Plant-based Thanksgiving Menu

What are you all doing for Thanksgiving this year?

My husband will have FOUR days off... most time since he started recruiting early October. He works 70+ hours a week (including Saturdays) right now so obviously any time off is greatly appreciated.

So on Thanksgiving we plan on just being lazy at home, I think. I plan on baking a pumpkin pie and making this pecan praline ice cream.  Friday we'll either run errands or go try to visit some of my side of the family.  Saturday we are driving 5 hours with my inlays to my BIL and SIL's for actual Thanksgiving dinner. Sunday we'll head back home.

While I love food, I love family even more. I know a big part of why I love holidays is simply because it means large family gatherings and those make me happy!

That said... let's talk about the food. I've gathered up some delicious plant based Thanksgiving recipes to help those of you still stuck on what to make!

APPETIZERS

Marinated olives

Stuffed mushrooms

Roasted chickpeas

Hummus crostini

MAIN DISH

Puff pastry wrapped lentil loaf (I'm going to make this instead of buy a faux roast this year. I hope it turns out!!)

Meatless loaf

Quinoa stuffed squash

SIDES

Butternut squash mac n cheese  (I think it's an American thing to serve mac n cheese at Thanksgiving? I'd never heard of it growing up in Canada!)

Citrus cranberry sauce (I always offer to make cranberry sauce. Maybe because it's easy? haha Fresh is SO much tastier than canned! I love it with citrus and cinnamon too)

Mashed potatoes

Sourdough stuffing

Maple roasted carrots

Caramelized brussel sprouts

Green bean casserole

Gravy

DESSERT

Pumpkin bread (I'm actually making this tonight just without the icing)

Pumpkin donuts (personally I would bake this in a donut pan. Frying ain't for me)

Pumpkin cheesecake (my sister made this for Canadian Thanksgiving and it was SO good that I knew I had to make it when the American one rolled around. Hopefully mine is as good (my sister is a better baker than me haha)).

Coconut whipped cream (a must!)

Apple crumble pie

DRINKS

Honeycrisp apple sangria

Non alcoholic sangria

Bourbon spiced apple cider

Pumpkin martini

Cranberry gimlet

Holiday mule

Life Lately

Sorry about the lack of posts! Third trimester is just a busy time tackling my to do list, birthing classes, midwife appointments etc Plus I'm trying to rest and get extra sleep (like everyone tells you to do haha).

My dang camera battery charger is still missing! I have been snapping some outfit pics with my iPhone though so I figured I'd do another "Life lately" post.

People still tell me I look so small but I'm 5'10! That does make it easier for me to hide "extra weight".  The belly is feeling pretty big these days anyway haha

I wear these shorts a ton now that our weather has really heated up! They're from ASOS but I don't see them on the website anymore. Shoes are Target. Shirt is Everlane.

Spirulina smoothie bowl with homemade granola

Old Navy jacket. Old Navy maternity top. Target shorts and shoes.

I dyed my hair purple! I figured it'd work okay over any red I had left. I plan on trying Artic Fox's purple soon. I also have a couple aquas to try... oh and a dark green. hehe

I attended a Solly Baby warehouse sale and snagged a wrap at a discounted price! Super excited to wear B in it. The other stuff is Target.  How tiny are newborn leggings??

Enjoying a tropical smoothie I made

Chocolate covered frozen banana!

Buckwheat pancakes with homemade soy yogurt

Steel cut oats (lots of protein and fiber!) with blackberries and lemon zest.

Jamberry love!

Eli's Farms CSA with a Groupon deal. I am going to sign back up with a CSA though! It's just more convenient than getting to the farmer's market each week.

I swear I am not always at Target... haha  Target top and sandals. Old Navy maternity skirt.

Gardein "chicken" soft tacos!

Oatmeal with another batch of homemade yogurt (I used firm tofu instead of soft so it's thicker here) and Teeccino <-- alternative="" awesome="" coffee="" p="">

Orange smoothie and pancakes!

Cauliflower lasagna. 

