Plant Based Weekly Meal Prep

The goal is to eat as much of the rainbow 🌈 as possible 🤗. Inspiration comes from visiting the local farmers market every Saturday (@unsqgreenmarket). This week, the haul included 5 bunches of greens🌱, shiitake mushrooms 🍄 , Portobello 🍄, and beets.

Full Menu Below ⤵️

Breakfast-☀️

Daily Berry Smoothies

Lunch-🍴

Vegan Chicken Salad (Romaine, mushrooms, carrots, beets, & grape tomatoes) + Kale Caesar Salad (kale-massaged kale, lemon, nutritional yeast, salt~beets, mushrooms, cucumbers, and shredded vegan cheese. 

Dinner Option 1-🍽

Italian Vegan Meatballs w Tomato Basil 🌿 Sauce, roasted Brussels sprouts, shiitake mushrooms and beet greens. 

Dinner Option 2-🍽

High Protein Veggie Burgers meals with Swiss Chard, Brussel Sprouts, and garlicky kale. 

Dinner Option 3-🍽

Vegan Bowls with tofu scramble, vegan chicken tenders, sautéed portobello mushrooms, and kale. 

Snacks-🤔

(1/2 cup) raspberries

(1 cup) grapes 🍇

Apples 🍎

Cuties 🍊 

Happy Monday!

 

 Weekly Fruit Prep (Raspberries & Grapes)

 

Vegan Chicken Salad (Romaine, mushrooms, carrots, beets, & grape tomatoes)

Kale Caesar Salad (kale-massaged kale, lemon, nutritional yeast, salt~beets, mushrooms, cucumbers, and shredded vegan cheese.

Back-High Protein Veggie Burgers meals with Swiss Chard, Brussel Sprouts, and garlicky kale.

Front-Vegan Bowl with tofu scramble, vegan chicken,  sautéed portobello mushrooms, and kale.

Italian Vegan Meatballs w Tomato Basil 🌿 Sauce, roasted Brussels sprouts, shiitake mushrooms and beet greens.

Green Smoothies!

Weekly Meal Prep-9/6/17

5 Salads, 8 Dinners, and lots of Snacks!

Lunch-Lemony Kale & Beet Salads

Dinner #1 Veggie Burgers with Shishito Peppers & Sesame Kale

Dinner #2 Miso Tofu with Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Sauteed Water Spinach with Garlic

Snack Mix-Raw Almonds, Raw Pepitas, and Golden Raisins

*I haven't posted since 1/2/17!  I'll get back to my marathon training recap at some point, but I feel as though the direction of my Instagram and Blogging posts will focus more on meal planning and meal preparation.  If you have any questions, feel free to DM or email me!

IG-@eastvillageveg 

Email-eastvillagevegan@gmail.com

Julie

Weekly Meal Prep

Every Sunday I prepare meals for the upcoming work week. Typically, it takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on how simple or complex (meaning how ambitious I feel) the meals are. 

This past Sunday I attended my first Vegan Cookbook Club (will post before the holiday), which required cooking, commuting, and attending the event. Therefore meal planning got pushed back until today. 

Here's a photo essay of what I made. *Bonus dry erase menu included at the bottom. This allows me to remember what's in the fridge before opening it to save energy. 

Sesame Tofu Green Salad

Pesto Tempeh Salad

Vegan Boca Chicken Salad 

More salads 

What are your meal plans for the week? 

Leave a comment and share what you're making. 

Enjoy the week!

Vedge Restaurant Philadelphia, PA.

Vedge Restaurant

The husband and wife team of Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby have been garnering a whole lot of buzz since opening in 2011.  Their vegetable restaurant is inspired by fresh and locally sourced ingredients. When dining at Vedge, there is always something new and exciting to try off of their menus including the Vedge bar (cold plates), hot kitchen, dirt list, and desserts. 

Whenever I travel to Philadelphia, I try my best to dine here.   Luckily, I was able to snag a last minute reservation.  *Tip-Book in advance.  However, if you are not able to, they also except walk-ins earlier in the evening.  

