Can anyone give me some simple healthy vegetarian dinner ideas?

Question

I am in a bit of a rut. All I seem to eat is pasta, potatoes, cheese and bread, and lately I've gained some weight. I'd like some ideas for new healthier things I could make! The trouble is I'm single and usually cooking for one so I dont want to be buying lots of ingredients- things will just go off, especially since I go out a lot and probably only eat at home once in every 3 nights anyway.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

I've been in those ruts too and it's no fun. Don't want to scare you, but I hope you are aware that most processed cheese contain rennet which is derived from cows' stomachs=P I didn't learn that until I was in University unfortunately.

I think the best way to get out of those ruts is to make sure you're getting a balanced meal. Try to follow the recommended ratio of carbs, proteins and fats which is 50:35:15. Something I've been having lately that tastes excellent and is easy to make, is curry sauce over beans. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to make.

Buy some canned chickpeas, or kidney beans, peas - any type of legume should work (it's also good on most veggies)

Easy curry sauce:

1 med. onion, chopped roughly
2 cloves garlic (optional)
Saute in 1-2 tbsp of oil (in a pot) until translucent

Mix:
1/4 cup flour
4-5 tsp curry powder
1 tbsp coriander (optional if you don't have it)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp ginger

Add to sauteed onion.

Add:
2 tsp vinegar (or lemon juice) and
2 cups milk/soy milk (or water)
1 vegetarian chicken or vegetable bouillon cube, crumbled (optional)
2 tbsp Heinz ketchup (optional)

Stir until well mixed, bring to a boil over med. heat and continue to stir and cook for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened.

Heat up some beans or peas in the microwave and spoon the sauce over them. It's delicious!! This sauce is so easily adaptable, you can change the ingredients to taste. I've come to like it without the soy milk and just plain water which is less fattening. You can also reduce the oil, or microwave the chopped onions instead, but some oil/fat is good for you b/c your body needs it to digest carbs and sugars properly. Depending on how generous you are with the sauce, this recipe makes enough for 2 large tins of beans (540 mL) or 1 tin of beans and 1 400 mL tin of peas.

Try to reduce the bad carbs from your diet - potatoes are the worst. It was something that was extremely difficult for me to do - they're very addictive! Also, if you don't do it already, try to drink a cup of tea (green is best) with every meal. It seems to help.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Every week I make a giant pot of chili, stew or soup and we eat it all week long for lunch and/or dinner. My chili recipe only take about 30 minutes from start to finish (and tastes oh so awesome the second day). Serve it over rice or a baked potato for dinner. Burritos are a great option. If you don't want to cook, just pick up some good quality canned beans (like Amy's). I prefer burritos hot, but my daughter loves cold burritos in her lunch. Make it as healthy as you'd like with fresh salsa, guacamole, veggies... I think that lunch is the easiest. We generally eat leftovers for lunch, so I plan accordingly when I make dinner. Hummus and mixed veggies are a stand by in our house. Another is greek salad pitas (just stuff a greek salad in a pita). Left over roasted veggies can be stuffed in a pita or wrapped in a tortilla or chapati with a bit of cheese or hummus. You can also toss roasted veggies with pasta and a bit of olive oil and balasamic for a great pasta salad. Another good quicky is garbanzo beans, chopped cucumber, shredded carrots, sliced scallions and red bell pepper, tossed together with olive oil, lemon juice and a bit of salt and pepper. I'm all about the less time spent cooking more useful items.

Answer 4

The most natural and healthy diet for humans is an omnivorous diet, and not a plant based diet, or a meat-based diet per se. The Paleo Diet can be very widely varied and omnivorous for the most part, but the most important thing is that it’s unprocessed, and avoids the worst foods that agriculture brought mankind… refined inflammatory vegetable oils, refined grains (some are worse than others), and sugar! Learn here https://tr.im/H9e5h

As you can see, the benefits of adopting a Paleo way of eating can be incredible! I’ve been eating 95% Paleo for the last 5-6 years and I’ve never felt better. I have dozens of friends that have adopted a more Paleo way of eating too, and have seen all sorts of health problems disappear, including eliminating acne and other skin problems, digestion problems, improving brain clarity, and of course, losing a lot of body fat!

