There is a misconception that vegetarian healthy meals are expensive and difficult to prepare. I beg to differ. I say, it takes less effort, energy and cost. It takes less effort because a vegetarian meal is composed of fresh vegetables and high-protein beans and legumes. Vegetables need not be cooked for hours. In fact the quicker you can cook the more beneficial it is. Most vegetables can be blanched or steamed in minutes while animal flesh needs to be cooked very well especially when you’re feeding them to your little kiddos.

Salmonella laden meat anyone? Bacteria fest? I’m not trying to scare you, I’m just saying these are worries you need not bother with when you’re preparing vegetarian meals. I’m not saying that there is a zero possibility of parasite in vegetables but the probability is not as high as with meat. (Now now, don’t bash me. Let’s save this argument for later discussion. Get back to me and we’ll wrestle with this topic some other time.) Beans and legumes take time to be cooked. True. But… you can always cook them in big batches and store them in the freezer for future use. Tofu burgers can be done over the weekends for the week’s consumption. I make a batch enough for tofu burgers, tofu balls and tofu patties that can be grilled, baked or cooked in tiny weenie bit of olive oil on a non-stick pan. These are quick meals for hungry active kids whose hungry appetite must be attended to ASAP before the window of opportunity closes in on you. Whole wheat bread, tofu patties with some crispy lettuce and fresh succulent tomatoes, a slab of cheese and into the grill it goes. Once the cheese melts, the lettuce and tomatoes gets forgotten in the gooey cheese. Place it on a plate and slice them into small triangles or cut them with a cookie shaped cutter. If you’re kids don’t clamor over them, well at least there’s you who can benefit from this scrumptious meal you’ve prepared. Seven to eight minutes tops and if you do this few days a week, you’ll be making this in minutes just like the guys at the burger joint.

That’s one of the perks of being a vegetarian. Instant frozen food in the supermarket is not always accessible to everybody so mothers like me make them (instant frozen food) without the killer preservatives and hidden GMOs. And I get to choose what I put in: Whole wheat flour or besan flour? Grated carrots or grated beets? Mashed tofu or soy grits? So you see a bad thing can sometimes be a good thing. I get make my own instant vegetarian healthy meals. I know my kid is eating healthy because I know what exactly he’s eating. Do you?

With home cooked vegetarian healthy meals I know he won’t have to suffer food poisoning due to undercooked seafood, poultry and meat. Sick child with food poisoning. Effort, energy, cost and heartache. Need I say more?

I have been a vegetarian almost my entire life and have raised two kids with abundance of vegetarian healthy meals. I am delighted to share my experience of vegetarian and vegan cooking with the world.