Mint smoothie

Healthy Happy Holidays -How to be Healthier During the Holidays

The biggest holiday season is quickly approaching. With Thanksgiving in late November, I feel like it basically runs from then all the way to New Years Day! I love it! It's my favourite time of the year. I love that people always seem to be a bit friendlier, the catchy Christmas songs that we say we hate but c'mon, do we really?, hot drinks that warm my belly, that crispness in the air, the food... oh yeah, the food. That's kind of what I wanted to talk about today.  Food is a big part of the holidays and I know for many people it can also be a cause for anxiety. There's a lot of holiday parties, baking, big dinners and so on. So how can you get through the holidays with your health, happiness and sanity in check?  Well, I've come up with a few suggestions!

source

How to be Healthier During the Holidays

1. Eat whole foods.  This really applies to any time of the year but during the holidays it's easy to reach for box mixes and other short cuts. This is an easy way to end up consuming far too much sugar, processed additives and other ingredients without realizing it. Try to stick with foods that you recognize; where you know what the ingredients are. 
2. Bring your own dish to a party. A healthier, cooked from scratch dish. This way, you know there is going to be at least one healthier option for you. Not to say you can't also eat other things but perhaps you can eat smaller amounts of the things you know are less good for you. As a vegan, I often bring food to parties so that I know there's something I can eat!  At first I thought I might look odd but I find that people really appreciate and enjoy it (I bring enough to share!). 
3. Drink more water.  This is especially important if you're consuming alcohol. Not only will it help hydrate you (alcohol dehydrates you) and help you to avoid a hangover but it may prevent you from over drinking. Try to have a glass of water for every drink you consume, if not more.  Carrying it in your hand at a party also makes you less likely to eat out of boredom.
4. Eat consciously. It's really easy to eat out of boredom or simply because it tastes so freakin' good! Just remember to be aware of what you are eating and how much of it.  Know your comfort zone; how much of something can you eat without feeling guilty?  There's nothing wrong with indulging but it should feel good, not bad.  I know I can, say, eat 2 cookies and fully enjoy them but if I eat many more than that I'm not going to feel so great so why bother? Just be present in the moment and listen to your body. Also, remember to really chew your food!  You'll digest it better, feel satisfied quicker and consume less overall. 
5. Prep food ahead of time. Cookies are so easy to just grab and eat but hey, so is fruit, nuts, roasted chickpeas etc Try making some healthy snacks (or meals) to have on hand. It's a busy time of the year but hey, if we can find time to bake we can find time to prep healthy food right? 

source

Here are some healthier holiday dishes that I love and I think you will too!
Creamy artichoke dip
Black bean soup

Roasted chickpeas

Herb cashew cheese

Chipotle white bean dip

Rosemary roasted almonds

Coconut chickpea soup

Kale smoothies

Cold busting orange juice

Fruit infused waters

Raw brownies

Zucchini pasta

I have tons of recipes pinned on Pinterest, so feel free to check that out. They aren't all healthy but maybe you'll get some ideas! There are lots of appetizer ideas in the Let's Party board!

In My Belly

Omgosh, I swear, time is flying by so quickly lately!

Well, except for the whole cooler weather thing. That is taking it's sweet time, of course. It's hitting 90F this week. Oy.

Oh well, how about a food post? Here's some of what I've been eating lately.

Broiled grapefruit topped with ginger and unsweetened coconut flakes. If you haven't broiled grapefruit, you are missing out, my friends!

A kale salad with half of a Qrunch quinoa patty and my faaaavourite healthy spinach artichoke dip.

Chocolate cake for my husband's birthday. I can't find the recipe now but it's not one I'd use again so don't worry about it. haha I mean, it was good but I know there are better ones out there!

Homemade whole wheat pretzel. Why not. Recipe here.

Juice: oranges, carrots, ginger, grapefruit, lime.  A favourite of mine. 

Portobello mushroom tofu scramble tacos! Organic shells so that they are GMO free.

Having lunch at Veggie Grill has become a weekly thing with my husband, I have to admit. I had the kale ceasar salad and a size of macaroni and cheese... both of which I'd tried before. Their ceasar dressing is so good!  Definitely an indulgent meal but hey, gotta have some of those!

This was actually dinner tonight and oooh it was good! Definitely going in my "favourites" bookmark list. It's alfredo sauce made with cashews and nutritional yeast. Recipe here. The pasta is organic and gluten free, from Target. 

Smoothie bowl! 

I snack on fruit pretty often. It just doesn't make for an exciting photo. haha Top from Unlock Hope.

I recently bought these Sunsella popsicle molds and they are so awesome!! I will do a proper review and share some recipes in the future. This tank is also from Unlock Hope!

Crispy cauliflower tacos. Recipe here. This needed a bit more flavour but overall were really good. I do really like the crispy cauliflower.

