My Plant-Based Family

Eating Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet recipes, On a Budget.

Tips for Plant-Based Living

4 Ways to use your Blender this Fall

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Do you have a huge blender sitting on your counter? We do. We love our Blendtec but now that the weather is cooling off we don’t make smoothies quite as often. Since our Blendtec takes up such important counter-top real estate I make sure to use it all year long. Same goes for those of you with a Vitamix!

Love your blender? Love it all year long with 4 ways to use your blender that is not smoothies.

 

Here are a 4 ways to use your blender all year long, even when smoothies are off the menu.

1. Savory Soups

I love soups in the fall. While chunky, hearty soups definitely have their place I love smooth creamy soups as well. You don’t have to follow a recipe although my Slow Cooker Potato Soup and Tomato Soup are both good choices. Any soup, especially those that are bean or veggie based will blend nicely. Try adapting your favorite soup recipes.

2. Dips

I’m a sucker for dips. We used to have a “snack nite” on the weekends. The whole family loved it. Salsa, Jalapeno Hummus, and most recently my Spinach Artichoke Dip are pretty much guilt-free.

Get creative and mix your favorite flavors together. I love to start with white beans as a base like in my Green Chili White Bean Dip.  You can adapt it by adding roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes or fresh herbs and spices. Slowly add liquid until it reaches your preferred consistency.

3. Salad Dressings

Similar to dips, salad dressing are easy to make in a blender. They need a lot more liquid but don’t add too much too fast. I make Creamy Italian Salad Dressing and Sweet and Tangy Salad Dressing most often but I love making salad dressings with fruit too. Blueberry Vinaigrette and Cranberry Salad Dressing are both oil-free.

4. Make Your Own Oat Flour or Instant Oats

I buy Gluten Free Whole Grain Rolled Oats in bulk from Amazon and use them for more than oatmeal. Toss some oats in your blender and pulse for a few seconds at a time to make Instant Oatmeal. It will cook quicker since it’s broken down into smaller pieces. You can continue to blend it into a fine flour to use in gluten-free baked goods.

Do you used your blender for more than smoothies? How do you use your blender? 

If you don’t have a good blender I highly recommend Blendtec. It’s a great investment in your health!

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5 Simple Tricks to Get Your Kids to Eat their Veggies

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Have you found yourself in a power struggle at the dinner table? Has your cute little prince or princess turned into a pit bull with a will of steel who REFUSES to even try those veggies you lovingly prepared? We have all been there, maybe you still are. Do you want to know a secret? I still find myself there from time to time but I also have victories.

5 simple tricks to get your kids to eat veggies

Do you want to know what those victories sound like?

Can I have some leaves (spinach)? I looooove leaves?

We have carrots, yea!!!

More trees (broccoli) please! These trees are so cute! [Read more…] about 5 Simple Tricks to Get Your Kids to Eat their Veggies

Basic Fridge/Freezer Staples for a Plant-Based Diet

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Yesterday I shared my list of Basic Pantry Staples for a Plant-Based Diet. Today I want to share my list of Fridge and Freezer Staples for a Plant-Based Diet. These are staples that need to be kept cold in the refrigerator or freezer with a few exceptions for fresh produce. Making changes to a healthier lifestyle can be difficult. Use this guide to make your journey toward a plant-based diet a little easier.

Fridge and Freezer Staples for a Plant-Based Diet

Fridge and Freezer Staples for a Plant-Based Diet

Freezer 

  • bananas
  • blueberries
  • breads
  • broccoli
  • cherries
  • corn
  • herbs
  • mixed veggies
  • stir fry veggies
  • strawberries
  • whole wheat pastry flour

I also like to freeze leftover soups and baked goods like muffins and breads. If I chop too many veggies I’ll store them in the freezer to use in a quick stir fry or soup.

 Refrigerator

  • applesauce
  • Braggs Liquid Aminos
  • chia seeds
  • coconut milk coffee creamer
  • fat-free balsamic vinaigrette
  • flax seeds
  • jelly (with no added sugar)
  • lemon/lime juice
  • milk (we use rice milk)
  • mustard
  • natural nut butters
  • nutritional yeast
  • dates
  • maple syrup
  • salsa
  • sunflower seed butter

Many of these items are more like add on’s or condiments. I often feel like our fridge is full of things that aren’t really food. Some of these items could be stored in the pantry instead of the fridge but I live in the desert so it is typically hotter here so I store them in the fridge.

