My Plant-Based Family

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

Healthy

Plant-Based Valentine’s Day Meal Ideas

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Valentine’s Day Meal Ideas are saturating every form of social media. I wasn’t planning on sharing any ideas but I realized some of you may need a little push in the right direction if you are avoiding meat, dairy, or allergens like wheat or nuts. I don’t plan to do anything special for my family, I’m hoping for a date night instead.

valentines day

Plant-Based Valentine’s Day Meal Ideas

1. Breakfast for Dinner!

Heart-Shaped pancakes with cherries and chocolate chips. Your kids will love this idea and never forget it. I use a Gluten-Free Mix by Maple Grove Farms that I find at Target or Walmart. For the life of me I can’t make good GF pancakes without a mix.

2. Go Italian

I’ve always associated Valentine’s Day with Italian food, it probably goes back to Lady and the Tramp’s iconic meatball scene. Thankfully, I have several recipes to choose from, some are more kid friendly than others. My Gluten-Free Lasagna is a crowd-pleaser; it is husband, kid, and teenager approved. My teen even thought there was cheese in it. (Insert evil laugh here.)

If you are feeding toddlers you may want to go with the Pizza Pasta using small noodles for small hands.

Since it’s for Valentine’s Day try to pick veggies your kids will like best. For my youngest that is broccoli!

3. Steak and Potatoes

Portobello Steaks and Potatoes can take you back to the feel of your omni days without the meat. If your Valentine likes mushrooms this is a great meal. I recommend making either a baked potato or Dirty Mashed Potatoes and steaming asparagus.

4. Picnic at the Park

If you have small kids but would still like to catch a moment with your Valentine try having a picnic at the park. Yes, your kids will be there but they will probably be busy stealing another kids toy or pulling someones hair. Make CHICKpea salad sandwiches and easy finger foods to enjoy. On a side note the weather is in the 70s this week where I live, don’t hate me.

5. Dinner and a Movie at Home

Find a fun movie to rent and order take out or make an easy Crock Pot meal. I love my Easy Crock Pot Mexican Casserole because it comes together in minutes and I only have to wash the Crock Pot. I really dislike doing dishes. Later you can watch your movie as you snack on popcorn.

If you have kids make a Pop Corn Bar with melted Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips, sprinkles, cinnamon, nutritional yeast, crushed candies or other favorite snacks.

6. Don’t Forget Dessert

You need dessert on Valentine’s Day. I think dessert is waaaay more important than the other food. If you are going for the classic V Day dessert you need to make Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Just melt Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips then dip your strawberries in the melted chocolate, refrigerate them until you are ready for dessert. You could also make Brownies or a Fresh Fruit Parfait.

What are your Valentine’s Day Meal Plans?

Meal Plan Monday: Change of (Meal) Plans

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Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a FREE ticket to the Phoenix Gluten and Allergen Free Expo on February 22-23, 2014. Only one day left to enter!

I was about to get the kids dressed this morning so we could take my husband to the airport for a business trip when we got a phone call explaining that the trip was cancelled due to a winter storm. I was thrilled, my husband would be home all week, but my lazy plans of sandwiches and noodles would have to change. We need a real Meal Plan.

I also have Healthy Cravings this week. Healthy Cravings is a monthly class/support group for people in the Phoenix area who want to make healthier food choices. This month’s class is about adapting recipes!

My Meal Plan is directly impacted by my schedule. What and How I cook depends on how much time and energy I’ll be able to put into meals.

Meal Plan Monday

 

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

Cereal was on sale this week so my kids will be happy to have cereal most days. I don’t eat cereal very often and prefer a hot breakfast.

  • Baked Sweet Potatoes with cinnamon
  • Crock Pot Breakfast Hash (a new recipe I need to share but haven’t because it doesn’t photograph well)
  • Fruit
  • leftover pancakes
  • leftover breakfast scramble

Lunch

My kids usually have something easy like sandwiches, toast, baked potatoes or leftovers. I usually add raw veggies to my kids lunch; carrots and broccoli are very common.

Dinner

This week we have company over one night, Healthy Cravings another night, new recipes to try and appointments almost every afternoon. Can you relate?

I like to have a dessert at Healthy Cravings so I will probably do some baking as well. My son has been “mentioning” that he likes Banana Bread a lot lately. I may finally take the hint and make it for him.

What does your Meal Plan look like this week? 

The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide

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UPDATE: This book has been updated! Get the latest information HERE!

Happy New Year! If your New Year’s resolution is to get healthy you’ve come to the right place! Yesterday I launched my new ebook, The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide: How to Cook, Shop and Eat Well.

The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide Ebook
If you are new to a plant-based diet you NEED this ebook. It’s a quick and easy read that will teach you what your really need to know to transition to a plant-based lifestyle. Learn how to read labels, shop for healthy food, plan and cook healthy meals and so much more.

Resources like Forks Over Knives and The China Study teach you why you should eat a plant-based diet. The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide teaches you how. This ebook teaches you the basics of a whole food, no-oil plant-based diet. Need help getting your family to eat healthier? Check out the chapter Transitioning The Family that contains tips for getting kids to eat well and dealing with unhappy family members.

I also include some of my “Reader Favorite” recipes to help you get started on your plant-based journey.

Resolutions or not, isn’t it about time you take the plant-based plunge? Take advantage of the discount before it’s too late!