Answer 5

Hi

I am glad you're vegetarian I can't imagine how much weight you would gain if you had potatoes, pasta, cheese and bread with meat as well :)
I am a very strict vegetarian and lost around 20kg within a year. However you need to still eat healthy. You can do a search and find many vegetarian recipes. Remember to eat salad (it's fast and easy, especially since your'e single), you can make a very filling Greek salad and add some vegetarian "ham", tofu or whatever you can find at your local health shop. Skip the greasy salad dressings and opt for soy sauce instead, it really tastes great.Have some wholewheat, or rye bread and you've got a completely healthy meal in just a couple of minutes! Remember to take in some protein, I have soy milk in the morning with my cereal and maybe another cup at night with some other protein substance. I.e lentils, chickpeas, tofu, vegetarian meats ,soy sauce etc.

I still basically eat what I used to, but supplement the meat with vegetarian mince, chunks etc when recipes require meat. You can also buy eggsubstitutes at health stores, so you can really still cook anything you want.

Tip: when using dried vegetarian chunks, mince etc, rehydrate with hot water and loads of soy sauce, it makes it taste really good. (my dad couldn't even taste the difference)

Here are some links to some very helpful sites:

http://www.ivu.org/recipes/
http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/index.html
http://www.godsdirectcontact.com/vegetarian/cook.html

Good luck and thank you for considering our fellow animals, friends, human beings and rain forests around the world.

Answer 6

Vegetable stir-fry is great - serve it with brown rice or noodles. I make it for my vegetarian friends when they come to visit and it always goes down well. You can use all your fave veg - really healthy - buy small quantities from green-grocer to save wastage.

Another good one is lentil curry/dahl or bolonaise (but bolonaise is eaten with pasta, so you mightn't want that). Dried lentils don't go off and all you need to go with them is a tin of tomatoes, curry paste, a veg stock cube, garlic, onions and mushrooms (optional). I usually make a few portions and the freeze it. It's dead handy then - you have healthy home-cooked food in the freezer for when you cant be bothered cooking.

There are loads of vegetable soups and stews that are handy to make too and are really healthy.

Answer 7

Make Over 200 Juicy, Mouth-Watering Paleo Recipes You've NEVER Seen or Tasted Before?

Answer 8

Hey fellow veggi, I usually make a veggi roast. Its easy. Take a mixture of veggis like marrows, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, butter nut and slice dice and cut. Put the veggis in a baking tray and sprinkle with olive oil basil and roast for about half an hour on 200 degress c. Turn with spatula every 10 min. for the last 10 min sprinkle some soy suace. Yum Yum. serve with rice.

Answer 9

Try stir frying 1 cup of vegetables (red bell pepper, onion, snow peas, brocolli, carrots) in 2 tbsp vegetable oil. Add fresh ginger, garlic, a little sesame oil, soy sauce, and chili powder (if you like it spicy). Serve with no more than 1 cup whole grain brown rice. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped toasted cashews. 350 calories

Or try roasted Medditteranean vegetables: very small new potatoes, artichokes, yellow pepper, and brussel sprouts. Drizzle LIGHTLY with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Roast 30-40 minutes on 450 degrees. Make a dressing using 2 tbsp each olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice. Add sliced cucumbers, black kalmata olives, and drained chick peas (garbanzo beans) to your dressing. Pour over vegetables and add 2 oz reduced fat feta cheese. MMMM!!!

Answer 10

Switch to whole wheat pasta and bread and also switch to light cheese for starters.

Some things I like to make include stir fry veggies over brown rice, Tex Mex food using Quorn or Boca products, Soup and salad, Grilled marinated veggies on a whole grain roll.

You may hve to change your lifestyle a bit since most restaurants are not going to have whole grain items. White Pasta and white rice are bad carbs..which means they turn to sugar faster and then into fat. Avoid refined foods.