Quick Eats

CSA. Hachiya Persimmons!

Smoothie with chocolate protein powder, goji berries, chia seeds, frozen banana and frozen blueberries. 

Smoothie with frozen banana, frozen mango and goji berries. 

Burrito with roasted broccol, cauliflower, rice and chickepeas 

Archer Farms thin crust topped with marinara, Yves salami, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, bell peppers and black olives. 

Veggie sandwich with Yves salami 

Gluten free blueberry muffins

Simple pasta with tomato sauce and garlic toast. Oh and some Gardein Scallopini "chicken".

Burrito with sauteed zucchini, eggplant, squash and lentils. 

Blended frozen banana, frozen pomegranate and carob powder. I love that it sorta looks like neopolitan! 

Canada Eats

I'm breaking this up into stuff I ate at home before/after vacation and what I ate while on vacation in Canada. It's all in order of consumption, haha.

Home:

CSA goodies! I took apart the pomegranates and froze all of the fruit!

Cherry chocolate protein smoothie

Delicious turnovers! Simply put slices of banana and homemade grape jelly between sheets of puff pastry.

Messy but delicious sandwiches.

Maple scones! I made these the day after I got home, obviously still had Canada on my mind! Similar to this recipe.

Wrap with veggies and hummus.

Veggie pot pie. Similar to this recipe and I made my own crust. It was really runny fresh out of the oven but it thickened right up later on. 

Pumpkin oatmeal and a pumpkin latte.

Yummy bowl with mushroom risotto, kale, avocado, chickpeas, peas, broccoli and cauliflower.

Frozen mango banana smoothie.

Frozen bananas and cherries with a few chocolate chips. Mmm.

On Vacation:

My airport meal. I brought Justin's Almond Butter from home and then bought a bagel and drink at Starbucks. My layover ended up being delayed so I really should have ate more!

My leftovers from having lunch at Gorilla Food in Gastown (Vancouver), BC, Canada). Pretty cool little place! Very healthy! Everything was mostly raw and very green.

Amazing guac (and beer tasters) at Granville Island Brewery. The Winter Ale is amazing!

A little pick me up!

Delicious lunch at 3G Vegetarian which is actually 100% vegan. I believe it is on Main St by Cambie Village in Vancouver. 

Blendz has almond milk! I got a delicious chai latte.

Snacks I brought onto the ferry.

Oatmeal topped with wheat bran and coconut based yogurt.

Helped my mom make a yummy cobbler with plums and strawberries. You can find the recipe in last weeks post.

Raisin Bran with a banana, almond milk and coconut yogurt.

Picking apples from my parents' tree to make an apple pie for Thanksgiving.

Quesadilla with mushrooms, spinach and Daiya pepperjack. I love the pepperjack one!

More oatmeal this time with some nuts and peanut butter.

Tabbouleh salad with cucumbers, avocado and mushrooms.

Thanksgiving! My family made everything vegan (besides the turkey!). So sweet! I made a stuffing with Tofurkey sausage, cranberry sauce (just cranberries, sugar and orange juice), a Tofurkey turkey and mushroom gravy. My mom made mashed potatoes, asparagus, carrots and a yam/peach dish! Amaaazing!

I made a coconut pumpkin pie for dessert. 

I had leftover pumpkin pie filling so I used it to make French toast. Genius right? I just mixed it with some almond milk and dipped the bread in it!

Tomato soup at Merrydale which is a cidery... a place that makes cider! We had taste testers too. Great place!

Yummy breakfast burrito and green smoothie.

Kale chips.

Awful pic but my dad made enchiladas using leftover turkey so I did the same with my Tofurkey and mushroom gravy. Yum!

Green smoothie and a bowl of coconut yogurt, cereal and pineapple.

Leftover tabbouleh salad and kale chips.

Yummy vegan cookie and coffee at Wild Poppy Bakery in Ladysmith, BC. It's a completely gluten free bakery too!

My lunch at Whole Foods. Baba ganoush, falafel, creamed kale, ratatoulli...

Airport snacks. This was an awful long day. Ugh. My layover was again delayed plus getting around at LAX was a crappy experience!!

Had to get some Timmy's before I left Canada.

Ah, I miss being back in Canada so bad!! It was a bittersweet visit. I'm SO happy I finally got to go back (It had been 4 years!!) but it made me realize how much I want to move back there one day.