Does a Vegan Diet Sound Boring? 7 Ways to Eat Healthy Without Feeling Like You’re Missing Out

I hear it ALL the time…someone I know questions how I could EVER be satisfied on my vegan diet. They seem to think I live a life of deprivation, but it is the complete opposite my friends! Nothing excites me more than transforming gorgeous produce into a tantalizing and delightful meal! Whether you’ve been thinking of becoming an overnight vegan or simply looking for ways to eat more fruits & veggies, then I’ve got you covered-enjoy!

1. Fruit.

Don’t make it complicated! Fruit is the OG simple, healthy snack and can be found in EVERY grocery store! Grabbing apples, bananas & clementines are extremely budget-friendly and very portable!

2. Veggies & hummus.

One of the best things you can do on a  Sunday is buy, prep and store your favorite dipping veggies in the fridge in glass containers to pick at all week! Some of my favorites are carrots, bell peppers, cauliflower, celery, cucumber & broccoli. An extra bonus is you’ll always have a little appetizer to serve an unexpected guest!

3. Veggie soup made from last night’s leftover roasted veggies.

Heat up some veggie broth, add your veggies, your favorite spices (garlic granules, Italian seasoning, a bay leaf & a little cayenne would be great) and either your favorite boxed beans, quinoa or lentils. Let simmer until fully cooked & sprinkle some nutritional yeast when ready to serve and you have a meal! A bonus tip to brighten up any soup is to squeeze a little fresh lemon juice on top.

4. A simple sandwich.

Make a veggie wrap or sandwich spread with hummus, baby spinach, roasted red peppers, cucumber, sprouts & avocado. Drizzled with a little balsamic & served with the above soup and you have yourself a very filling meal!

5. Leftover brown rice or quinoa.

We all seem to have an amount that’s too much to throw away but not enough to save, right?? How about the easiest stir-fry ever?

• Heat up your skillet on medium heat and pour either soy-sauce, tamari or my personal favorite, coconut aminos. This is the best soy alternative as it imparts a sweet n’ salty flavor–so good!
• Then throw in your favorite stir-fry veggies: thinly sliced carrots, chopped broccoli, mushrooms, shredded kale or Swiss Chard, thinly sliced cabbage-whatever you want!
• Cover, let veggies steam on a lower heat about 3-5 minutes so they stay crisp. If you need to add in a little water or veggie broth to create more steam, go for it.
• Pour over your heated quinoa or rice, sprinkle some sesame seeds, chopped cashews, thinly sliced scallions & you’re done!

6. Trail mix

You could do chopped almonds, shredded coconut, dried mango, dark chocolate chunks & hemp seeds. The possibilities are really endless here!

7. Can’t forget the sweets!

How about the easiest chocolate fondue with strawberries?!

• Melt a 1/2 cup coconut oil
• Whisk in 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup favorite liquid sweetener (I like coconut syrup)
• 1/2 cup sifted cacao powder
• Couple pinches of fine sea salt

Dip your favorite fruit in this silky, smooth delight to help assuage any chocolate craving. I HIGHLY recommend keeping these ingredients on hand at all times!

There you have it, 7 simple ways to make fruits & veggies a staple in your diet. Next time a family member or friend loathes about how boring a vegan diet it is, whip them up something from this list and prove them wrong!