Today, I’m excited to share a fantastic vegan meal prep guide inspired by Caitlin Shoemaker’s YouTube channel. Caitlin is known for her budget-friendly, delicious, and easy-to-follow vegan recipes. In her latest video, she takes us on a journey through a $50 vegan meal prep from Trader Joe’s, promising affordable and nutritious meals for the entire work week. I love how Caitlin makes vegan cooking accessible and fun, and I think you’ll find her tips super helpful!
Key Takeaways:
- Budget-Friendly: Caitlin shows how you can create a week’s worth of meals for just $50 from Trader Joe’s.
- Efficient Meal Prep: She organizes the meal prep by time to maximize efficiency.
- Delicious Recipes: The video includes a variety of tasty recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert.
Step-by-Step Meal Prep
Component Prep
First, Caitlin starts by prepping various components. She chops up an array of vegetables like eggplant, broccoli, carrots, and mini pearl grape tomatoes. I love how she simplifies the process by roasting everything on one big baking sheet. She seasons them with salt, pepper, and a bit of garlic-infused oil for added flavor. I tried this myself, and the roasted veggies turned out perfectly crispy and flavorful.
Breakfast Options
For breakfast, Caitlin offers two options: overnight oats and instant oatmeal. I think both options are fantastic because they cater to different preferences. For the overnight oats, she mixes rolled oats with flaxseed and peanut butter, then adds water to create a creamy texture. For the instant oats, she simply adds hot water or microwaves them when ready to eat. Topping both with banana and peanut butter makes them even more delicious.
Lunch Ideas
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday Lunch: Caitlin prepares a lentil and veggie salad. She combines greens, cooked lentils, red bell pepper, and roasted veggies (eggplant and carrots). A homemade hummus dressing made from eggplant hummus and lemon juice ties everything together. I love how fresh and satisfying this salad is!
- Tuesday, Thursday Lunch: Pesto tempeh sandwiches are on the menu. Caitlin spreads cashew pesto on focaccia bread, adds red bell pepper, spinach, and pesto-coated tempeh. This sandwich is hearty and packed with plant-based protein. I tried making this, and it was a hit!
Dinner Recipes
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday Dinner: Caitlin creates a bean and rice risoni dish with roasted veggies (broccoli and tomatoes). She suggests adding a drizzle of garlic-infused oil and some lemon juice for extra flavor. This dish is both comforting and nutritious.
- Tuesday, Thursday Dinner: Pesto spaghetti with broccoli stems is another delicious option. Caitlin cooks the pasta and broccoli stems together, then mixes in vegan pesto. She recommends seasoning with salt, pepper, and possibly some nutritional yeast or vegan Parmesan. I think this dish is perfect for pasta lovers!
Dessert
No meal prep is complete without dessert! Caitlin suggests dark chocolate and peanut butter. She buys two chocolate bars and pairs them with leftover peanut butter for a simple yet indulgent treat. I love this idea because it’s easy and satisfies my sweet tooth.
Final Thoughts
Caitlin’s $50 vegan meal prep from Trader Joe’s is a game-changer. I think her approach to meal prepping is practical and inspiring, making it easy to eat healthy and delicious vegan meals on a budget. I tried several of her recipes, and they were all fantastic. If you’re looking to save time and money while enjoying nutritious meals, give Caitlin’s meal prep guide a try!