My Plant-Based Family

Feeding My Family a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet, On a Budget

Breakfast

Yogurt and Granola

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My youngest son does not like cereal. Every morning I have to figure out something he will eat. He prefers a mound of fruit. While a bowl full of fruit isn’t bad I want him to have something that will stick with him a little longer Yogurt and Granola are two of his favorites!

Dairy-Free Yogurt and Gluten-Free Granola make a great breakfast, snack or dessert.

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My son loves fruit. Before he lost one of his front teeth, he would easily eat 5+ apples per day. His missing tooth has slowed him down some, but not much. I end up cutting up a lot of fruit for him now which means he can eat it faster than ever.

As much as he loves a big bowl of fruit for breakfast, I feel like he needs something a little more complex. Thankfully he loves the granola. I love it too.

Yogurt and Granola

Yogurt and Granola

This isn’t an actual recipe, it’s more of a “put all of this together” type of thing.

I use dairy-free yogurt, fresh fruit and granola for an easy breakfast, snack or dessert.

I like to start with granola in the bottom of the bowl, then add yogurt, then fruit. I repeat layers until I’m satisfied.

You can mix and match granola flavors, yogurt flavors and different types of fruit so you always have something interesting to try.

If you have food allergies, carefully inspect all the labels. Gerb’s has a great allergy-safe product (unfortunately it has honey). Bob’s Red Mill has great vegan granola (but it’s not gluten-free).

gluten-free, peanut free granola banana

I have to put the granola away in the pantry every time or I’ll make little pit stops all day long munching on it. I’ll often dip a piece of fruit in SunButter then roll it in the granola.

I also put granola on dairy-free ice cream! What can I say, I’m a sucker for this stuff.

 

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Fruit Salad with Simple Citrus Dressing

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Fruit Salad. That is the answer to so many questions. Here are a few of them and let me know if you think of more:

  • What should I take to the potluck?
  • What will your (picky) kid eat?
  • What should I freeze for a icy treat?
  • What is the one vegan food no one will think is weird?
  • What will make the other kids jealous at the lunch table?
  • What should we pack for the picnic?

I know there are more but we have things to do. I think you get my point though, Fruit Salad is a great addition just about any time.

Fruit Salad with Citrus Dressing

The only problem with fruit salad is the browning that happens when you cut certain types fruit. I’ve got an easy fix for you.

All you need is some vitamin C! Citrus juice does wonders to keep fruit from browning.

Growing up I didn’t eat a lot of fruit. I remember the first time I saw my husband meticulously rubbing lemon juice on apples and bananas. I thought he was insane. It was labor intensive to wipe each and every slice of apple and banana with a lemon wedge (although sometimes the lemon juice went in a bowl and we would dip it).

Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you to do that. This version has a few more steps but it’s even easier and less time consuming than his way.

Not only does it keep it from browning but your fruit salad will continue to taste refreshing for a day or two (if it lasts that long). I like to store it in a bowl with a lid so I can give it a gentle shake before serving. You can also make fun fruit kabobs for a treat if you have leftovers.

Fruit Salad with Citrus Dressing

This dressing works with many kinds of fruit. We are using strawberries, kiwis, cantaloupe, blueberries and blackberries. The important thing is to use what you like, mango, pineapple and grapes are good choices too! In the fall we use lots of apples.

Fruit Salad Dressing
 
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Ingredients
  • juice from 2 large naval oranges
  • juice from 1 pink grapefruit
  • juice from 1 lemon juice
  • juice from ½ lime juice
  • 3 pounds of assorted fruit
Instructions
  1. Squeeze juice from oranges, grapefruit, lemon and lime into a bowl or small jar.
  2. Stir juice (or if in a jar with a lid, give it a little shake).
  3. Pour it over the fruit and serve.

 

Breakfast Cookies

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Yep, we are having cookies for breakfast. These aren’t ordinary cookies, they are Breakfast Cookies and full of fiber and healthy ingredients.

I specifically made these Breakfast Cookies with my preferences in mind. So often, moms will put others needs ahead of their own but when it comes to eating healthy it’s important to take care of yourself.

Plant-Based Gluten-Free Breakfast Cookies that are allergy-friendly and delicious. These cookies are a great choice for breakfast on the go.

