Challenge Yourself to Go Vegan For a Week With This Simple Meal Plan

This tempeh dish is made with quinoa, corn, beans, and avocado, so you get a crazy amount of nutrition — almost 10 grams of fiber and 17.4 grams of protein — all for 350 calories per serving.

Time-saving tips: When cooking the quinoa, double the amount and cook two cups — save one cup to be used for Friday night's dinner. While cutting up one red bell pepper for this recipe, cut up three more to be used later for Wednesday's carrot fettucine, Thursday's burrito, and Friday's quinoa salad.

Throw everything for the curry in the slow cooker in the morning, so when you get home, all you need to do is make the rice. This sweet and savory dish is under 400 calories.

Time-saving tips: While you're cutting the one sweet potato for this recipe, cut up two more to use for Thursday night's black bean burrito.

Save carbs by making your noodles out of carrots — all you need is a simple vegetable peeler for this 478-calorie dinner. Add protein to this meal by adding some sautéed tofu.

Time-saving tips: This recipe only calls for one block of sautéed tofu, but if you make twice that amount, you can save it to add to tomorrow night's burrito.

This hearty sweet potato and black bean burrito is sure to become a weeknight favorite. If you're hungry, enjoy the entire burrito for 471 calories, or wrap up half for tomorrow's lunch.

Time-saving tips: Use the red pepper you previously cut Monday night, the sweet potato cut up on Tuesday, plus boxed tomatoes, canned black beans, and frozen corn, and this meal doesn't take much time at all.

This 330-calorie colorful quinoa salad can be served warm or cold, and since the veggies don't need to be cooked, this meal only takes about 30 minutes — as long as it takes to make quinoa.

Time-saving tips: Buy shelled edamame and use red pepper cut up from Monday plus the cooked quinoa, and you're golden!

This high-protein soup recipe makes eight 250-calorie servings, so either halve the recipe or freeze some for later.

Time-saving tips: If you buy precut fresh or frozen butternut squash, it'll save you even more time. And since this is a slow-cooker recipe, with just a few minutes of prep in the morning, you can go out, enjoy the day, and have hot soup waiting for you when you return.

Sundays are the perfect day to make a more-involved meal, so whip up these sweet potato quinoa burgers, which are just over 300 calories.

Time-saving tips: Make double the batch and freeze the leftover patties for a quick meal down the road. If you don't have time to make your own veggie burgers, choose frozen ones instead — Hilary's Eat Well is a delicious, vegan option.

Grocery List

Among the basic staples in your pantry you already have on hand — including olive oil, salt and pepper, common spices such as cayenne, cumin, curry powder, dill, nutmeg, and garlic powder — here's the shopping list you'll need to take to the store.

Fresh Produce:

• 2 yellow onions
• 3 stalks celery
• 3 cups butternut squash
• 4 cloves garlic
• 9 carrots
• 1/2 yellow pepper
• 4 1/2 red bell peppers
• 2 cups cauliflower florets
• 4 sweet potatoes
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1/2 cup mushrooms
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 lime
• 2 avocados
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 3 teaspoons and 1 tablespoon fresh ginger

Frozen Veggies:

• 1 1/2 cups shelled edamame
• 2 cups frozen corn

Grains, Canned Goods, and Packaged Foods:

• 2 1/4 cups quinoa
• 1 1/2 cups brown basmati rice
• 1/4 cup barley
• 2 cups red lentils
• 2 15-ounce cans chickpeas
• 2 15-ounce cans black beans
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 box chopped tomatoes plus 2 cups
• 2 cans light coconut milk
• 30 ounces marinara sauce
• 8-ounce package tempeh
• 2 blocks extrafirm tofu
• 4 whole-wheat wraps

Extras:

• 9 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 1/2 tablespoon curry powder

Remember you can prep as much as you want or have time for on Sunday, or do a little each night to make the rest of the week's meals that much faster.

If you're loving how this vegan lifestyle is making you feel, check out our 22-day challenge.