My Plant-Based Family

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

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Meal Plan Monday: Cooking for the Weather

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Is it autumn in your town?

If so you may be dreaming of creamy soups and hot apple crisp. It’s not quite fall yet but it is below 100° for a few days and it’s rainy so I’m pretending. Yesterday I made soup and cookies.

So the beginning of the week I’ll keep living in denial of autumn bliss but by the end of the week I’ll be back to reality.

Weather is actually the biggest factor in my meal plans. When it is hot we eat more salads and cook on the stove or grill and when it’s cool I use the oven more.

Nutty Apple Cinnamon oatmeal

Meal Plan

Breakfast

Breakfast is usually quick and easy, as the weather cool down warm oatmeal and breakfast rice will take center stage. Fruit is usually added to every breakfast, or at least a mid morning snack.

Lunch

I’ve been enjoying baked potatoes  a lot lately. They are so easy that I’ll add them to most lunch options. I like to add a side salad or raw veggies to lunch also.

Snack

Usually fruit and veggies make up our daily snacks but if I get a chance to bake we may have muffins also.

  • Apples with sunbutter
  • Baby Oranges, a.k.a. Cuties
  • Carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers and hummus
  • Veggie Wraps (because sometimes I need MORE)
  • Cookies, yes I made sunbutter cookies.

Dinner

While dinner is usually the most “complicated” meal of the day at our house it’s usually pretty easy. I like to make extra for lunches. If I’m cooking one thing on the stove I might as well cook something else next to it to save time later.

I’ll save time by cooking a lot of potatoes today to use throughout the week. The same thing goes for anything with beans and some of the dishes with grains. I washed and sliced veggies yesterday for grab and go snacks. I may even make a few dishes today since I’m in a cooking mood.

Is it autumn yet in your area? Are you ready for pumpkin recipes?

 

Vegan Cuts Beauty Box

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Vegan Cuts

Soon after switching to a plant-based diet we realized a lot of our products we were using around our house weren’t very good for us. We started trying new products that were more natural, healthier and often more expensive. We were lucky and only tried 2 different types of toothpaste before finding one we like. I went through several rounds of sub par deodorants before finding North Coast Organics incredible line of deodorants. Two words: Lifetime Customer!

If you are like me you don’t like spending money on a full size product that I may not like. I’m pretty frugal so I wouldn’t throw something away, I’d use it anyway.

The Beauty Box

Vegan Cuts has come up with a solution to this problem! The Vegan Cuts Beauty Box!

Each month Vegan Cuts sends out an incredible box with full and sample size products. All products are cruelty-free! My last beauty box introduced me to Perennial Soaps, Fanciful Fox Tinted Lip Balm, Schmidt’s Deodorant, Lip Glosserie’s Body Crème, Relogy’s Acne Spot Treatment, ncLA nail wraps, and Sunology face and body sunscreens.

My favorites are Fanciful Fox Tinted Lip Balm! It smells great, goes on smooth and provides just a hint of color. I also like Relogy’s Acne Post Treatment. I have pretty clear skin but get occasional blemishes. I tried this on unsightly (but small) pimples and they were cleared up by the next day. Lip Glosserie’s Body Crème smells incredible and makes me feel like I’m in a swanky spa.

If you are always on the lookout for new, cruelty-free products consider getting a Vegan Cuts Beauty Box subscription. I am so happy with mine. It is just $19.95 a month and that includes free shipping to US addresses.

Vegan Cuts

The Snack Box

If beauty products aren’t your think you could also check out their Vegan Cuts Snack Box. Who can pass up on cookies, bars, chips and a host of other snacks. It is also $19.95 per month with free shipping to US addresses.

Vegan Cuts

The Marketplace

If you like a product you receive through Vegan Cuts or if you just like to shop knowing your whole purchase is cruelty-free visit the Vegan Cuts Marketplace. It is full of clothes, accessories, body care, cosmetics, and of course food. I can get lost in there.

Have you heard of Vegan Cuts? I was hesitant to subscribe but I’m so glad I did! I admit, waiting for my box is like waiting for Christmas morning but I’ve discovered products that I must have!

Are you a Beauty Box or a Snack Box kind of person?

(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something using these links I’ll get a small cut but all opinions are mine and not influenced by Vegan Cuts.)

10 Tips to De-Stress Your Lunchbox (plus a printer-friendly guide)

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Do you struggle with packing your child’s lunch every day? I’ve eliminated the guess-work and created this handy-dandy guide for you. You (or your child) can pick an item from each column. You may want to mix and match your favorite combinations.

You are welcome!

MyPlantBasedFamilyLunchboxGuidegraphic

I also have a FREE Printer-Friendly PDF version available for you HERE!

10 Tips to De-Stress Your Lunchbox

  1. Pack everything they need like napkins or utensils so they do not waste time waiting for assistance.
  2. Cut up fruit and veggies to make them easier to eat.
  3. Invest in quality lunch containers.
  4. Don’t pack too much food.
  5. Let your child help pack the lunch by giving choices, “pick one item from each column”
  6. Freeze items that need to be kept cold; they will defrost throughout the day. Use ice packs as needed.
  7. Prepackage things like sliced veggies or popcorn so they can easily be added to the lunchbox.
  8. Make sure the meal isn’t too messy. No Build Your Own Pizza on picture day.
  9. Peanut Butter (or Sunflower seed butter) and jelly is always a good standby.
  10. Buy rolls or mini loaves of bread to make sub style sandwiches with veggies.