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Breakfast Cookies aren’t a new idea. People have been making them for years. I wanted my Breakfast Cookies to contain ingredients that I would put in my oatmeal. I’m not looking for a junk food breakfast here. On the contrary, I’m looking for a plant-based, whole food breakfast that is also allergy-friendly and portable for breakfast on the go. 

This Breakfast Cookie recipe contains my three favorite seeds, raw pepitas, hemp hearts and chia seeds. I love seeds! They are a great source of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. One of the things I love about these cookies is that even though they have seeds the seeds aren’t super noticeable when you’re eating them.

I make a gel with water and the chia seeds. After I let it sit to congeal I toss the raisins in the water too. It may seem strange but our raisins get so dry. We buy them in bulk and after a while, they get really dry and a little on the hard side. That doesn’t bother my family but I like my raisins to be a little more plump. I usually soak my raisins in warm water for a few minutes before using them. If you are using golden raisins they probably don’t need to be soaked.

To keep it allergy-friendly I use gluten-free oats and a peanut butter alternative. You could use peanut butter or some other nut butter if you prefer. The oats give it substance and the nut/seed butter gives it flavor and acts as the other binder.

You may notice slight vanilla and cinnamon flavors as well. I skipped the chocolate for two reasons. First, I’m going to be eating these on the go and I don’t want little chocolate chips falling out and melting in my car or on my clothes in the super hot Arizona sun. Second, if I ate chocolate for breakfast it would be hard for me not to indulge in sweets all day.

These Breakfast Cookies just have a touch of sweetness but taste much less sweet than your standard store-bought granola bar. I’ve been relying on those a lot lately and I’m trying to get away from it. They are delicious but the “good” ones are pretty expensive for every day.

Plant-Based Gluten-Free Breakfast Cookies that are allergy-friendly and delicious. These cookies are a great choice for breakfast on the go.

Breakfast Cookies

I recommend you enjoy these Breakfast Cookies with a cup of coffee. If you decide to share with your kids they may want a cup of plant-based milk.

Yield: 12

Breakfast Cookies

Breakfast Cookies

These Breakfast Cookies are perfect for breakfast or snack on the go! These lightly sweetened cookies are full of healthy ingredients your family will love. 

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ cup warm water
  • 2 tsp chia seeds
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
  • 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats pulsed in a blender
  • ½ cup peanut butter alternative
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp raw pepitas
  • 1 Tbsp hemp hearts
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Pour 2 tsp chia seeds into warm water and give a gentle stir. Add in raisins if they are dry. Let sit at least 5 minutes.
  3. In a large bowl add the rolled oats and the pulsed rolled oats.
  4. Dump the Soy Nut Butter into the oats and stir well. I have best results "stabbing" the clumps with a wooden spoon.
  5. Pour in the chia seed/raisin water and maple syrup then stir well to incorporate everything.
  6. Sprinkle the remaining seeds, cinnamon and vanilla in the bowl then stir a final time.
  7. Use a spoon to scoop out a ball of dough slightly larger that a ping pong ball. Use wet hands to roll it into a ball then flatten it into a disk. The dough will not spread so the size will be the same after baking. You should have about 12 cookies.
  8. Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool before eating. Store in air tight container and enjoy within 3-4 days.

Notes

You can substitute your favorite ingredients. Choose cranberries instead of raisins, pick your favorite nut or seen butter, and change up the spices to suit your preferences.

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Category: Breakfast
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Overnight Oats

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I want to eat a healthy breakfast but some days I don’t have the time to cook. Overnight Oats are a healthy option for busy mornings.

Plant-Based Overnight Oats

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You know I love my Instant Pot Oatmeal but Overnight Oats are even faster. Just spend a few minutes before bed and a few minutes in the morning for an easy breakfast.

I use old fashioned oats. Bob’s Red Mill oats is our brand of choice. But if you need gluten-free I recommend GF Harvest Oats! Their manufacturing process is as good as it gets for keep gluten out of the picture.

We use Rice Dream for most of our cooking. My kids love the vanilla but I prefer the regular unsweetened. I like that it’s shelf stable so I can keep a few in my pantry and not worry about running out without a backup. I have 3 cartons in my pantry right now!

