Most people would rather face a zombie attack than plan a meal in my house. I must have committed some horrid crime against food in a previous lifetime because meal planning was always difficult due to the many different taste ranges we had. Then by some mystic twist of fate the ante was upped and I had to prepare food for my family that was gluten, wheat, and dairy free. Since I was already vegan I knew to focus on what we could have rather than what we couldn't. Now, how to get this mixed diet family fed?
When meal planning my first consideration is that it has to be gluten and dairy free. Most importantly, all desserts in my house are vegan. That's my rule. No exceptions! From here we go to the main meal. I try to choose a cuisine that we all like. For example if it's Italian. I will make a vegan sauce for everyone and then perhaps have some ground beef (organic, grass fed) on the side for them to add in to their pasta. All side dishes will be vegan. I always have a vegan main dish and everyone gets to try some. If it is successful then I will drop off the meat option. If we have Mexican, I will have our favorite Chick-Pea Tacos by Happy Herbivore. This is a meal in the past I would have to give a ground beef option for but after a while everyone was eating a vegan meal and the beef was a memory. Lunches work the same. Sometimes it's a simple PB&J on GF bread or hummus on rice cakes. I make sure we have plenty of fresh veggies, some Happy Herbivore Ranch Dip and everyone is happy. Most lunch and breakfast meals are vegan. Honestly, gluten free was the biggest challenge for us but after the panic attacks subsided we all celebrate the delicious foods we can enjoy and have realized that thankfully, chickpeas are gluten free.
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