Last Updated on January 9, 2024

It’s hard to go plant based if you don’t have any plant based recipes! Many people are curious about vegan, plant based, or zero waste diets but don’t know where to begin.

These zero waste recipes will ensure you get the nutrition you need and they taste delicious! I’m often asked what I eat in a day as a vegan — many people don’t know how to make a meal that’s not focused on meat. These whole food plant based recipes check all the boxes for all the energy and nutrition you need while also not contributing to the harm that animal based meals cause to the environment.

what i eat in a day: vegan edition

It’s been about two years since I’ve done a ‘What I Eat in a Day’ blog post, and I thought it was time to do another one plus a little YouTube video.

If you didn’t know, I have a YouTube channel and I would love for you to hit that subscribe button.

Most of my meals are quick, easy, and plant based recipes since eating a plant-based diet is one of the best ways to have a positive impact on the environment.

Since I live a zero-waste lifestyle, I buy most of my food without packaging.

If you’re curious to learn more, check out my blog post The Ultimate Guide to Zero Waste Grocery Shopping.

I like to start my day at 6 am because that’s when I feel the creative energy buzzing through my bones.

I like how peaceful everything seems early in the morning.

No one expects me to respond to emails or comments or interact in any way because the world is still a little sleepy.

pre-breakfast:

This is when I get the bulk of my writing done, but before I’m off to type away, I like to brew a huge batch of loose leaf tea, drink a glass of water, and take my supplements!

Last year, I started looking for more sustainable supplements and have been really pleased with MegaFood®, which crafts premium supplements made with real food from trusted farm partners, plus added nutrients.

MegaFood is a certified B Corporation, which means they meet a strict code of social and environmental practices.

They have a very impressive roster of certifications like non-GMO project verified, certified glyphosate residue-free, tested for 125+ pesticides and herbicides, as well as many others.

MegaFood is committed to organic and regenerative agriculture, lobbying to ban glyphosate, and all of its employees are paid a fair living wage.

I’ve been very impressed with the company’s commitment to people and the planet.

plant based supplementation

In today’s busy world, the ultimate self-care routine can be as easy as taking a daily multivitamin.

The multivitamin I take on a regular basis is MegaFood Multi for Women, which is specifically for women seeking optimal health and wellbeing* with vitamins B, D, A, C, and E, plus iron, biotin, and beta carotene.

I’m often so busy that making sure I take my daily multivitamin is the best way I can take care of myself!

Along with my daily multi, I’ve also found it useful to take probiotics and a vitamin B supplement.

If you’re eating a vegan or plant-based diet, you really should be taking at least a B12 vitamin (MegaFood has a great option for this vitamin too).

I have struggled with a hormone imbalance in the past and find it beneficial to take a B complex.

If you have any questions about what supplements you should be taking, it’s best to consult a doctor to see what’s right for you.

So while my tea is brewing, I take my supplements and drink a glass of water.

I pour my tea into a thermos, add in a little bit of CBD oil, and then sip on it throughout the morning.

watch the YouTube video:

plant based recipes throughout the day

breakfast options:

I typically start to get hungry around 9 or 10, so I’ll whip up some breakfast. I really like to eat oatmeal in the winter because there are a thousand simple, warming, and filling plant based recipes for oatmeal — it never gets old.

My all-time favorite this time of year is apple cinnamon oatmeal:

• 1 apple peeled, cored and cubed
• 1 teaspoon of oil
• Cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup of organic old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup of nut milk (I like cashew)
• Maple syrup (optional)
• Peanut butter (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan add your oil and apple and sauté until the apple is softened
2. Add in a dash of cinnamon to taste and set aside
3. Add your nut milk into the pot and bring to a simmer
4. Add in the oats and let them absorb the liquid for about 5 minutes
5. Add a pinch of salt
6. Sometimes I like to add in a splash of maple syrup or a spoonful of peanut butter at this stage too
7. Add your oatmeal to a bowl and top with your cinnamon apples

zero waste recipes for lunch:

I really like to keep lunch simple, which makes these zero waste recipes ideal. I prefer soups or salads — things that can easily be prepped in advance and stored in 16oz mason jars.

