Aubrey and I have recently started looking into making plant based and vegetarian switches to some of our every day meal and snack options. I will say that it has been very interesting actually looking for some of these options! We have found some really great substitutes, and some not so great ones. I am still very new into dipping my toes into this lifestyle change, but I wanted to share some of the awesome options we have found so far!
Plant Based Options
The first thing that became apparent to me very quickly is that you have to double check that these options truly are plant based, not just vegetarian. The main difference is that in plant based options, there is absolutely no animal product used at all. Truthfully, dairy seems to be the biggest culprit in turning an option that would be plant based to a vegetarian option instead. Here are some of my favorite truly plant based options we’ve found!
Impossible Bowls
These bowls are AMAZING! They are my absolutely favorite option for a quick lunch or dinner as they are microwaveable. My favorite so far has been the Chili Mac with Plant Based Pork Substitute! Every bowl I’ve tried, though, I’ve actually really liked. Aubrey is more of a picky eater than I am, and he is a huge fan of the Chili Mac bowl too! You can find these online here.
OWYN Protein
I drink protein shakes almost every single day, so I knew I wanted to find a plant based option for these as one of my first switches. I tried a few different brands, and thankfully came across OWYN in our local Walmart. These protein shakes are delicious, don’t leave you with a funky aftertaste, and have great nutritional value while being truly plant based.
Starbucks Non-Dairy Creamer
Another option I wanted to find is a non-dairy, vegan friendly swap for is coffee creamer. I absolutely LOVE my morning coffee and am a big flavored creamer girl. There are lots of oak milk, almond milk, and coconut milk options that just don’t cut it flavor wise for me. But, Starbucks has fairly recently released some great non-dairy flavored creamers and I am in love with the Caramel Macchiato option! I still get to have delicious coffee every morning, while also making an easy swap!
Boca Chicken Patties
When I tell you that done right these Boca Chicken Patties taste just like a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-a I know you want to roll your eyes. But, I promise that it can be done! The patties themselves are plant based and an awesome source of protein. I am cheating by putting this option into the plant-based section of this blog because when I eat these I put them on a white, wheat bun with pepper jack cheese and spicy mayo. Technically my chicken sandwich build would be vegetarian instead of plant based, but these are a great option when trying to make a switch!
Beyond Meat Beef Crumbles
Get ready to want to roll your eyes again, but we have used these Beyond Meat beef crumbles to make tacos you swear you could have picked up from Taco Bell! Now, I’m cheating again putting this in the plant based section because those tacos do include traditional shredded cheese. But, if you found a great shredded cheese substitute or left the cheese off entirely you could still build these tacos as a truly plant based option!
Vegetarian Options
Tattooed Chef Bowls
These bowl meal options are another favorite that I have for lunch and dinner that I can’t get enough of! They are vegetarian, not plant based, because they do use cheese. The Buffalo Cauliflower Mac & Cheese bowl is a 10/10 for me, and I also really like the Cauliflower Pizza Bowl! The Pizza Bowl does use plant based protein to substitute for the pepperoni’s, but they also utilize traditional mozzarella cheese. I found these bowls at my local Target and have a freezer full of a couple of these all the time!
Cheese Quesadillas
This is a SUPER silly and easy vegetarian option that Aubrey and I both have multiple times a week. When we’re looking for a low calorie, low carb, and quick meal this is usually where we turn. For our cheese quesadillas we typically use the Carb Smart tortillas, a couple of different types of shredded cheese, and then dunk our slices into Taco Bell Mild Sauce. Also, in case you didn’t know, you can buy the Taco Bell Mild Sauce now at your local grocery store!
Final Thoughts
We still have a ton of different plant based and vegetarian options that we want to try to continue to move into making this lifestyle change. It’s funny how you don’t notice things until you really start looking, and we have had a lot of fun trying to find different options to substitute for our every day eating. I hope if you try any of these options that you enjoy trying something new that might end up being better for you!
If you have any plant based, vegan, or vegetarian options that you love please leave them linked in the comments!