Attention Bloggers! If you are interested in becoming an affiliate send an email to myplantbasedfamily {at} gmail {dot} com for information on how you can make money selling The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide. 

Hearty Lentil & Barley Stew

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Baby it’s cold outside! Don’t worry, this Hearty Lentil & Barely Stew will warm you right up.

Lentil Barley Stew

This stew contains gluten but you can use rice or quinoa in its place for a gluten-free option. The potatoes, carrots and celery along with the lentils and barley will provide plenty of fuel for shoveling snow or chasing your kids.

Hearty Lentil & Barley Stew

Ingredients

  • 3 cups water
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp Dry Veggie Broth Mix
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 2 small potatoes (with skin on), chopped
  • 1/4 cup dry (uncooked) barley
  • 3/4 cup cooked lentils (or 2/3 uncooked)

Do

  1. Add all of the ingredients to a pot and cook over medium heat.
  2. Cook until barley is soft, maybe up to 45 minutes. Add more water water if necessary.

Serve

This is delicious with crusty bread and a side salad.

What is your favorite winter stew?

My Favorite Plant-Based Soups

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Yes, the weather outside is frightful! I’ve been seeing pictures of snow-covered yards and freezing temperatures. Thankfully Arizona isn’t too cold but since I’m spoiled with warm weather it is noticeably chilly. Besides staying indoors under a warm blanket, soups are my favorite way to warm up. Enjoy this collection of my favorite plant-based soups in no particular order.

Plant-Based Soups

Plant-Based  & Gluten-Free Soups

Chickpea Noodle Soup is the perfect replacement for old-fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup. It’s warm, comforting and delicious. The Dry Veggie Broth Mix is the key to richness of the soup.

Enchilada Soup is a remake of an old family favorite that was full of unhealthy ingredients. This version is full of beans, grains and veggies and my favorite Mexican spices. This recipe is a great way to impress friends with a warm, healthy soup.

Taco Soup is similar to Enchilada Soup but leaves out the grains and relies on pantry staples. It is easy and delicious. Both the Taco Soup and the Enchilada Soup are extremely versatile, simply remove ingredients you don’t have and add ingredients that are available.

Slow Cooker Potato Soup is the easiest soup I make. You basically wash and cut a few veggies, add water and spices then wait. You can add more veggies and more seasoning if desired. This recipe is intentionally mild in flavor, perfect to taking to a friend.

Green Chili, Cilantro & Lime Soup is a slightly spicy soup with a complex flavor. The green chilies, cilantro, lime along with the Dry Veggie Broth Mix, create a perfectly balanced flavor that the rice and black beans compliment. If you like a South of the Border inspired flavor that isn’t tomato based then this recipe is for you.

Minestrone Soup is a classic vegetable soup that really hits the spot. I’ve served this at events and everyone wants more. It is a little labor intensive if you use fresh veggies but definitely worth it. I used gluten-free noodles so it would be gluten-free. Even though this is one of my earlier recipes I still keep coming back to it.

Check out my Recipe Page for more warm, comforting recipes like Lentil Shepherd’s Pie, this incredible Gluten-Free, Vegan Lasagna or the Crock Pot version of my Mexican Casserole.

Meal Plan Monday plus Cyber Monday Deals

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I hope you all had a great weekend and an even better Thanksgiving holiday. I’m sure you noticed that I took a lot of time off so I could spend time with my family and cook lots of food. I’m back! In addition to today’s Meal Plan I want to share a few Cyber Monday Deals.

Many of you purchased my Plant-Based Thanksgiving Meal Plan last week, Thank You! I hope you enjoyed the recipes as much as we did!

Meal Plan Monday

Meal Plan

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

I’ll be adding side salads to many of the meals. I have a harder time eating cold salads in the winter but I enjoy mixing warm ingredients like beans and potatoes into salads.

Cyber Monday Deals

Plant-Based Thanksgiving Meal Plan

You can still get my Plant-Based Thanksgiving Day Meal Plan (don’t worry it’s suitable for Christmas too). Today use the code “CyberMonday” to get 50% off today only.

Vegan Cuts is having some great Cyber Monday deals too. Check out last month’s Beauty Box! It contains my favorite deodorant from North Coast Organics, Pacifica Coconut Kiss Lip Butter, Rainbow Honey’s holiday collection nail polish, Earth’s Enrichment’s Calming Seaweed Soap Bar and Medusa’s Makeup Body Shimmer and Brush!

November Beauty Box

I can hardly wait to see what they will have in this month’s box! Today they have an amazing sale too! Don’t miss it!

Cyber Monday Snack Box & Beauty Box Sale
3 Months Gift Subscription $59 (reg. $70)
6 Months Gift Subscription $99 (reg. $115)

Also check out Vegan Cuts Marketplace. Today the Relogy Clean Skin Starter Kit is only $29.95! You should be stocking up at that price!

Lastly, my pal Brandi from The Vegan 8 has a Cyber Monday giveaway going on at The Vegan 8 Facebook Page, check it out for your chance to win a $25 Bed Bath & Beyond Gift Card.

Tell me about your Thanksgiving? I’d love to hear what you ate! We didn’t brave Black Friday Shopping but I’m excited about these Cyber Monday Deals. Don’t forget to follow My Plant-Based Family on Facebook and Twitter and I’ll continue to share great deals I run across.

FTC Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links, that means I may earn a small percentage (at not additional cost to you) if you use the link to make a purchase.