Instead of focusing on the negatives (lose 20 pounds, cut out all junk food, etc.), I prefer to focus on the positives (try a new vegetable-based recipe every week, find fun ways to incorporate exercise into my life). Enter the free 7-day vegan challenge! It’s focused on the positives: nourishing yourself with delicious, wholesome and sometimes even indulgent plant-based food that will satisfy your whole family. Whether you are a new vegan, are participating in Veganuary this month, or just trying to eat more plants this year, this challenge will be a fun learning experience. And a delicious one too!
What you’ll get out of the challenge
7 days worth of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and dessertsA meal plan that is packed with flavor, variety, and nutrientsTips on how to make the best out of this challengeA balanced, realistic approach to eating a plant-based diet that’s anything but restrictiveInspiration for whipping up your own vegan meals, including several customizable charts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipesA sense of confidence that’ll help you start getting comfortable in a plant-based kitchen
Who should sign up for the 7-day vegan challenge?
Anyone transitioning to or seeking to transition to a vegan dietPlant-curious folksNew vegansVegetarians and omnivores who want to eat more plant-based foodAnyone struggling to eat more plant-based food because they find it boring or flavorlessVegans who are looking to add more variety and flavor into their diets
7-Day Vegan Challenge Details
Sign up for the challenge using the sign-up form near the top of this post.You can start the challenge as soon as you receive the welcome email, or you can wait a few days or weeks until it’s the right time for you. All of the recipes in this challenge are vegan, and most of the recipes are gluten-free. If a recipe is not gluten-free, there is a gluten-free option or alternative provided. Some of these recipes use an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker. When that is the case, there’s always an alternative meal for those who don’t have one.
Tips for Success
Stock Up
Make sure you have some vegan staples in your kitchen before starting the challenge. Some of my pantry staples include tahini, nut butters, nuts and seeds, grains and legumes of all kinds, olive oil, coconut oil, nutritional yeast, canned coconut milk, canned tomatoes, and a variety of spices and herbs. For more ideas, head to the blog for a three-part series on my favorite vegan pantry essentials.
Plan Ahead
If you know you’ll be starving when you get home from work, make sure your dinner is at least partially prepped (there are lots of options for leftovers in this challenge!). If you’re dining out or eating at someone else’s house, be sure to call the restaurant or your host in advance to ensure there are vegan options.
Embrace Leftovers
If you are cooking for one or have a lot of leftovers, spread them out throughout the week. No need to make a new recipe if you already have leftovers that you enjoy. Don’t Demand Perfection You don’t have to make every single meal in this challenge. And going vegan doesn’t mean you have to cook everything from scratch and buy everything organic. And just because this is a vegan challenge, it doesn’t mean you have to also turn it into a sugar-free, oil-free, alcohol-free challenge! Just do what works for you and is sustainable.
Shop Local
Visit your local farmer’s market to stock up on produce for this challenge. You’ll be surprised how much fresher, sweeter, and crisper vegetables and fruits taste when they’re grown/shipped locally and in season.
Enlist Support
Get your family and friends involved in this challenge! If you do the cooking in your household, get your family to eat vegan with you for the week. If you have a vegan-curious friend, get them to join the challenge with you (I love when I see my followers cook my recipes over Zoom dates)! And don’t be afraid to seek support from me! Drop me a line on Instagram or by email at help@rainbowplantlife.com.
Don’t Demand Perfection
You don’t have to make every single meal, cook everything from scratch, and buy everything organic. No time to milk almonds? Store-bought almond milk is just fine. Don’t feel like cooking the Day 6 dinner because you still have leftovers from Day 5? No problem. And this is simply a vegan challenge. You don’t have to also make it a gluten-free, sugar-free, soy-free, oil-free challenge as well. Do what is most suitable and sustainable for your lifestyle.
Enlist Support
Get your family and friends involved in this challenge! If you do the cooking in your household, get your family to eat vegan with you. If you have a vegan-curious friend, get them to join the challenge with you! And don’t be afraid to seek support from me! Drop me a line on on Instagram or by email. That’s all you need to know for now! The free PDF guide has all the info you need, along with the meal plan for this 7-day vegan challenge!
