3 Vegan Sandwiches

A few more really quick and easy healthy recipes, utilizing pre-made store-bought ingredients for when you're in a hustle. Here's 3 sandwiches that aren't typically vegan, but if you use Multi-Grain Thin Buns and make a couple substitutions, they're healthy and veganized! And, all are 300 calories or less :)

Vegan Meatball Sandwich: (250 calories)
5 Morning Star Brand meatless meatballs, cooked and mashed with 1 tablespoon ketchup or other sauce of your choice, served on a toasted or grilled thin bun.

The Burger: (190 calories with condiments)
Don't feel left out at your next barbecue! Substitute your beef with a Boca brand original vegan burger, and serve on a toasted or grilled thin bun. Add ketchup, mustard, pickles, and other condiments to your liking!

Let's Not Forget the PB&J: (300 calories)
The typical PB&J exceeds 300 calories, but swapping the regular bread for the thin bun cuts out a bunch of unnecessary calories, and you can load it with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (or swap out with almond butter for a nice little switch-up) and 2 tablespoons sugar-free jam, sweet and loaded with protein :)

Quinoa and Meatballs

Here's a recipe that is super quick and easy to make, since it utilizes some pre-made store-bought ingredients. It's awesome and very healthy for a quick lunch or dinner. I've started using quinoa in place of pasta, for the added protein and subtracted calories :) I don't miss the pasta at all! This meal is just a spinoff of the famous spaghetti and meatballs dinner, only healthier and veganized:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup uncooked quinoa

5 Morning Star brand meal starters meatless meatballs

Scant 1/2 cup pasta sauce of your choice

Directions:

Cook the quinoa with 1/2 cup of water on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Add more water if necessary.

Follow the instructions on the box of the meatless meatballs, but usually I cook 5 meatballs for two minutes, turning over at the one minute mark.

Toss the quinoa, meatballs, and pasta sauce all together for a filling dinner for one! Totals about 350 calories, and packs in the protein :)

Vegan Staples to Keep Around

Here's a list of some of my favorite vegan foods that I like to keep around for when I'm not wanting to cook from scratch, or when I'm pressed for time and need a meal or snack on the run. I'll update the list as I continue to discover new good foods, so keep checking back! Everything on here shows up on my grocery list quite often. Two other good websites that list vegan foods are: http://www.veganwolf.com/ready_made_vegan_food.htm and http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/accidentally-vegan.aspx

But, here's a list of things frequenting my fridge and pantry:

Refrigerated:

Unsweetened almond milk

Yves brand tofu dogs

Sugar-free jam (or regular jam, if it's your preference)

Condiments like ketchup, mustard, and pickles

Pasta sauce

Frozen:

Boca brand original vegan burgers

Morning Star brand meatless meatballs

Steamable frozen veggies (none with butter sauce, of course)

Chopped frozen bananas

Pantry:

Thin buns (I like the multi-grain ones)

Quinoa

Quick-cooking oats

Almond butter

Peanut butter

Canned fruits and veggies (go for the kind packed in 100% juice, not any heavy syrups)

Nature's Path Organic Pumpkin Flax Plus granola bars (My favorite store-bought granola bars!)

Luna bars (most are vegan, just check the ingredients of the specific one you're looking at)

Clif bars (again, most are vegan, just double check with specific ones)

Cheerios, or other healthy vegan cereal/granola

Fresh fruits and veggies, of course!