We all love a good home-cooked meal and what better way to bring the entire family together than over classic family go-to meals, that cannot only feed them but fill them up too! As a recent believer in what the power of food can do to your health and body, I’ve switched out a number of things in my diet to live a better life.
One heavy-hitter at the top of my list was meat! Next, it was seafood, then I moved to dairy, cheese, and now eggs! But let me tell you, it was not easy. Taking the transition step-by-step truly helped me wean myself off from animal products and it is still a struggle to this day.
However, I believe that anyone can do this and your family too! Living in a household with many different palettes, lifestyles, and habits, I’ve noticed that the one common-ground we all have, is eating. It innately brings people together, and with my newly fount lifestyle I was determined to share the wealth.
But, how exactly did I get two 30-something-year-old African American men and a 10-year-old to secretly go vegan?
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I gave them what they wanted! As the sole cook of the house, I incorporated alternative vegan options little-by-little. Before you knew it, theywere requesting those same meals on their own! After every meal, after they were satisfied and full of their second and third plates, I’d whip out the alternative ingredients, meats, and condiments that I used.
Their jaws would drop every time! And of course, I would combust into laughter…*teehee
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Some of the vegan alternatives I’ve used. All at your local Kroger or grocery store!
Although they may not be fully vegan or even incorporate it into their daily diet outside of the home, they now know that there are other options. When they thought of the word “vegan”, they automatically assumed a person had to eat salads and raw grass all day. I was happy to debunk the stereotypes floating in their heads with something just as tasty, appealing, and fulfilling as animal products.
Want to incorporate some Transitioning Vegan Meals into your family’s dinner plan? Start with these delicious dishes:
A delicious alternative to your typical ground beef is LightLife’s Smart Ground Vegan Beef Crumbles. I’ve substituted this meatless option inone of my family’s favorite go-to dishes, spaghetti. Simply make your pasta as normal, sauté the ground vegan beef over olive oil, add in the marinara sauce, and you’re good to go!
Vegan Tacos are another family favorite! LiteLife also has the Mexican version of their Smart Ground Vegan Beef Crumbles. You can easily add this to your favorite taco recipe and substitute the sour cream with guacamole! Check out Vegetarian Gastronomy for even more delicious vegan taco recipes!
Not only will this lasagna fill up your family but it will also last! It incorporates substituting pasta and cheese with eggplant and vegan mozzarella cheese. Very saucy and delicious!
Crock-Pot Three Bean Vegan Chili
Oh how my family loves a good chili during the winter months. Super good and super healthy, try this three-bean chili for a go. Don’tthink just veggies and beans will fill up the boys? Add in some meatless beef grounds for a heartier version.
There’s nothing better than Mexican night at the house! Try this saucy, lasagna-like Mexican-American casserole layered with vegetables, tortillas, sauce, and cheese. If possible, make sure to substitute the cheese for vegan shredded Mexican cheese!
No one can just up and turn vegan overnight. It takes time! However, with these helpful transitioning vegan recipes, it’ll be that much easier than before.
Happy eating!
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
