarian Meal Prep Ideas
Whether you primarily identify as a vegetarian, or you're simply trying to reduce the amount of meat in your diet, we've got you covered. These vegetarian meal prep ideas go well beyond your typical Meatless Monday endeavor; you're set for six days of the week. These Meal Prep Ideas will inspire your next meal prep sesh.
And of course, if you love any of these so much or need to prep for more than one person, double or triple (and so forth) these amounts.
Keep in mind, these are ideas and not recipes per se. We've listed the amounts below you'll need from our friend at Marek Fitness, but your needs may vary. Feel free to use your favorite sources for some of these items, whether it's plant-based meatballs, barbecue sauce, or hummus, for example. You might make slightly different choices, but the end result will still be good.
Recipes from Marek Fitness on Instagram
1. Meatless meatballs and spaghetti squash
Just because you're eating plants doesn't mean you have to ditch meatballs. We love meatballs, and know they can be hard to give up when you're eating a vegetarian diet. However, some good plant-based ones are out there. This dish is gluten-free, too, thanks to the use of spaghetti squash. But feel free to use regular pasta if you're not gluten-free.
- ¾ cup steamed broccoli
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup + spaghetti squash
- 4 meatless meatballs (Trader Joe's)
- 3 tablespoon organic marinara sauce
2. Tofu with perfectly grilled vegetables
Tofu is the ultimate blank slate for a meal-prepping vegetarian. Coat this in almond flour, bake it for a bit, and then drizzle the barbecue sauce of your choice on top for flavor. Carrots and broccoli? Those, too, are always great with tofu.
- 5 oz extra firm tofu coated in almond meal, topped with 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
- 1 ¼ cups steamed broccoli
- 1 ¼ cups sweet and spicy roasted carrot fries
3. Antioxidant-rich salad with hummus
Black beans, hummus, and hard-boiled eggs? Man, with all that protein, it's not likely you'll be hungry. All those veggies add crunch and flavor, too.
- 2 cups spinach
- ½ Roma tomato, quartered
- 1 mini cucumber, sliced into rounds
- 3 mini peppers
- ½ bell pepper, sliced
- 1 hard-boiled egg
- 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
- Mini package of original hummus
- ½ cup black beans
4. Spanish rice and veggies
You know, it's so easy to eat a rainbow with this meal prep. If you can't find mini-peppers, feel free to swap out different colored bell peppers. Just slice them thinly so they fit. Black beans in the rice mix add protein. Edamame is awesome if you can find it fresh. In case you're wondering, though, it's available frozen.
- 1 cup mini colored peppers, sliced thinly
- ¾ cup edamame
- 1 cup Spanish rice, with 3 oz of Bird's Eye Southwest Style Protein blend
5. Raw Salad with Corn
It's like your favorite burrito, but in salad form. And minus the rice. Ok, so maybe it's not a burrito! Whatever! It's definitely inspired by one. Regardless, we love this one for all its protein and flavor. Gives you a good reason to prep some eggs for the week!
6. Veggie burger + salad with fresh berries
You'll never miss the meat here. Or the bread, for that matter. Add some berries to your salad and you'll forget that fries often go with burgers.
Share this on your weekly meal prep inspiration board:
We are so stoked to share these really easy vegetarian meals with you. Are you ready to make something new and delicious—and up your veggie intake in the process? We've got your back!
