My Plant-Based Family

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

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7 Reasons You Should Buy Local

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If you are eating a plant-based diet you are probably eating a lot of plants. Sticking to seasonal produce from your grocery store or farmers market will be less expensive and healthier for you.

I’ll admit, depending on where you live, some places are easier than others to buy local seasonal produce. Right now is a great time to live in Arizona. Gardens are producing and local farmers have plenty to offer.

7 reasons you should buy local

You can find out what’s in season in your location using this handy tool: Sustainable Table Seasonal Food Guide.

If you need to be convinced that eating seasonally is better for you and for the environment check out these seven reasons you should buy local when possible. [Read more…] about 7 Reasons You Should Buy Local

Creamy Brown Gravy (gluten-free)

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What can take a basic recipe to the next level? A delicious sauce, or in this case, my Creamy Brown Gravy recipe.

If the word gravy scares you, relax. This isn’t a traditional gravy, it’s more of a savory sauce.

This Brown Gravy recipe is gluten-free, plant-based (vegan), quick and easy.

Traditional gravy is made from flour, animal fat and milk. Bleck!

This sauce tastes a lot like regular savory brown gravy but it’s gluten-free, dairy-free and cholesterol-free. The pepper gives this a little spice that your kids may not love. Feel free to leave it out if needed.

Creamy Brown Gravy

This creamy gravy/sauce can be used in many ways. Use it as the “soup” or “glue” for a casserole, pour it over pasta, top a baked potato, pour it over veggies or any other way your heart desires. [Read more…] about Creamy Brown Gravy (gluten-free)

March 21, 2016 Meal Plan

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Spring is finally here! While the temps have been lovely in Arizona for a few month’s it’s nice to know it is official. I even planted some veggies in my garden after taking a year off. I can’t wait to start working fresh tomatoes into my plant-based meal plan.

I’ve got plans to plant more soon.

Plant-Based Meal Plan for Spring [Read more…] about March 21, 2016 Meal Plan

Spring Break Week

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It’s spring break this week which means my kids are going to be eating at home more than usual.

If you follow me on Instagram you saw our Costco haul. We did our regular grocery shopping too. This week we have fresh pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew melon and strawberries to be excited about.

I bought store-bought hummus as a time saver.  I’m hoping this will make snacks easier. I’ll cut up some raw veggies for easy snacks.

Most of the time I’m focused on how to save time and cook less but I’m trying to rethink things. I want to spend more time cooking. Why? Because when I’m focused on eating healthy it usually requires that I spend a little more time in the kitchen.

My husband is on board and is taking on some of the cooking. He already made a huge batch of Minestrone Soup we will enjoy this week.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not going to spend hours in the kitchen every day. I work full-time and do freelance in the nights and weekends. I’ll still use my Instant Pot for quick meals but my focus will be on nutritious food, not quick food.

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Plant-Based Meal Plan Monday [Read more…] about Spring Break Week

What to Eat Plant-Based Meal Plan

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What do you eat? I get emails from people asking what to eat on a plant-based diet, let me tell you, there is a lot of variety. Maybe nuance is the better word.

Typically people who eat a whole food plant-based diet avoid meat and dairy but that just tells me what they aren’t eating, not what they are eating.

It is easier to say what we don’t eat. 

There are people who high carbs, low carbs, no carbs. Others who are grain-free, or legume-free or nightshade-free. There are also food allergies, intolerances and other restrictions. The list goes on.

What to eat or not eat is a personal choice. I rarely offer opinions unless I’m specifically asked and even then I’ll usually evade the question. I don’t even try to talk people into going plant-based but once they decide for themselves I’m there to coach them along.

I say all of that to ask, what do you eat?

I regularly post meal plans so you can see what I eat, or at least what I plan to eat but what do you eat? Inquiring minds want to know!

A Plant-Based Meal Plan [Read more…] about What to Eat Plant-Based Meal Plan

Weekly Meal Plan 02/15/16

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What a week! Two giveaways ended and the winners have been contacted, my boys have been sick and I was in a car accident. (I’m ok.) I’m not quite up to cooking but my friend Melodee brought us a couple of plant-based meals.

This week’s meal plan will be pretty sparse because I don’t plan on doing much cooking. Thankfully it isn’t slowing my pinning down. My 40+ Meatless Recipes for Lent post is doing well on Pinterest this week.

Weekly Meal Plan

Weekly Meal Plan

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