Ahhh the holidays, the most wonderful time of the year (™).

It puts us in a good mood, it brings us closer together, and it’s meant to help reunite families and friends by enjoying a lovely feast in each other’s company. With an increasing interest in plant-based diets over the last couple of years, you may find yourself with (a) loved one(s) coming over this time around who may be vegan or vegetarian!

Now this might stress you out. I can imagine what’s going through your mind right now…

“How do I make a Christmas dinner for vegetarians?”

Or even more stressful!

“How do I make a vegan Christmas dinner?!”

As a registered dietitian, I often get asked a lot of questions from my clients about my thoughts on vegetarianism & veganism (check out my latest myth buster here ) as well as how to make the shift towards a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

Throughout my counselling sessions, I do my best to provide tips & tricks on adopting a more plant-based diet that are both nutritionally adequate and that still tastes good (as most people tend to think otherwise).

Making the big switch can seem hard at first, but with time, small steps and daily practice, it doesn’t have to be as difficult as we make it out to be!

Cooking for (a) plant-lover(s) this year?

Avoid changing up your entire menu (traditions are traditions!), and instead, here are some simple tips & tricks on making vegan recipes for Christmas:

Choose vegetable broth when preparing soups & stews.

Extra tip: Choose the “low-sodium” version of the broth to help cut down on the salt!

2. Swap your ground meat with a soy-based alternative.

Nowadays at the grocery store , you can easily find many plant-based alternatives to better accommodate your dinner guests all the while still impressing them with your favourite Christmas recipes! This includes...

Among the wide variety of plant-based proteins to choose from, soy proteins are the ones whose texture resembles the most like ground meat, i.e. the one that will most likely fool your friends…

3. Choose a different egg!

Which came first, the chicken or the egg ? How about...neither ! Eggs are most often used in recipes to help bind ingredients together when cooking up our favourite baked goods, breakfast foods, meatballs, meatloaf...and the list goes on!

Luckily for us, there are other options:

1. Chia seeds (1 egg = 1 tbsp chia + 3 tbsp water)

Bonus: They’re a great source of Omega 3 fats and protein!

2. Ground flax seeds (1 egg = 1 tbsp chia + 3 tbsp water)

Bonus: They’re also very rich in fiber!

3. Peanut butter (1 egg = 3 tbsp)

Extra tip: Choose a natural peanut butter for a more low-fat option.

4. Applesauce (1 egg = ¼ cup)

Extra tip: Choose the unsweetened version!

4. Switch to a plant-based milk

My usual advice for anyone looking to go more plant-based? Start with the milk that you drink! Nowadays, all types of milks are fortified with Vitamin D & Calcium, which are important to help build strong teeth and healthy bones!

The main differences between plant-based milks? Their taste & protein content!

5. Choose a more ‘natural’ butter

Although it wouldn’t exactly provide you with the same creamy texture that butter normally would, these ingredients make great plant-based swaps for your favourite baked goods!

A. Coconut oil (1:1)

Get the recipe here: https://chefsavvy.com/coconut-oil-chocolate-chip-cookies/

B. Olive oil (1: ¾)

Get the recipe here: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/olive-oil-cake

C. Applesauce (1:1)

Get the recipe here: https://www.mynaturalfamily.com/healthy-banana-bread-with-applesauce/

D. Pumpkin Puree (1: ¾)

Get the recipe here: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a55594/3-ingredient-pumpkin-brownies-recipe/

...oh the wonders of plants!!

5. Some additional tips on preparing a Vegan Christmas dinner !

A. Use legumes/beans to prepare a hearty meatloaf

Get the recipe here: https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-lentil-nut-meatloaf/

B. Use mushrooms to cook up savoury vegan gravy

Get the recipe here: https://simple-veganista.com/vegan-mushroom-gravy/

C. Use nuts to make a delicious vegan Christmas dessert

Get the recipe here: https://sproutingzen.com/raw-vegan-berry-mango-chocolate-frozen-fruit-cake/

If you’re interested in following along in my daily adventures, I’d love for you to join the Colour My Palate community at www.instagram.com/colourmypalate, where I share general tips, recipes, lifestyle advice and am always down for a good conversation.

Make a wish & happy holidays everyone!

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