How to Cook for Someone on a Plant-Based Diet During the Holidays – Everyday Health
Feeling stressed about menu planning? These plant-based holiday staples never disappoint.
1. Shiitake Bacon
This super-simple recipe from the New Baguette makes a great “bacon” for topping salad or roasted vegetables, and yes, serving with breakfast foods.
Nutrition per serving (⅛ cup): 45 calories, 4 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 g protein, 4 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 185 mg sodium
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2. Simple Vegan Stuffing
No holiday meal is complete without stuffing, and this vegan version from Short Girl Tall Order is so easy it may replace your go-to recipe. If you’re concerned about sodium, cut back on the salt or use low-sodium broth.
Nutrition per serving (about 1 cup): 260 calories, 10 g total fat (3 g saturated fat), 8 g protein, 36 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 971 milligrams (mg) sodium
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3. Butternut Squash With Pomegranate Vinaigrette
So many butternut squash recipes are made with butter, marshmallows, or other non-vegan ingredients. Gorin says this recipe, found on her site Amy Gorin Nutrition, is simple and fit for pretty much any dietary restriction.
Nutrition per serving (about 1 cup): 120 calories, 2 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 2 g protein, 29 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 9 g sugar, 10 mg sodium
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4. Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
Gorin created this recipe so anyone with food intolerances would have a treat to eat for the holidays. “The cupcakes are made with coconut milk and flaxseeds, and the frosting is made with vegan butter,” she says.
Nutrition per serving (1 cupcake): 300 calories, 15 g total fat (4 g saturated fat), 2 g protein, 42 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 27 g sugar, 150 mg sodium
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5. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
If you’re having trouble deciding on a main course, this vegan twist on a hearty, familiar favorite from Feasting at Home may just do the trick. The original recipe calls for beans as a meat substitute, but you could also use lentils or any type of store-bought vegan “meat” grounds.
Nutrition per serving (about 1½ cup): 288 calories, 13.1 g total fat (3.9 g saturated fat), 8.4 g protein, 36.1 g carbohydrates, 8.1 g fiber, 7.9 g sugar, 745.1 mg sodium
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