Fresh Produce 

  • apples
  • bananas
  • broccoli
  • carrots
  • garlic
  • onions
  • oranges
  • peppers (jalapenos, bell peppers and sweet peppers)
  • potatoes
  • sweet potatoes
  • spinach and other lettuces
  • tomatoes
  • other seasonal produce (cucumbers, pears, peaches, melons, etc.)

These are our basic produce picks. We buy these regularly and at any given time you will find them in our fridge. We try to stick to seasonal produce so you’ll rarely find asparagus in our fridge. We don’t store all of our produce in the fridge. Some things like potatoes and onions are stored in the pantry. Broccoli and spinach are always in the refrigerator. Other items like apples and peppers could be stored at room temperature or refrigerated.

I’m about to make this even easier! Here is a printer-friendly compilation of all my Basic Staples for a Plant-Based Diet! <<Click on the link for a PDF!

What are your top picks for Basic Pantry (and fridge staples)?  I’d love to see how they differ.

For more helpful information about getting started on a plant-based diet check out my ebook, The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide: How to Cook, Shop and Eat Well.

Plant-Based Diet Ebook

Basic Pantry Staples for a Plant-Based Diet

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When starting a new journey it’s helpful to have a map. I often liken a Plant-Based Diet to a journey because for most of us it is a completely new adventure. I know I was unprepared for all of the changes. I’ve vowed to make it easier for those who come after me.

I wish I could take each of you to the grocery store and point out the best products. Since I can’t do that I think the next best thing is to share this list of Basic Pantry Staples. I almost always have these on hand. Our list has changed over the years do to allergies and intolerance’s but I believe it will give you a good idea of where to get started.

Basic Pantry Staples for a Plant-Based Diet

Basic Pantry Staples

Spices

  • black/white pepper
  • chili powder
  • cinnamon
  • cumin
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • sea salt
  • turmeric

Pantry

  • agave nectar
  • applesauce
  • baking soda & baking powder
  • brown rice
  • canned beans
  • (whole grain) cereal
  • chocolate chips (Enjoy Life Brand is my favorite)
  • cocoa
  • coffee
  • dried beans (pinto, black, chickpea’s, lentils, etc.)
  • dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc.)
  • flour (whole wheat and gluten-free)
  • grains
  • (shelf stable) non-dairy milks
  • nutritional yeast
  • nuts/seeds
  • old-fashioned oats
  • pasta
  • pasta sauce
  • quinoa
  • raw sugar
  • red wine vinegar
  • tomato sauce
  • tortillas
  • tortilla chips
  • turbinado sugar
  • vanilla 

This list is based the items we have kept in our pantry over the last few years. Your list may look different depending on your preferences and restrictions. I can make most of my recipes with these ingredients. I did not buy them all at once and I don’t use them all the time but these are my essentials.

Tomorrow I’ll share my list for Basic Staples for the Refrigerator and Freezer.

Does your list of Basic Pantry Staples differ?

To find out more helpful information about getting started on a Plant-Based Diet check out my ebook, The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide: How to Cook, Shop and Eat Well.

Plant-Based Diet Ebook

Meal Planning Tips that Really Work part 2

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I’m glad you are back for Meal Planning Week here at My Plant-Based Family! Yesterday I shared part 1 from this series Meal Planning Tips that Really Work! Today I’m rounding out the list with more practical tips to help you hit the ground running. If you have questions about Meal Planning leave them in the comments and I’ll answer them this week.

Meal Planning Tips that Really Work Part 2

[Read more…] about Meal Planning Tips that Really Work part 2

Meal Planning Tips that Really Work…part 1

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Most of us agree that Meal Planning is a good idea. Today and tomorrow I’ll pass on some Meal Planning Tips that Really Work. If you have the slightest interest in learning to Meal Plan stick around the next few days.

Meal Planning Tips that Really Work

 

1. Just Do It

One of the biggest problems with making a Meal Plan is actually taking the time to make a plan. You don’t have to go crazy and plan every meal of the week, down to the side dish; just create a simple outline with at least a few meals you want to eat. If needed set aside 20 minutes when your kids are in bed or at practice, you could also have a few minutes of “planning time” during commercial breaks. Don’t wait until you have the perfect system in place, waiting doesn’t pay off in Meal Planning. Practice will make perfect so just start where you are. You can look at some of my previous Meal Plans to get ideas.

[Read more…] about Meal Planning Tips that Really Work…part 1