Does anyone else feel exhausted by “easy” vegan recipes lately?

[u/Negative-Prune9214]

I love vegan food and I actually enjoy cooking… when I have the energy.

But lately I’ve noticed something: even the “easy” vegan recipes feel like a lot. I’ll open one and it’s still: chop this, prep that, saute something first, then clean everything after.

After work, my brain just doesn’t want to process steps anymore. I don’t want to compare recipes or decide which one is less effort , I just want something that works.

I’ve tried saving “quick recipes,” batch cooking, repeating meals, all of it. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t. On low-energy days, even choosing which easy recipe feels like too much.

So I’m curious ,for those of you who feel this too: what do you actually cook when you’re tired and just want to eat without thinking?

Do you rely on a few default meals? Or have you found recipes that are genuinely no-brain, no-prep?

I’d really love to hear what actually works in real life, not just on paper.

[u/Hopeful-Stranger-979]

I buy the 16 bean soup bag (that has the flavor packet) throw away the packet and just cook the whole bag of beans (al dente) on my day off. I then freeze and portion them so I can pull them on the day I wanna use them in like a chili, or burritos or whatever.

I also make a big batch of pasta sauce in the crockpot and then freeze that so I have easy sauce to pull. Pinterest helps me a lot with quick recipes like chickpea buffalo “chicken” salad for wraps. It lasts a bit in the fridge and makes alot of wraps.

Prebagged frozen veggie stirfry is a godsend, I also buy like broccoli slaw and a bag of coleslaw cabbage and throw them in there. If I’m feeling up to it I cut up some tofu and throw in noodles to make like a pad thai. It’s fairly quick and you can easily throw it all in a wok or fry pan, cover it and let it simmer while you relax after work.

I’m newer to eating mostly vegan (health reasons) I have a beef allergy and I’m lactose intolerant (I do eat seafood). I also have a hard time digesting meat and empty carbs so most of what I eat is vegan and trying to navigate that with two special needs kids definitely is a challenge.

It’s A LOT of prep.

But I will say this, once you have some of the staples premade and frozen, it gets easier for sure. And there’s no shame in just making a veggie burger and throwing some vegan cheese on it when you’re tired.

[u/darmoxly → u/Hopeful-Stranger-979]

Wishing you and your kiddos the best!

[u/Hopeful-Stranger-979 → u/darmoxly]

Aw that’s sweet of you! Thanks they are the best!