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You know the routine: You resolve to commit to a healthy eating plan, like paleo-vegan. Then, a late night or two at the office leaves you famished and exhausted. The neon drive-thru signs become too much to resist when you finally make your way home.
It’s easier not to cave to temptation when you have freezer-ready meals needing nothing more than a few minutes in the instant pot when you arrive home. Make these 11 paleo-vegan recipes for busy nights on your meal-prep day and follow through with your commitment to healthier eating.
Breakfast isn’t only for the mornings. Your littles will love the novelty of having this meal any time of the day, and you’ll appreciate the convenience. It’s also more filling than eggs alone — sometimes, you crave something that seems carb-laden, even if it isn’t.
This recipe uses coconut flour and shreds for a gently sweet taste that doesn’t need a lick of added sugar to scream “delicious.” You can garnish it however you like. Add lots of brightly colored fruits for the phytonutrient content, or add some flax or chia seeds for crunch and omega-3 fatty acids.
What is babaganoush? The dish sounds hopelessly exotic — and challenging — but it isn’t. You only need six little ingredients to make this vegan and protein-rich snack that provides the perfect topping for celery, carrots or your favorite bagel.
If you prefer a sweeter dip, you can add tomatoes to this recipe. Doing so increases the lycopene content, a critical antioxidant for improving heart health and reducing your cancer risk. Taking the seeds out of the eggplant before you blend it leaves a creamy sauce, or you can keep them in if you prefer a chunky texture.
The beautiful thing about this eggplant lasagna rollatini is that you can freeze an entire tray for a family-style meal or wrap them individually for a single serving. Either way, you get a delicious taste of Italy in your freezer that’s cruelty-free and won’t spike your glycemic index.
Although this recipe calls for store-bought (and therefore milk-based) mozzarella and ricotta, you can substitute vegan versions. You can even make homemade cashew ricotta to replace the dairy-rich variety.
Save some of that homemade cashew ricotta — or mix up a double batch. It also serves as a useful filling in this recipe that calls for slivers of zucchini instead of the traditional lasagna noodles. You’ll keep your blood sugar stable while enjoying oodles of plant-based goodness.
The artichokes in this recipe make it hearty and packed with fiber. You won’t need a midnight snack as it will keep you sated for hours.
With winter on the way, it’s officially soup season. Why not kick things off with this vegan cream of tomato version?
Tomatoes have a glycemic index of only 15, giving them only a negligible effect on your blood sugar. A little fresh basil and oregano from your windowsill herb garden add beneficial antioxidants and flavor.
Waffles make a wonderful meal by themselves when paired with a fruit topping and perhaps some syrup. You can also use these as a bread alternative when making breakfast sandwiches.
This recipe calls for almond flavor, giving your creation a slightly nutty flavor. It also calls for tapioca, another naturally gluten-free flour, if you’re sensitive to wheat protein.
Many potatoes have a high glycemic index, making them incompatible with paleo. However, sweet potatoes lower the load, and spiralizing this veggie makes an excellent low-carb noodle alternative.
This recipe calls for either butter or coconut oil — opt for the latter to keep it vegan. The peas add necessary protein but feel free to omit them if you want a meal that’s even less likely to impact your blood sugar.
Cauliflower doesn’t taste exactly as neutral as rice — it does have some veggie flavor. However, aficionados claim that feature makes them adore the substitute even more.
Using this veggie in this dish decreases the glycemic index, making it paleo-friendly. This recipe also allows you to add any extra vegetables you want for an antioxidant and phytonutrient boost.
Chickpeas are an excellent vegan protein source. The turmeric in this recipe offers anti-inflammatory goodness to soothe minor aches and pains.
Although the original recipe calls for brown or white rice as a serving base, you can substitute cauliflower rice. Doing so decreases the glycemic index, making this dish paleo-friendly.
Lentils are another excellent source of vegan protein. You’ll get 15 grams of muscle-building stuff from this recipe.
Who said that Taco Tuesday had to wait till, well, Tuesday? This meal contains no animal flesh, making it a perfect recipe for meatless Monday.
Falafel uses chickpeas to create a bread-like cookie ideal for dipping. This recipe comes with three dipping sauces — a piquillo pepper yogurt sauce, a white bean dip and a tomato relish — for your snacking pleasure.
You can serve these as a tailgate snack or appetizer. They also make a speedy and nutritious busy-day meal that beats drive-thru fries.
Please don’t abandon your healthy meal plan when crunch time hits. Freeze these paleo-vegan recipes for busy nights.
