Monday, November 4, 2013

A Month of Meals for an Omnivore & Vegan Family

It's great when a whole family decides to go Vegan, but realistically, it seldom happens. More often what I hear is, "I'd like to go Vegan, but my spouse wouldn't dream of it! And, I don't want to have to cook two dinners every night." Planning a meal for two diets can dovetail nicely, and it doesn't need to keep a person who wants to eat a healthier diet from taking that step! And, the whole family CAN eat & fellowship together instead of having separate menus : )

Here is a month's menu of the actual meals we eat at our house when cooking for two diets (I don't serve meat every night as this menu implies, but these are menus I cook on our meat-serving nights). My common method is to choose a Meat entrée, then plan a balanced Vegan meal dishes that complement the Meat being served (Such as Pork Chops & Sauerkraut, Dijon Potatoes, Peas & Salad). Alternately, sometimes I plan a Vegan meal, and add a Meat "side dish" that complements it (Such as Black Bean Soup with added Kielbasa, Rice & Salad). Once in a while, I simply make two entrees that go well together (Tofu or Cheese Stuffed Manicotti with Salad & Garlic Toast). Most of my balanced Vegan Meals consist of a Fruit, Vegetable, Grain & Legume Combination, but not every one. As this menu notes, at most meals, in addition to the foods listed, I also serve fresh Homemade Bread, Salad & for Dessert, Fruit.

For more info on planning nutritionally balanced Vegan meals, see this post Why I Don't Eat a Protein at Dinner. And, just the traditional disclaimer here, I'm a housewife who deals with this every day - but I'm not a nutritionist - don't take this as if it were professional advice.

For more information on accommodating the Omnivore in your life, you might also like to check out my Care & Feeding of Omnivores tab.

This is being shared on Menu Plan Monday, Making Your Home Sing Monday, The Chicken Chick, Modest Monday, What'd You Do This Weekend, In & Out of the Kitchen, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Plucky's Second Thought, Teach Me Tuesdays, Tips & Tricks Tuesdays, Mom's Library, Wise Woman, Best4Future, Real Food, Allergy Free, Rosevine Cottage Girls, The Thrifty Home Penny Pinching Party, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Simple Lives Thursday, Hearts for Home, Thrive at Home, Weekend Wonders , Healthy Vegan Fridays, My Meatless Mondays, Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party


Sunday
Misc
(Salad & Bread & Fruit are assumed with most meals)
California Veggies, Hummus & Pita
Beef Stew in Red Wine Gravy, Noodles, Broccoli, Fruited Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Monday
Beef or Lamb
Beef & Veggie Fajitas, Chips, Salsa
Teriyaki Beef Strips or Grilled Tofu with Rice, Sesame Veggies
Tuesday
Chicken
Blackened
Chicken with Jambalaya
Grilled Chicken, Spaghetti, Yogurt, Cheese, Tomatoes & Kale with Tahini Sauce
Dijon Chicken, Tabbouleh or Bulgur Pilaf, Yogurt, Raw Veggies or Salad
Wednesday
Misc
Sandwich Bar
with Chips
(an array of Bread, Veggies, Cold Cuts, Vegan Dips
 & Cheese)
Thursday
Pork
 Pork Chops Dijon, Baked Potatoes Hummus,
Edamame or Lima Beans
Grilled Pork Chops, Orzo Pilaf, Black-Eyed Pea Salad, Peas
Pork Chops & Sauerkraut, Baked or Dijon Potatoes, Pickled Beets, Lima Beans
Friday
Misc Veg
Bulgur Pilaf with Veggies, Yogurt, Grilled Chicken or Pork 
Saturday
Misc Simple
Confetti Spaghetti with Salami & Cheese
Fill Your Own Tortilla Night with Fajita Seasoned Beef Strips, Chips, Salsa

15 comments:

  1. I've thought of becoming vegan many times but the rest of my family love meat, so personally I avoid it as much as possible and try cooking it once a week.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting again! It's always great to see you here! Many people love meat because of its traditional association with Feasting & Holidays - it's a sentimental or emotional attachment as much as flavor - especially in our Religious culture, where "Fasting" is mostly Vegan. I'm glad you're able to find something that makes your WHOLE family happy, and is still pretty healthy! : )

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  2. I commend you for being vegan...although I don't know if I could do it. LOL :)

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for stopping by! Vegan food is so tasty - that I really don't think of any other way! : )

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  3. I love this plan! I prefer to eat vegan/vegetarian but it's challenging at home with my meat-loving hubby. This plan is so helpful and will give me lots more ideas for "flex meals" that work for both of our preferences! Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. So glad that you find it helpful - and delighted that you could visit again : )

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  4. These sound wonderful! We will have to try these meals out. :)
    Thank you so much for linking up at our blog (http://rosevinecottagegirls.blogspot.com) We really enjoyed this post and hope to see you again next week!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for hosting - it's a fun blog hop : )

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  5. Such a great set of menus! I could spend forever going through each recipe so I'm pinning, it the black eye pea salad and confetti spaghetti look AMAZING! Thanks so much for sharing at Tips and Tricks Tuesday!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! I really appreciate you hosting AND pinning! Thanks for visiting : )

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  6. WOW, the calender looks so yummy!! It is also a great way to plan your grocery visit. Thank you so much for linking in Best4Future Wednesday link-up party!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for visiting, Lina! I love your blog with all its great tips on raising bilingual kids! : )

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  7. WOW! Awesome! Kudos to you for all that planning! I have tried but it's near impossible in my house with hubby only wanting what he wants when he wants it! LOL WIth our Wildtree Stuff we are able to promote Meal Planning but I don't because I don't do that myself so I feel weird about doing a 'class' on it if I don't do it myself you know!? LOVE your menu tho! Great!

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  8. I was thrilled to see your post because I too live in a vegan/omnivore household. I often struggle to make meals that satisfy my meat and fish eating family and my vegan dietary needs in a timely, organized fashion. Your menus help a lot. I typically make several vegetables and a salad as well as a grain dish for all. Then I make a meat or fish dish for the omnivores. This also works well when dining out. Thank you for linking up at the Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party Blog Hop!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your very kind words, and for hosting your Blog Hop! I love your method of meal planning for a mixed group - it's so beautifully simple! : )

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