On a health-conscious, plant-forward diet, choices for delicious food are plentiful. At Vegan Taste, we make life easier by providing you with heat-and-eat lunches and dinners to keep you plant powered every day. But sometimes our customers ask us: “What else can I eat?” After all, there’s breakfast, lunch, and maybe snacks to have as well. What are some healthy easy-to-make and store-bought options you can use to supplement your vegan lifestyle?
Breakfast
Breakfast is either the most important meal of the day or often skipped. If you have time to make something and eat a leisurely breakfast, there are numerous choices to get your day started right. If, however, you’re on the go in the mornings, there are still quite a few options to fuel your day quickly. When customers ask what they can eat for breakfast, here are some of our suggestions:
Homemade Options
Tofu Scramble: Akin to scrambled eggs, a tofu scramble is a quick way to make a hearty breakfast. Your base is well-drained firm tofu, which you’ll break up in a skillet. Since tofu doesn’t have a strong taste on its own, spice up your scramble with tempeh bacon (either homemade or store bought), sausage substitutes, nutritional yeast, veggies, and spices. Add some avocado toast on the side for a filling start to your day.
Smoothies: Possibly one of the most flexible breakfast options, smoothies can be made with practically anything in your fridge and cabinets. Start with your base liquid, either water, plant-based milk alternative, or juice. To that, you can add tasty ingredients, including spinach, bananas, berries, mangoes, peaches, acai, nut butter, and protein powders. Experiment with different flavors until you find a few recipes you love. Get inspired with 15 vegan smoothie options.
Remember, you can always pair a smoothie with granola, yogurt, and fruits to make a heart-warming smoothie bowl. Just another great answer when customers ask what they should eat for breakfast.
Store-bought Options
Breakfast Meat Alternatives: Most grocery stores have caught onto the plant-based focus, and you’ll find several vegan meat alternatives in the frozen section. Morningstar Farms, Gardein, and Amy’s offer a wealth of breakfast options, from plant-based meat alternatives to breakfast sandwiches. Pair the meatless sausages and bacon with your homemade tofu scramble or choose a handheld option that’s easy to eat on the go.
Frozen Waffles and Pancakes: Many frozen breakfast items are made without animal-based ingredients, making these viable options for a plant-forward lifestyle. Be sure to check the ingredients to ensure they’re not using anything that’s not on your diet and look for healthier choices from Kashi, Vans, and Whole Foods’ 365 store brand.
Cereal: From oatmeal to boxed cereals, there are plentiful options that are vegan and delicious. Paired with a plant-based milk alternative, whole-grain cereal provides a quick way to fuel up for your day. Just be wary of added sugars, which are also popular in breakfast cereals. Healthier brands include Kashi, Cascadian Farms, Nature’s Path, and keto choices. Here’s a list of 15 vegan cereals to try.
Snacks
Customers ask about vegan snacks because they’re looking for something other than the standard carrots, celery, and bell peppers paired with dip or peanut butter. While those are great options, you may be looking for more varied choices in your plant-based diet. And since practically everything can be considered a snack, you have lots of choices.
Homemade Options
Energy Bars and Sweets: Nuts, seeds, and nut butters make up the bulk of homemade energy bars. And vegan cookies and cupcakes are easy to make with simple ingredient substitutes. Check out Chocolate-covered Katie for a multitude of vegan snack and dessert recipes that will make your tastebuds happy. Homemade bars and treats are easy to make ahead and keep in the freezer to grab on the go for an at-work snack as well.
Chips and Dip: If you prefer a crunchy snack, such as chips, read through these more than 20 recipes for crunchy, savory snacks. You’ll find everything from edamame and kale chips to guacamole and hummus—all of which are easy to make and keep on hand. One I like is my recipe for Southwestern black bean hummus:
2 cups (1 can) cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
2 Tbs tahini
1 chipotle in adobo (or more!) plus 2 tsp adobo sauce
2 Tbs fresh lime juice
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
Salt to taste
Puree and serve with toasted whole wheat pita or corn chips.
Store-bought Options
While you’re certain to find many vegan snack options at the grocery or convenience store, be wary of preservatives and empty calories. As mentioned previously, Oreos are vegan, but they’re not nearly as good for you as hummus and veggies.
Nuts and Seeds: One of the best on-the-go treats you can find almost everywhere is prepackaged nuts and seeds. From dry-roasted peanuts to salted sunflower seeds, these protein-packed snacks are perfect to grab and eat quickly. And they’re typically low in calories and full of healthy fats. If you’re on a low-salt diet, opt for unsalted varieties.
Customers Ask, We Answer
We love supporting our customers’ plant-forward choices, and when customers ask us for options, we’re happy to help. There are always vegan options around. Just look, ask, and read the labels. You’ll be able to easily find something yummy to eat for breakfast and snacks to supplement your Vegan Taste delivery!
