Good morning! I am still glowing from such an awesome weekend. From a day trip to Orlando for shopping, New Moon, and a sleepover to fun with my sister who visited, it was one of the best weekends I’ve had in a while. Hopefully this upcoming Thanksgiving week and weekend will be just as memorable!
I kick started my day with a very sunshiny yellow breakfast! Quaker crack Oatmeal Squares with almond milk in my favorite yellow mug with a little bit of calcium enriched orange juice on the side.
I’ve spent a long time trying to think about my contributions to Thanksgiving dinner with Ross’ family on Thursday. I’ve gone back and forth about how much I should actually make, because I know there will be plenty of other food there. However, I know there is a very strong chance that I won’t be able to have a single thing I don’t make myself, between being vegan and my tree nut allergy. So while I would only really need to make one or two things to share with everyone, I think I’ll be making more, just because I don’t want to be stuck eating mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie until Sunday (his family generally eats Thanksgiving leftovers for lunch and dinner every day until everyone leaves…). With that said, here are my current ideas of what I’ll be making.
- Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas (appetizer/ something with protein I can munch on)
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Butternut Squash Puree
- Green Beans and Mushroom Roast
- Autumnal Salad (greens, roasted pears, cinnamon agave almonds, pomegranate arils, some sort of vinaigrette)
- Whole Wheat Multi Grain Rolls (dough from Publix that I’ll freeze and take with us)
- Vegan Pumpkin Pie
All these ideas are flexible. I may just make roasted chickpeas as a snack for myself for the drive up and duration of the stay. The salad is an uncertainty, because Ross isn’t sure the salad will go over well. I think it sounds wonderfully fresh and welcome with all the typically dense options, but we shall see.
As far as other food that I’ll be bringing for breakfasts and lunches, here are some ideas:
- if either grandparent has a blender, bring spinach and such to make green smoothies
- raw almonds
- larabars/ other bars
- almond milk
- green tea
- pre-packaged baggies of oatmeal with cinnamon that I can easily make
- hummus and carrots and pita chips
I also know there is a Moe’s in Dothan, Alabama, so I’ll probably stop there for lunch one day, probably Black Friday.
The key to being a vegan over the holidays is preparation. The same could be said for many in the blog community and their experiments with going vegan for a day recently – you have to stock your kitchen with vegan goods and plan ahead, or you will be setting yourself up to fail. Due to my allergy and the foodie environment of the south, I truly have to come prepared with nearly everything I will eat between Wednesday night and Sunday, or I will be setting myself up to feeling hungry, deprived and cranky. And that is certainly not how I want to spend my holidays!
How do you make healthy, vegetarian, or vegan choices over the holidays?
Wow, you have definitely made me feel better about my upcoming first vegan Thanksgiving! I think I am going to make some potatoes and a dessert, maybe some vegan cookies. It’s my first Thanksgiving with my in-laws (even though we’ve been married 4 years) so I’m hoping it all goes well
They’ve already said they are making me lots of veggies, ha ha, bless them.
My in-laws do have vegetables, but they’re not vegan…traditional southern sweet potato casserole (allergic to nuts, marshmallows have gelatin = not vegan), potato salad (has mayo, not vegan), green bean casserole (cream of mushroom soup, not vegan), lima beans (animal stock/ bouillon, not vegan), etc. So I’ve learned that just because there are veggies doesn’t mean they’re Lindsey-friendly.
I agree with you – and think the key to any healthy diet is preparation! Your menu looks delicious, and I’m not even vegan.
Your menu does look delicious and that salad may not work?? I think I may have been actually drooling imagining that salad. I could eat 5 plates of that alone..yummm. I am looking forward to seeing what you make. It does take preparation and I am looking forward to seeing how you make it work for you!
Yeah, I think I’ll make the salad anyway. I’ll just make a small amount (like one bag/ package of greens)…I’ll probably eat half myself, so no worries lol!
What a great menu! Since I’m vegetarian, I just eat the side dishes that don’t have meat broth in it. However, I let myself splurge on Thanksgiving – it’s once a year so I don’t worry too much about what I’m eating.
Sounds like a great meal plan!!
that menu sounds great..and im not even vegan!
I think planning has gotta be the best way to go. It’s gotta be tough because for years I thought veggies were always a safe bet (I’m not vegan but every now and then I try for a day or a week!) but they aren’t! It really is best when you make it and know exactly what ingredients go in it.
I’m glad you had such a fab weekend, chica!
Yay for sisters, no?
Your menu looks good. I am excited to hear how it all turns out, and if you bring it all.
I think you are right – prepartion is key! Sometimes though, we are so rushed for the holidays, that we can’t really prepare. Since we are hosting both holidays, we are planning the meals, so I feel very at ease (right now!).
That sounds like a great menu Linds….maybe we should just get together and have a blogger Thanksgiving instead? haha. j/k…enjoy your family time!
this is the only good thing about not traveling for the holiday…seriously i could happily eat stuffing and mashed potatoes for weeks.
Mmmm, great sounding menu! I agree … I think any way of eating can be done no matter what if you just take some time to plan it all out. Have a great thanksgiving, Lindsey! : )
I think your menu sounds awesome! and great job being prepared for everything! when i traveled a lot for work i made snack packs w/ oats/dried fruit/cinnamon already mixed so all i had to do was add water and presto! and same thing with the cereal, and everything else.
you’re going to have a very great holiday!
Oatmeal squares is my favourite cereal. Every time we drive down to the states for shopping, I always pick up a few boxes because for some reason it tastes different than the ones in Canada.
Your planned menu looks good, especially the butternut squash puree!
This is a great topic – I am going to a very conventional Thanksgiving, whereas my ideal Thanksgiving would feature a heritage turkey, no gluten, and no sugar! I’m bringing a few things so that I’ll have something to indulge in. Someday soon I’ll host…and then I will be able to choose the menu! Muahahaha….