Vegetarian meals for one...?

Question

I've been a veggie for years and years (about 14, now) but I've noticed that my diet's really going down the pan. I'm getting bored, cooking the same old things just for one person (I live seperately to my bf for half of the week) and could really do with some quick, healthy, tasty ideas for lunches/dinners for one. Any ideas? I'm all out of inspiration (and money!!)

xx

Oops, I suppose I ought to say that I don't like meat alternatives, like tofu/soya options. Sorry, should've mentioned this! Keep the lovely answers coming, though, I've got my pen at the ready :D

xx

Answer 1

I know how cooking for one can be tedious! It's so much work for one person isn't it? Anyway, lately my diet centers around Chickpeas because they are choked full of protein and they are so good! Grab a can of Chickpeas, a can of coconut milk, red or yellow curry powder (whichever you like best), potatoes (dice them and nuke 'em in the microwave a little to speed the cooking process), veggies (snow peas and carrot slices). Throw it all in a wok and simmer, serve with rice. There will be enough left over for later! I make a vegan lasagna and freeze it so that I don't have to eat lasagna every day until its gone. Soup is quick and can be frozen for later. Any veggies are great steamed and doused in red and black pepper with lemon juice. When I cook I realize that I enjoy it better if I make it an event. I put on music, light candles, and sit at the table instead of the t.v. For some reason it makes me feel like I'm nurturing my body instead of just stuffing my face!

Answer 2

Tempeh is very quick and versatile to cook. Something as simple as a slice of tempeh sauteed in olive oil and served on bread with yellow mustard can be a very satisfying meal sometimes.

If that's a little too meat-like for you, here are some other ideas:

A can of lima beans and some frozen corn sauteed together in olive oil with salt, pepper, and some garlic.

lentils served over rice. A remarkably quick to prepare (20 minutes tops), filling and nutritious meal. You can customize it with any sort of flavoring... I strongly recommend dark sesame oil (can be bought at most chinese specialty stores).

Another option is to cook the lentils without rice (or with a small amount of brown rice), sprinkle with curry powder, and serve with a tahini-covered pita.

There are tons of things you can put together in under 30 minutes for a meal. Here's another simple idea:

Take a small amount of vegetable bullion and put it in a saucepan with some water and a small amount of soy sauce. Slice a carrot and brown it in a seperate pan and put it in the saucepan. Add udon noodles and, if you so choose, a small amount of seaweed and/or green onions.

Answer 3

Don't give up on meat alternatives till you've tried Realeat mince So long as you add a bit more fluid you can have all your old favs again like chilli and spag bols but without the dead cow. Quorn is an aquired taste but if you stir fry it well and use in fajitas or curry it is great.

Answer 4

hi im a vegetarian too..have been for about 15 years!!and i live on my own..how about something simple like a bowl of pasta and pesto sauce with grated cheese on top or buy a stir fry pack of veg and mix in some marinated tofu...thats nice!!
or a lasagne and a big one so you can freeze it and it will last forever!!
mushroom and spinach lasagne is lovely..
bring water to the boil and add pasta sheets..add some white sauce to mushrooms and boil the spinach and mix the spinach and musrooms together then layer alternate pasta and spinach with mushroom and then right on the top grate lots of cheese and put in the oven.
then its ready to eat when cheese is all melted!!
and you can have a weeks worth of dinner then and add it with salad or new potatos...yum!!
hope that helped xx

Answer 5

I used to make vegetarian chili with the Morningstar "grounds" and the Chili Magic in a can. Freezes very well and is full of so many good nutrients.

In response to your "edit": my hubby HATES meat alternatives- he's a meat-eater and refuses to give it up and detests the "fake" stuff. But he really liked the chili.

Another option: spinach and mushroom enchiladas. Stuff corn tortillas with spinach and mushrooms, place in a baking dish and smother with one of the Campbell's mexican-themed soups. Bake with cheese. Yummy.

Answer 6

I love pasta dishes and cannelloni is one of my favourites. You could try rice and vegetables, some nice salads for the summer and homemade soups for the winter. Jacket potatoes can be a quick and inexpensive option and have beans, cheese, chilli non carni so it's a vegetarian option.

Answer 7

This is one of my faves, roasted veg like peppers, courgettes, butternut squash cherry tomatoes or whatever you like add garlic and onions with olive oil and pop in the oven for 30 mins.serve with cus cus and freash herbs. Lovley!!
Also Tesco do a meat free range now which is not all meat alternitives.

Answer 8

hi there!
if you're broke then i'd go for soups or casserole's, because you can make these in bulk and then freeze them for later. also useful if you're working late and can't be bothered or haven't the time to cook.
i know soup can take a little while to cook, but you can plonk anything you fancy in them so they'll be tasty, nutritious, and won't have any rubbish in them like processed foods do.
hope that helps :)

Answer 9

Can of tomatoes and some basil-blend it add salt & pepper and buy some nice bread-thats lunch! can of mixed beans, green pesto, cover in cheese, bake in oven and serve with pasta or rice-thats dinner! just experiment some of my best meals came by accident.

Answer 10

Have you tryed Sosmix? you can get it from Holland and Barratts and you add water to it to make sausages and burgers. Its v.tasty if you put sticks of cheese inside the sausages before you cook them. Its Yummy!