I gave up meat for the entire duration of Lent, including Sundays. Cheese sounds like a splendid idea! I think I’m gonna bring some Gouda cheese to work.
Okay, so I gave up meat (including fish) for Lent too, though I will eat fish on Sundays. Oh, and I hate cooking, so my general rule is to make large amounts of different things and then store them to eat later.
Anyhow, here are some fairly inexpensive, hearty suggestions that worked really well for me, and so far so good - plus, I pretty much avoid the “vegetarian replacements” with a few exceptions:
**Weekdays (i.e. non-meat/fish days): **
Breakfast Stuff:
Cheesy mushroom/spinach/tomato omelet with potatoes - I vary the toppings according to taste. If you’re adventuresome, crumble some of that fake bacon in there… its not too bad.
Granola and yogurt with fruit.
Peanut butter with sliced banana on toast.
Scrambled eggs, toast, juice.
Lunch/Dinner
Veggie stir fry (fresh or frozen) over rice. If you want you can throw in a package of tempeh, which is basically just this soy stuff that adds protein.
Vegetarian chili (you can buy it in a box - just add a can of beans and tomatoes). Make a lot, put it in containers and then serve it over rice/baked potato with cheese for some variety.
Veggie stew (can of: chickpeas, beans, tomato, rasins, spices, zucchini, corn other random veggies) serve it over polenta (cornmeal). Good if you like spicy stuff.
Beans and rice (you can buy it in a packet at the store) with cheese. Complete protein, easy to make.
Spaghetti with sauce and garlic bread (again, make a lot and then keep it to eat later).
Tacos (use beans and rice to sub for protein)
Mac and Cheese (if that isn’t enough protein-wise, throw in a package of tempeh).
Veggie lasagne. (Red or white sauce…I change it up for variety and cut up some veggies (or throw in a bunch of frozen ones. Hide some tofu/ tempeh inside for extra protein).
Sundays (Fish days)
Tuna salad sandwich
Salmon burger (accomplished by crumbling salmon, feta cheese, oil and some flour together and then grilling/baking/frying it) with asparagus.
Shrimp stir fry (I buy those frozen vegetables, throw them in a pan with some shrimp) served over rice.
Seafood alfredo (basically accomplished by cooking up shrimp, scallops, etc and throwing them in with pre-made alfredo sauce). Cook some noodles and eat.
Shrimp/seafood quesadillas. (Cook shrimp, place between two tortillas with cheese. Bake/microwave).
Tuna Casserole (pasta + can of tuna + frozen peas + can of cream of something soup + oven)
**
Snacks:
**
Deviled eggs (for high protein)
Crackers with cream cheese and sliced tomato/cheese
Hummus (comes in a tin, you can eat it with crackers or whatever… high protein).
Trail mix, dried fruit, nuts, etc.
Hope this helps! Once you figure out what things are more protein heavy it makes things pretty easy. Junk food is evil though, because it ends up just making you feel nasty after a while.
