227 - Quick & Easy Plant-Based Cooking on a Budget with Author Toni Okamoto

For anyone out there who’s been curious, but reluctant to try a plant-based diet because you’ve heard it’s time-consuming or expensive, our guest today is going to completely shatter those myths. In her new book, “Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy: 100 Fast, Healthy, Meal-Prep, Freezer-Friendly, And One-Pot Vegan Recipes,” Chef Toni Okamoto, host of Plant-Powered People Podcast and founder of the wildly popular Plant-Based on a Budget website, demystifies plant-based eating and offers clever, practical solutions that make eating delicious, healthy and diverse foods convenient and more affordable. And for those of you who have been listeners for a while, you might recognize Toni from when she was a guest in episode 105, so we’re super happy to have her here with us again to ignite our culinary imaginations! “You don’t have to eat differently or dramatically differently than you eat already. Think about the favorite foods that you enjoy. You enjoy pizza. You enjoy burritos. You have pasta dishes. You can make those with simple swaps and still enjoy the same familiar textures and flavors that you’re used to and that your family is used to.” - Toni Okamoto What we discuss in this episode: How Toni’s new book differs from her last book. Her favorite dinner recipes. How to add vegan cheesy flavors to your meals. The challenges of writing a cookbook.  Kitchen gadgets she likes that make meals quick and easy. Her top tips to get a delicious meal ready quickly. Essential spices to make a great meal. Tips and benefits of meal planning. How to make breakfast or lunch easy and healthier.   Resources: Toni’s website: Plant-Based on a Budget Her new book: Plant-Based on a Budget Cookbook Instagram: Toni | Plant-Based on a Budget (@plantbasedonabudget) | Instagram YouTube: Toni Okamoto - YouTube Twitter: PlantBasedonaBudget (@plantbasedblog) / Twitter Her short documentary: 7 Days Documentary   Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips https://switch4good.org/dairy-free-swaps-guide <img src= "data:image/png;base64,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" alt="