Recipes & Meal Ideas…
Welcome to my favorite page on this site - the one with most of my favorite recipes and meal ideas in one spot! A list that I put together to save you time and effort. These meal ideas and recipes are tried and true staples to our lifestyle. Whenever possible and reasonable, I choose recipes that are whole food plant-based, full of fruits and veg, and still meet the expectation of being delicious. Now keep in mind, not everything here is the healthy version. Cake is still cake, with sugar and oil in all its glory. Because that is cakes job, and life is about balance!
All recipes, cookbooks, and product recommendations are linked in blue.
Trust that none of what I do is sponsored or paid for by anyone.
This is something I do completely for free because it is a passion of mine.
I truly hope you’ll enjoy these recipes and meal ideas as much as we do! If there is anything you’d like to see added to this list, just shoot me a message at lani@ificanchange.com, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also check me out on social media to see these recipes in action and get more inspiration. Bon appetit!
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
Breakfast
Bagels & Bread - Dave’s Killer Bread is amazing & nutritious!
Cream Cheese, homemade - Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids
Cream Cheese, store-bought - Kite Hill or Tofutti
Crepes
Breakfast burrito - beans, tomatoes, potatoes, tofu scramble, avocado, anything!
French Toast - (note: grind your chia seeds)
Oatmeal with toppings
Pancakes
Smoothies - easiest way to get those fruits and veggies in first thing in the morning!
Tofu Scramble - great for breakfast burritos!
Tofu Benedict
Toast with toppings
Toppings, savory: avocado, Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, tomatoes, green onions, red onions, kimchi
Toppings, sweet: nut butter & Chia Jam, V-tella, Coconut Butter with cinnamon & agave, vegan cream cheese, cashew cream cheese
American fare
BBQ Jackfruit Sliders with Coleslaw
BBQ Ribs - do the grill & oven method
Boiled Peanuts
Burgers, Black Bean Veggie
Burgers, Impossible or Beyond Meat
Burgers, Veggie, store-bought - Dr. Praegers frozen patties
Burgers, Portabello Mushroom
Cauliflower Wings with Hempseed Ranch
Cheese Sauce - best thing ever! Pour it, dip into it, spice it up with jalapenos, whatever! Great for mac & cheese. As written the recipe is a party size portion. Halving the recipe is plenty for a family of 4.
Chickpea “Tuna” salad/sandwich - make just like you like your regular tuna, but with smashed chickpeas and vegan mayo, or for oil-free mix with smashed avocado or tahini.
Green Bean Casserole
Hotdogs - Field Roast for the grown-ups, Lightlife Smart Dogs for the kiddos.
Lentil Loaf
”Lobster” Roll - for oil-free, use cashew butter with a splash of water to replace the mayo.
Mac & Cheese - use noodle of choice with cheese sauce (same as listed above).
Mac & Cheese, Roasted Red Pepper
Nooch Nuggets (That’s my name for it. It’s really called Nutritional Yeast Tofu)
Peanut butter & jelly sandwich
Peanut butter & sliced fruit sandwich
Potatoes with toppings - Bake, boil, steam, or mash potatoes. Eat alone or top with seasonings, beans, chili, veggies, sauces, or anything your heart desires!
Veggie Sandwich/Wrap - any veggies and condiments you like (i.e. tomato, cucumber, spinach, lettuce, pickles, bell pepper, pepperoncini peppers, hummus, tahini, smashed beans, avocado, vegan mayo, mustard, tempeh, grilled tofu,pre-made teriyaki tofu, etc.
Asian fare
Curries - I eat curries at restaurants often, so when I make it, I keep it super easy! First, I sauté onion, minced garlic, and bell pepper in splashes of water. Then I add water and curry bouillon, seasoning, or paste with more veggies (usually cauliflower, broccoli, or mushrooms) to simmer. At the end, I throw in some pre-steamed potatoes & a bit of coconut milk then serve over rice with hot sauce.
Curry, Coconut
Fried Rice
Korean food: Anything by The Korean Vegan. From her cookbook, I especially love the Bolgogi, Japchae, Soondooboo Chigae, Cucumber Kimchi, Gyerranmari, Spicy Soy Sauce Dressing, & Bap. Also, Trader Joe’s has some amazing Korean dishes in it’s freezer section!
Pad Thai - Again, I usually eat this out and about or follow the recipe on the side of the noodle box. Plus there are lots of great-looking recipes online.
Rainbow Rolls with Peanut Sauce: They can be filled with anything you have on hand. Never made them before? Try one of these: by Pick Up Limes, Minimalist Baker, Fit Green Mind. Quick tip: use pre-cooked, ready-to-eat tofu slices if not up for cooking tofu yourself. Try swapping peanut butter for tahini for a delicious alternative.
Rice/Quinoa/Noodle Bowl with various veggies and sauces
Sauces:
Chili Sauce, sweet, spicy or both
Peanut Butter Sauce - or there is a great one in Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics Cookbook, too.
Soy Sauce
Teriyaki Sauce
Soyaki Sauce from Trader Joe’s
Sushi - Make traditional sushi or big sushi burrito using the same basic recipe, and get creative!
Tofu Bahn Mi Sandwich - I often just use store-bought teriyaki tofu like this one from Trader Joe’s.
Ethiopian Fare
Atakilt Wat (Cabbage, Carrots & Potatoes) - Vegan Under Pressure Cookbook
Misr Wot (Red Lentil Stew) - Vegan Under Pressure Cookbook
Italian fare
Cashew Alfredo
Cashew Parm Sprinkles
Lasagna, with store-bought cheese - Ricotta by Kite Hill, Mozzarella by Myokos
Lasagna, with homemade cashew cheese
Pizza - you can buy pre-made dough, but I make one from my Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics Cookbook and top with store-bought mozzarella by Violife and/or Myokos.