The PDF has a few recommendations as to how to use the Lunchbox Guide as well. I have mine hanging inside my kitchen cupboard door. It’s easy to reference but not visible unless you open the cabinet (that tip is just a freebie).

It’s your turn! What is your best tip to de-stress the lunch time chaos?

 

Get Fresh with The Fresh 20

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It is your turn! Yesterday I told you about a contest I was participating in. Today I’m telling you about a contest for you AND your kids. It also has great prizes!

getfresh_banner

I think we all agree that feeding out kids REAL food is important. As schools all over the country are welcoming new students it is easy to get overwhelmed with school supplies, homework, and the dozens of forms that must be filled out (for each kid).

The Fresh 20 is offering a contest that may bring some fun into the back to school chaos. If you aren’t familiar with The Fresh 20 it is a company that offers weekly meal plans (and now a cookbook). The plans are not Plant-Based but they do focus on fresh ingredients and they have a Vegetarian option (as well as a Gluten-Free option).

The Fresh 20 supports healthy eating habits as kids head back to school this year. They’re on a mission to find The Freshest Kids in America by asking kids the question, “How do you #getfresh?” Utilizing any social platform, parents can submit either a video or a photo of how their children #getfresh on health.  The campaign offers children and their parents a unique opportunity to get creative with their fresh and healthy habits and to get kids involved in their own health decisions.

Check out The Fresh 20 for #getfresh back to school ideas.

They are also sponsoring a photo contest!

getfresh
I entered this photo on their Facebook Photo Contest Page just to see how easy it is! Who knows maybe I’ll win a prize.

Enter to win! Show us how kids #getfresh on health for back to school.

WAYS TO ENTER FOR DAILY PRIZES:
1. Post an Instagram with hashtag #thefresh20
2. Tweet: Use the hashtags #thefresh20 and #getfresh
3. Upload a picture to the Facebook Photo Contest page
4. Re-Pin to Win from the The Fresh 20 #getfresh Pinterest Board using hashtag
#thefresh20 and #getfresh
Grand prize package worth $1500 and dozens of daily prizes. What have you got to lose? I’m sure you have super cute pictures of your kids eating delicious plant-based foods!
FTC Disclaimer: Sponsored Post

A Little Help Please

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I like to think that this blog is my little corner where I can make a difference. Yes, I know I make a difference in my home, my family, my neighborhood, my church, etc. but on a larger scale my blog goes place I can’t. That idea is thrilling!

Practical Things Make a Difference

When I graduated from college I went on a month-long mission trip to Romania. We made repairs to a church, helped in an orphanage, delivered food and clothes to families, put on clown shows but the best part was just talking to people, encouraging them, and praying for them.

We did practical things, offered everyday help and it made a difference.

Plant-Based Help

I remember when I began the transition to whole food, plant-based eating. I didn’t even know what words to Google with. I couldn’t find any appropriate recipes and I was completely overwhelmed. Of course I learned more and found an abundance of resources. I kept thinking it shouldn’t be this hard.

I set out to provide a resource for others transitioning to a plant-based diet, especially families. I love getting feedback from you all. I feel like when I share my struggles, mistakes, victories, and yes even recipes I make it easier for you to be successful, or at least realize you can do this.

Quinoa and Black Beans

I Could Use A Little Help

I’m in a recipe contest for Pritikin’s Recipe of the Year. I submitted this recipe for Cilantro-Lime Infused Quinoa with Black Beans. It is delicious and easily adaptable! The voting ends August 30th.

Casting a vote for your favorite recipe is real simple. Just share your favorite recipe with your social media community on your favorite social sites by clicking on any social share button within the recipe page. Every click & share counts as a vote! Pritikin’s Contest FAQs

If you would take the next 60 seconds and click over to my recipe for Cilantro-Lime Infused Quinoa with Black Beans and share it via the social media buttons I’d really appreciate it. Feel free to check out the other recipes too, most are not plant-based but could be adapted.

The top 2 recipe creators win a trip to Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami, Florida (with a guest) to compete in a cook-off. I’d love to win this trip. It would be a much-needed vacation and an opportunity to spread the plant-based message.

Thanks

If you took a few seconds to vote, Thank You! I hope to give you all an update as soon as I know the results. Even more than winning the contest I appreciate that you care and you keep coming back and making me a part of your journey.

 Update

I wanted to let you all know that my recipe was in the top two and I’ll be going to Miami to later this month! Thank you all for voting and the support you are faithful to provide.

 

 

 

Summer Berry Breakfast Quinoa

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I shared this recipe over at Herbivore Triathlete on Monday but I didn’t want anyone to miss it so I thought I should share it here too.

Summer Berry breakfast quinoa HT1

Summer Berry Breakfast Quinoa (1 serving)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • ¼ tsp vanilla
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp rice milk
  • ½ cup assorted berries (we like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and black berries)
  • A generous shake of chia and hemp seeds (we call these sprinkles)
  • Stevia or maple syrup (optional)

Do

  1. Gently mix quinoa (warm or cold) with vanilla, rice milk, berries, and seeds.
  2. If desired, use a little stevia or maple syrup to sweeten the breakfast quinoa.

Serve

My kids were suspicious of Breakfast Quinoa in the beginning but now love it and ask for it daily. They prefer it cold, I like it warm. Walnuts make a great addition but sadly we are now a nut-free household.

 Do you eat quinoa for breakfast?