Plant-Based Overnight Oats

Overnight Oats

Overnight Oats are also perfect for travel! Just bring a bowl or jar with the oats pre-measured. Then pick up some plant milk and fruit at your destination. Easy peasy!

Overnight Oats
 
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Recipe type: Breakfast
Serves: 1 serving
Ingredients
  • ½ cup oats (I used old-fashioned oats)
  • ½ cup plant milk
  • ½ banana, diced very small
  • ¼ cup chopped strawberries
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • sweeten to taste with maple syrup
  • bluberries
Instructions
  1. In a bowl, combine the oats, cinnamon, maple syrup and milk, mix until combined.
  2. Allow to sit in the fridge overnight.
  3. Dice the bananas and slice the strawberries.
  4. Mix the banana with the overnight oats, then add the strawberries and top with blueberries.

Plant-Based Overnight Oats

I love bananas and add them to almost all my overnight oats because they are so sweet. I’m really focused on cutting down my sugar intake. Bananas add the sweetness I want. Sometimes I’ll add a touch of maple syrup too.

If strawberries, bananas and blueberries aren’t your thing try raisins or peaches or diced apples.

Sometimes I’ll get a little “fancy” and add fresh ginger or hemp seeds. Really, you can add whatever you like. The fruit is completely optional.

Plant-Based Overnight Oats

For more information on oatmeal and to see my favorite oatmeal picks check out my Ultimate Oatmeal Guide.

Check out more delicious breakfast recipes on my Breakfast Page!

Strawberry Banana Muffins

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My youngest son has been picky about breakfast lately. He isn’t interested in anything quick or easy, except fruit. Muffins are just about the only thing he will happily eat, especially these Strawberry Banana Muffins.

Strawberry Banana Muffins gluten-free and plant-based

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A while ago I gave up on gluten-free baking. It was hard and it wouldn’t always turn out the way I wanted. After speaking with some expert bakers at last years Food Allergy Bloggers Conference I worked up the nerve to start again. Except this time I decided to stick to gluten-free all purpose baking mixes. After all, I don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Strawberry Banana Muffins gluten-free and plant-based

If you struggle with gluten-free baking too I recommend getting an all purpose mix and giving it another try. Update: It’s been a few years since I created this recipe. Now I always use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour.

These muffins are perfect this time of year when strawberries are in season but you can also use frozen strawberries. To use frozen strawberries just run them under cold water to defrost them and let them sit and drain (I used a small strainer) while I mixed up the rest of the ingredients.

Gluten-Free Strawberry Banana Muffins

Strawberry Banana Muffins
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Muffins
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 2 bananas (plus more listed below)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup plant-based milk
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1¾ cup gluten-free all purpose flour baking mix
  • 2 cups diced strawberries
  • ½ cup diced bananas
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your muffin pan by using a spray oil or parchment liners.
  2. In a large bowl, mash 2 bananas, then add in sugar, vanilla and plant-based milk. Mix well.
  3. Add in baking soda, salt and gluten-free flour blend and stir to combine.
  4. Fold in half a diced banana and the diced strawberries.
  5. Scoop in equal parts into the muffin tin.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes. Check for doneness and bake for 5-10 more minutes if needed.
  7. Allow to cool before serving.

Strawberry Banana Muffins gluten-free

Because of the strawberries these muffins will be really soft, and somewhat gooey on the inside. The strawberries “cook down” and leave hollow spots. They taste delicious and get this, they even freeze well.

Strawberry Banana Muffins gluten-free and gluten-free

They aren’t the cleanest but if you don’t mind licking your fingers you won’t mind. I wouldn’t eat them in the car on the way to work though.

If you missed my Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread I think you should try it! Check out my bread and muffin page for more great recipes.

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Breakfast Hash

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As much as I love oatmeal, sometimes I want a savory breakfast. My Breakfast Hash recipe is a hearty mix of potatoes and veggies that keep me satisfied for hours. It’s plant-based and gluten-free which makes it great for serving at family breakfasts.

Hearty Breakfast Hash that features potatoes and veggies. This plant-based (vegan) and gluten-free meal will keep you satisfied for hours.

I’ve been making this for years and developed it when I had a craving for a scramble but didn’t want the eggs and cheese I used before. [Read more…] about Breakfast Hash