On a recent visit, rather than order your typical appetizer and entree, I sampled many items on their seasonal menu.  At Vedge, it is suggested to order 2-3 plates per person (tapas style). Although there were two of us dining, we ended up ordering 9 plates!  It was my friend's first time dining here and she loved it.  I suggest you go if you haven't tried it yet.  Be sure to order the roasted golden beets and the fingerling potatoes...my two favorites. Also, save room for dessert.  Pastry Chef and co-owner Kate Jacoby was recently nominated as James Beard Foundation 2014 Outstanding Pastry Chef (Semifinalist)...Congrats Kate! She wasn't the only one...Chef Rich has a nomination as Best Chef Mid-Atlantic. What an honor and achievement. I hope you both win!  Take a peek at their lovely creations below.

The Vedge Bar

Salt Roasted Golden Beets

(avocado, smoked tofu, capers, creamy cucumber, seedy rye)

Winter Chopped Salad

(green goddess, cured olive, pumpernickel)

From the Dirt List

Grilled Black Kale

Brussel Sprouts

(shaved and grilled, smoked mustard)

Nebrodini Mushrooms "Fazzoletti"

(basil, olive oil, charred tomato)

Fingerling Fries

(creamy worcestershire)

Spaetzle with turnips

 From the Hot Kitchen

Eggplant Braciole

(smoked eggplant, cured olive, sicilian salsa verde)

 From the Dessert Menu

Sticky Toffee Pudding
(brown sugar date cake, smoked pecan ice cream)

Even after a full meal, I can't wait to return.  Until next time, I'll try and make my way through their new cookbook. Thanks Karen!!!

Blossom Du Jour

My next food adventure led me to Hell's Kitchen in NYC.   There are 3 Blossom Du Jour locations including Chelsea, Midtown West, and the Upper West Side.  The Midtown West or Hell's Kitchen location is at 617 9th Ave (between 43rd and 44th St).  

All BDJ locations  are 100% vegan and restauranteur Pamela Elizabeth launched this "FUN, HEALTHY...food on the go" or "alternative fast food" concept in 2010.  Looking through their menu, you will find sandwiches, wraps, salads, sides, add-in options, smoothies, shakes, fresh pressed juices, and sweets.  It's always tough to decide what to order when I go to an all-vegan restaurant because the options are endless.  However, I picked two sandwiches and a side.  

First up:

THE SKYSCRAPER

vegan burger, v-bacon, v-cheese, onion rings, lettuce, tomato, pickles, special sauce

Inside THE SKYSCRAPER

Next up:

SEITAN PHILLY CHEESE STEAK

marinated seitan, peppers, onions, v-cheese, chipotle aïoli

Finally: 

TINY CAESAR

                                                    crispy romaine, capers, creamy caesar dressing 

Here are some other photos of BDJ.  

Front Entrance

Juice/Beverage Case

Prepared foods to go

Caesar Salad

Sweets anyone?

Shrewd Fast Food

Next time you're in NYC and need something quick, on the go, and fresh...be sure to stop by one of the BDJ locations throughout the city.

Soy and Sake West Village

 Soy and Sake is one of my favorite restaurants in the city.  When I first discovered this place, I was in love (see related post here)! The staff is quite friendly and the manager always welcomes you with a bright smile.  Their menu is pretty heavy in the mock meat category.  If you're a fan of veggie meats, try the Crispy Chicken Nuggets, Grilled Chicken Salad, Thai Grilled Chicken, Ying Yang Noodles, Bento Boxes, or try their specialty Sushi Rolls.   However, if you're not a fan, no fear, there are plenty of non-mock meat dishes such as a variety of salads (house, seaweed, avocado), vegetable entrees, and sides. They also have a great lunch special too!  See the latest lunch visit below. 

Green Salad with Ginger Dressing

Soy Chicken Teriyaki Skewer

Vegan Chicken Pad Thai

Vegan Sweet and Sour Chicken

Spicy Soy Tuna Cucumber, Kampyo Sushi, and Spicy Soy Tuna Avocado

Sushi Roll Close up

My love affair with Soy and Sake has slowly faded, but I always know where to go for a good Vegan Bento Box or Sushi Roll.  Btw...they serve Vegan Treats for dessert!