Vegan transition week day 5: dinner

We've already got through the two most difficult meals of the day, drenched in apathy and laziness. Now we're on the home stretch! It's after work, you've got all the time in the world! You remember dinner, right? Last big meal of the day? The one you can have wine with? Ah, I knew that would get you.

Dinnertime, then, is the most glorious of the day's meals. You have spent all the work day deciding what you fancy, and you'll have those nachos if it kills you. But hang on; don't forget that you also need some goodness inside you!

Here are my ten favourite dinner dishes that taste great as well as being super healthy. Enjoy!

1. Vegan pad Thai
I learned how to make Pad Thai in Bangkok, and made my version vegan with awesome results. Everyone loves this dish and it's easy to see why!
2. Spinach, chickpea and eggplant curry
The spinach base of this curry is rich in iron, calcium and omega 3 fatty acids. The chickpeas, too, bring protein while the spices are just generally fantastic for you!
3. Spicy bean patties

These protein-rich patties make a great meal when served on top of cous cous with a carrot-lime salad. Even Canadian carnivores at BBQs love these!

4. The World's Best Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese
I don't throw the phrase "the world's best" around easily, but these really is the world's best vegan spaghetti bolognese. TVP replaces the beef, and you won't even realise it's gone!
5. Soba stir fry with hoi sin vegetables
Soba noodles are fantastic for you; buckwheat contains heaps of fiber and can lower your blood sugar!

6. Lentil chili
Chili is my meal of choice when it's snowy outside and I want something warming. The lentils and beans are the ultimate protein combo!
7. Squash, mushroom and spinach risotto
Risottos are great for those times when you need a meal seriously filling. This tastes decadent but gives a great dose of iron and calcium from the spinach. The pine nuts, too, contain more protein than any other seed as well as lots of fibre!
8. Triple protein vegan nachos
Let us banish the myth that vegans are protein-deficient with this triple threat dinner: TVP, kidney beans and black beans bring the party and hot sauce brings the fun!
9. Bean and potato casserole
Using seasonal vegetables is always a great idea, and this hearty casserole uses winter veggies for a satisfying and cosy dish.
10. Leek and lentil bake with quinoa crust
It's a matter of public knowledge how much I love quinoa; when coupled with lentils and leeks they become a nutritional powerhouse of epic proportions!