The secret to any diverse palette is to stay creative in the kitchen. How? By having a ton of new and fresh recipes at the ready! Any quick search on Pinterest or (obviously) Google will provide a slew of meal ideas that can be overwhelming. Add in these allergies and those sensitivities, and thanks to the world wide web, one will still see a wide selection to choose from. No matter if the family is gluten-free, vegan, Low FODMAP, dairy-free, wheat-free, egg-free, or any other kind of "free," there are a ton of recipes out there to try. This is good, people! This means never having to eat the same meal twice again.
The easiest way to achieve a consistently new and robust flow of meals is to plan them out — and be a little adventurous.
Be warned: Meal planning can be time-consuming, but totally worth it! Having scheduled ideas of what meals to prepare for the family is essential. A meal plan helps to keep those trips to the grocery store organized and, if necessary, on budget. Planning out what recipes to cook in advance also helps to minimize wasted food and ingredients, in turn saving money.
Meal planning is like building a puzzle, really. It is essential to reuse some of the ingredients for a variety of other recipes for meals throughout the whole week. For example, one can buy a whole chicken for a roasted chicken dinner recipe, and use the leftovers for a shredded chicken salad lunch recipe. If fish is on the menu more than one time in the week, consider buying a larger piece to cut and freeze for later use.
Here are 20 recipes to try at least once this month. Consider it a start to a robust meal planning calendar!
Overnight Coconut Guava Basil Seed Pudding
Trying to say the name of this recipe 10 times fast is a lot harder than actually making it! This dairy-free breakfast pudding is full of basil seeds that plump up in coconut milk. Top with fruit, nuts, or granola of choice.
Black Bean & Sweet Potato Tostadas
Switch up Taco Tuesday for Tostada Tuesday! This quick, easy and flavorful plant-based meal is packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Tostadas take no more time to put together than tacos, but bring in something new and crunchy to the mix.
Best Thai Iced Tea
This decadent Thai iced tea is sweet, refreshing, and perfect for when summer comes around. The rich layer of sweetened milk turns it into the familiar bright orange color. YUM.
Italian Quinoa Bake (Low FODMAP)
This hearty meatless dish is packed with flavor and loaded with ingredients like sweet potato, eggplant, fennel, and quinoa. Made with Prego Traditional Sensitive Recipe Italian Sauce so even Low-FODMAPers can enjoy!
Foolproof Lemon & Fennel Branzino
Cooking a whole fish can be intimidating, but this lemon and fennel branzino recipe keeps it super simple. Cooked whole, the skin and bones help to flavor the fish without putting in any extra work.
Avocado Scramble
This avocado scramble combines avocados with anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric and leafy green veggies. This super healthy meal is a great way to start out the day.
Miso Glazed Tofu
Better (and healthier!) than any takeout, this miso glazed tofu recipe is a keeper. It's vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb.
Vegetable Harvest Bowl
This meal in a bowl is ready in less than 40 minutes and is jam-packed with incredible flavors and healthy ingredients. The pomegranate seeds tie together all of the flavors in this hearty, vegan dish.
Flourless Hazelnut Cake With Nutella Whipped Cream
Uhhhh — we stopped at "Nutella whipped cream." This gluten-free hazelnut cake is easy to make and even easier to eat!
Tuna & White Bean Radicchio Lettuce Wraps
A simple, quick recipe that uses pantry staples for a fresh spin is tuna and white bean radicchio lettuce wraps. They're quick and easy to make and are a super fresh addition to any brunch or lunch menu.
Easy Eggplant Meatballs
This five-ingredient eggplant meatballs recipe is perfect the whole family, vegan or not! Flavorful, hearty and healthy, it is a must-try meatless dinner meal.
Chickpea Cashew Broccoli With Garlic Sauce
This Asian-inspired meal is dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan. Ready in about 20 minutes, it's all prepared in one skillet, so there's less to clean up. Bonus!
Beef Stifado With Potatoes
Beef: it's what's for dinner! This Greek version of a beef stew is flavored with tomatoes, spices, and wine, making it incredibly rich and savory.
Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Cookies
This naturally gluten-free recipe has only five ingredients! The rich taste and decadent chewy texture makes these cookies the perfect sweet treat.
Coconut Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Looking to increase the family's veggie intake without completely replacing those favorite noodles? This half-and-half zucchini noodle and spaghetti dish with creamy coconut shrimp is the perfect solution!
Vegan Buffalo Chicken Nachos
These easy sheet pan vegan buffalo chicken nachos are gluten-free and 100% meatless. Whip up these quick, bold, and spicy chips for a snack, party appetizer, or fun dinner!
Chickpea & Couscous Salad
This couscous salad with chickpeas and preserved lemon is packed full of fresh roasted vegetables, sweet dried apricots, and the delicious umami flavor of preserved lemons. This flavor-packed dish is easy to make and healthy — perfect for picnics, barbecues, or dinner with the family.
Kiwi Melon Salad
Ahhhh, a refreshing recipe to satisfy that sweet tooth craving. This dish is healthy mix of kiwi, lemon, cantaloupe, cucumber, blueberries, and mint.
Barbecue Chickpea Pizza
Talk about minimal prep! Whip up this easy barbecue chickpea pizza using canned ingredients like beans, corn, tomatoes and peas.
Grilled Polenta With Spinach & Cheese
These polenta squares are grilled until crisp, complemented with a bed of sautéed spinach, and topped with robiola cheese. Make this as a side dish for dinner or brunch.