I’ve recently been on a curried carrot and ginger soup kick. It’s one of my all-time favorites!

• 2 tablespoons olive oil + a little more for drizzling
• 2 large shallots, peeled and chopped
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 2 pounds carrots chopped
• 1 peeled and cubed apple
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 3-4 tablespoons of curry paste
• pumpkin seeds (optional)
• cashew yogurt (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add olive oil and shallots to a Dutch oven over medium heat
2. Wait until the shallots are translucent, then add in the grated fresh ginger and curry paste and sauté for about 30 seconds 
3. Add in the carrots, apple, and vegetable broth
4. Bring the vegetable broth to boil, then cover the pot and simmer until the carrots are fork-tender
5. Add the mixture to a blender and puree.
6. Pour into a bowl and add in a few tablespoons of cashew yogurt.
7. Top with some pumpkin seeds and a little drizzle of olive oil.

whole food plant based recipes for a snack:

I have a few different snacks I like to keep on rotation, which you can read about in my Five Favorite Zero Waste Snacks. Today’s whole food plant based recipe is less a recipe and more a simple toss-together: I’m going with bell peppers and hummus.

It’s so quick to slice up a pepper and dip it in some hummus, and the combo gives you that extra boost you need between meals.

wholesome plant based dinner:

While I like to keep breakfast and lunch pretty similar, dinner is where I switch things up. I like to make taco bowls, burgers, nachos, salads, bowls, etc.

But in this ‘What I Eat in a Day’ feature, I wanted to keep dinner simple because I think it’s a big misconception that zero-waste meals have to take a long time. They really don’t.

And, one of the best ways to save time is to cook once and eat a few times.

You can read more in my post about meal prepping.

So, if I’m making veggies and quinoa for dinner tonight, then I’ll make extra and save it for later.

• Roasted red cabbage
• Black beans
• Roasted sweet potatoes
• Brown rice
• Arugula
• Avocado Lime Dressing (Avocado + lime juice + cashew yogurt + salt)

Toss everything into a bowl and eat up!

zero waste dessert:

I’m a huge lover of chocolate so I’m finishing my day with a few squares of organic dark chocolate!

late evening routine:

I often have trouble falling asleep, but after establishing a really good nighttime routine, it’s really improved.

I’ve reduced tech use right before bed, keep the bedroom phone free, and like to wind down with a cup of herbal tea.

MegaFood has team members who are experts when it comes to health and wellness.

Erin Stokes, a naturopathic doctor and Medical Director at MegaFood, shared a lot of great insight on nutrients and botanicals to help you sleep, which has been super informative.

During the evening along with my tea, I’ve been taking the new Herbal Sleep supplement from MegaFood, which is formulated to provide a sense of relaxation and restorative sleep.*

I want to give MegaFood a huge shout out for sponsoring this post! If you’re looking for quality and sustainable supplements, then you have got to check out MegaFood.

This is what a typical day looks like for me. I hope that you found this post helpful and that it might inspire a few quick, easy zero-waste meals in your rotation!

faqs

can you eat eggs on a plant based diet?

This is totally up to you! Some include eggs in their plant based diet for their convenient, complete protein.

Since the eggs you buy in the store are not fertilized, many consider them to be cruelty free. They also have a lower carbon footprint due to their high feed conversion rate (meaning the hens efficiently convert their food into eggs with little waste), making the carbon footprint of eating eggs much less than dairy or meat.

However, eggs are an animal byproduct, so if you want to be truly vegan/plant based, eggs would not be included.

how long does it take to adjust to a plant based diet?

It takes some getting used to! When your body is used to meats and dairy at every meal, it protests a little bit when you cut those items out. Some refer to a detox flu when making large lifestyle changes, but these are typically short lived and subside in a few weeks once your body adjusts to these wholesome, plant based recipes as the bulk of its nutrition!

Do you have any go-to plant-based meals?

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.