Pea Pesto - Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics Cookbook
Spaghetti with Red Sauce and Veggies or Veggie Balls - I like most any brand of veggie balls that you find in the freezer section.
Spinach Pesto - Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids
Risotto (InstantPot)
Mexican & Mexican-AMERICAN fare
Burritos / Tacos / Bowls / Salads stuffed or topped with:
Lentils - you can vary the seasonings to your taste & what you have on hand
Pecans
BBQ Jackfruit
Fruits & Veggies - like lettuce, spinach, cabbage, tomato, olives, corn, mango, avocado, etc.
Sour cream - store-bought by Tofutti, or homemade cashew
Cheese
Cheese Sauce - best thing ever! Pour it, dip into it, spice it up with jalapenos, whatever!
Nacho Cheese Sauce, made with cashews
Guacamole
Pico, Salsa or Enchilada Sauce
Dillas - A family name we give for something like a quesadilla, but with different insides, then dip with guacamole or sour cream.
Quesadilla - You know this one well. Most vegan cheddar shreds will do well here.
Bean-a-dilla - In place of cheese, smash some vegetarian refried beans between the tortillas.
Yam-a-dilla - In place of cheese, smash some cooked sweet potato/yam between the tortillas. I keep it simple for the kids but like to add black beans and cumin to my mash.
Enchiladas - I use jarred green enchilada sauce and sometimes use mushrooms, instead of jackfruit, or both.
Northern European fare
Brats & Kraut (Store-bought brats by Beyond Sausage, Tofurkey, or Field Roast)
Bread, Rustic Loaf
Crepes
Faux Gras
Galette de Rois
Mushroom Stroganoff
Quiche, Tofu - use hash brown crust per recipe, or use store-bought traditional one. I like the Wholly Wholesome ones available in the freezer section of Whole Foods.
Red Cabbage - Using my Instant Pot makes this so easy and fast
Walnut Pate
Party food
Burrito/Nacho/Taco Bar
Cashew Cheese
Cheese Platter - store-bought by Myokos, Virgin Cheese, Violife or Kite Hill
Cheese Sauce - best thing ever! Pour it, dip into it, spice it up with jalapenos, whatever! Great for mac & cheese.
Chili Bar - chili with toppings like cheese, sour cream, onions, tortilla chips, Fritos, etc.
Chips & Guacamole & Salsa
Chips & Chili
Cucumber & Cream Cheese Sammies - Dave’s Killer White Bread, sliced cucumber & Kite Hill or Tofutti cream cheese.
Deviled Potatoes
Faux Gras
Fruit Tray
Popcorn
Ranch, hempseed, oil-free
Ranch - Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics Cookbook
Veggie Tray with Ranch - Store-bought by Violife or Daiya.
Walnut Pate
salad dressings
I am not one for specific salad recipes. I just throw together random things and top it with a yummy dressing. When it comes to salads, I like them huge and hearty - the more ingredients - the better! So grab some greens, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fruit, dried fruit, potatoes, olives, veggies, seasonings, and whatever dressing you are in the mood for. Salads are especially great for finishing off a bunch of random leftovers in your fridge.
Here are some of my favorite dressings:
Mustard & Maple syrup - Mix equal parts mustard and maple syrup, I prefer Dijon mustard. It’s like a honey mustard vinaigrette. Recipe/idea also from High Carb Hannah, but I can’t find the video anymore. It is my go-to recipe for a mixed salad! Love it!
Ranch, Mayo-based
Ranch, Cashew based
Ranch, Oil-free Hemp-seed based
Tzatziki - I like it with almond yogurt, and no oil
5 oil-free dressings by High Carb Hannah - includes sweet mustard, sour cream, ranch, strawberry vinaigrette, raspberry vinaigrette, and chipotle.
Store-bought brands I like: Follow Your Heart, and Daiya
Snacks
FRUITS & VEGGIES in any way shape and form!!!!
Bananas & peanut butter (rolled in tortilla or on bread)
Chips
Crackers
Bitchin’ Sauce, store-bought
Bitchin Sauce, oil-free, home-made
Guacamole
Hummus, homemade
Hummus, store-bought
Kale, Dinosaur Tails - Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids
Lara Bars
Nut butters
Pretzels
Salsa
V-tella
soups & stews
African Peanut Butter Soup
Broccoli Cheese Soup - Isa Does It Cookbook
Chili, Enchilada - you can also sub any kind of tomato sauce to make it to your liking. This recipe can be played with a lot.
Pea Soup, creamy - you can sub another veggie, too, like broccoli or carrot.
Split Pea Soup, yellow - green split peas work too!
Swedish Yellow Pea Soup - I make with green split peas and omit the ham, or put some
Tomato Soup
Prepared soups at the grocery store: Right Foods Dr. McDougall’s soups & Imagine. For Imagine brand, just make sure you read the box because they are not all vegan.
desserts, Treats & Baked goods
Apple Tart - Use vegan pastry, and serve with vegan ice cream. I buy Aussie Bakery Puff Pastry at Wholefoods.
Banana Bread 1
Banana Bread 2 - Follow recommended edits to make it vegan
Banoffee Pie
Brownies, traditional
Brownies, black bean
Challah
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cupcakes, Chocolate
Cupcakes, Lemon
Galette de Rois (Kings Pie)
Lemon Pound Cake
Napoleon (Custard Puff Pastry)
Pumpkin Pie Jars - I also make it as a trifle and it is divine!
Pudding, Chocolate
Royal Icing - great with the cookies below.
Sugar Cookies - great for cut-outs. I sub all-purpose in place of GF flour.
Zucchini Bread - The classic one
Zucchini Bread - The sexy one