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For a vegan, choosing to stay away from animal products doesn’t mean that all other aspects of their life also change. You still have bills to pay, work to do, school to go to, deadlines to beat and most importantly; a life to live. The daily humdrum of our lives can be nerve-racking, extremely draining… and sometimes we just want to go back home and give our exhausted bodies a rest!
However much fatigue from the day’s work weighs you down, your body still needs the vital nutrients required to rejuvenate and stay healthy. Luckily, there is a wide range of vegan foods that can be quickly made into a light dinner and still pack all the essential nutrients that are good for you.
Whether you’re on a tight budget, a weight loss diet or generally keeping healthy; a light vegan dinner can work wonders for you. Below we have some ideas you can try in your kitchen for one of those tired evenings after work.
Let’s check them out
Baked Potatoes
They’re not only filling but also friendly on your pocket. The good thing about baking your potatoes is that you can just pop them in the oven and have a rest as they get ready. This could take an hour though! A quicker option for your light dinner is to have your potatoes wrapped in paper towels (make sure they’re wet) and to put them in a microwave for around 5 or 6 minutes until they’re tender. You can also stuff them with vegan cheese, beans or frozen vegetables or any other filling of your choice. Potatoes have Vitamins B6 and C, fiber, potassium and are low in cholesterol. Your heart will thank you!
Vegan Fried Rice
This is a satisfying light dinner for every vegan. It’s full of flavor, spicy and has lots of vegetables. It can be made quickly and there’s the luxury of using mix-ins that suit your personal tastes and preferences. You can use tofu, broccoli, peas, kale… the list is endless. In addition, it is a great way to make use of any leftover rice if you have any.
Rice and Beans
This is a staple that is cheap, easy to prepare and packed with nutrients. You can cook a large amount of rice in advance that can be used up gradually. It can also be made instant. Beans are affordable and can be found canned; from black-eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans to chick peas.
Vegan Meat Balls
The perfect way for vegans to enjoy meat balls without actual MEAT! This hearty flavorful delight goes very well with spaghetti noodles. You can buy premade vegan meat balls that you can warm up in sauce or make your own using say, beans. Mash the beans, mix them in with flaxseed, water and any other ingredients of your choice; stir, roll into spoon-sized balls and bake for about half an hour. You can then add the cooked vegan meat balls onto some warm marinara sauce, add your spaghetti noodles and serve.
Any leftovers can also be well stored either by keeping in a covered container for a few days or by frozen in a container or zip lock freezer bag.
Vegan BBQ Couscous Bowl
This bowl can be filled with crispy tofu, VEGAN BBQ Sauce, broccoli and curried couscous to serve up a scrumptious protein-rich meal. This short list of ingredients is enough to get your meal ready in 30 minutes! You’ll also need water, salt, canola oil, lime juice and curry powder. If you’re pressed for time and can’t make your own vegan BBQ source you can buy some at the supermarket.
Chili
You can use chili on different days with a variety of different meals. Vegan chili is easy to prepare. Just get some corn, beans, onions, spices and tomatoes; and you’re good to go. They taste awesome with sweet potatoes! With chili you’ll be sure to get your minerals, fiber and Vitamins such as Vitamin A and C.
Sweet Potato Falafel
These make for the perfect vegan light dinner. They’re free of oil, soft and light; guaranteed to fill you up due to their richness in fiber. The versatility of sweet potato falafel makes them a top favorite because they can be enjoyed by themselves or with tahini sauce, rice, beans, veggies or with a yogurt and avocado dip. With just a few ingredients and 30 minutes of your time, a delicious vegan light dinner is ready for serving.
Chickpea Spinach Curry
Rich in plant-based protein and iron, Chickpea Spinach Curry is healthy, delicious and easy to make. It’s ready in under 30 minutes. The ingredients are easy to find and consist of garlic, ginger, curry powder, cumin, turmeric, tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, red onions, garam masala and oil.
Parsley Quinoa Salad
A vegan light dinner packed with so much nutrition! The Vitamin- rich parsley strengthens your immune system and helps to flush out excess fluids from the body. It also contains oils that aid the protection of our cells against carcinogenic compounds and free radicals.
Quinoa adds fiber and protein into the mix while the seeds and nuts help to absorb fat- soluble Vitamins like A, E and K; and there is folic acid that is good for your heart. Your kidneys will also gain a great deal from this meal.
Peanut Noodles
The ingredients are so easy to find you probably already have them. They’re tasty, filling and can still be used as leftovers. Once you’ve whisked your sauce ingredients, prepped the noodles and stir-fried your vegetables; just mix up the cooked vegetables, noodles and sauce and enjoy! It takes less than half an hour.
Clearly, even with just a little time on your hands you can still have a tasty vegan light dinner after a day’s hard work. The meals are so tasty you’ll end up looking forward to the evening!
Go ahead. Try out one of them!