10 Essential Vegan Fall Recipes

 

 

Fall is a time of family, thanksgiving and ( most importantly) FOOD! Over the years, I have gathered quite a few delicious and vegan fall-inspired recipes! Here is a collection of my favorites, perfect for Thanksgiving, fall-parties, or simple family dinners!

5 Tips for Staying Healthy During the Holidays

     The Holiday season is upon us! Thanksgiving is in a few days and not long after that is Christmas and the New Year! This means a constant flow of desserts, treats, sweets, indulgent meals and lots of it! And while this food is delicious and fun to enjoy, after several weeks of indulging because 'its the holidays', you probaly aren't going to be feeling very festive!

     If you strive to eat fairly healthy, as I am sure you do, seeing as you are reading this blog, then the Holiday season might be a bit stressful for you. You might worry about hurting your friend's or family's feelings by turning down their desserts, cheeseballs or candies. What about all those parties and special gatherings you are sure to be invited to? You could just put your healthy lifestyle on hold for the holidays, which is expected by most people and completly understandable..or you might deicde to tough it out and stick to your ideals as much as possible.  I am a vegan, which, to me, isn't a 'diet' that I turn off and on, but its a lifestyle change, which means I am going to eat vegan during the holidays. How am I going to do this? Keep reading to find out!

#1 Learn to Cook!
    Makeing your own food is a sure way to insure that you will be eating the way you want to. Make your own cookies, cakes, breads and candies (or don't) to fit your diet, and enjoy those when your friends and family are enjoy theirs! Offer to bring a dish to a dinner party or potluck ( don't be shy! This is often a blessing to the host or hostess!) or at least ask the host/hostess if there will be any dishes suited for you at the gathering. If so, rejoice! If not, then plan to bring your own dish! Its really not that diffiucult, it justs takes some planning! I have several great recipes that are perfect to make during the holidays and share with your friends and family!

Vegan Pumpkin Pecan Pie
Brownie Batter Balls
Sweet Potato Casserole
Easy Holiday Truffles
Harvest Salad
Pumpkin Muffin Tops
Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

#2 Practice Moderation!
     One thing about the holidays is, they don't last forever..so, if you want to indulge a little, let yourself...just in moderation. Having a small piece of pie or one cookie every few days or so isn't going to hurt you! On Thanksgiving Day, when people usuing gorge themselves with a huge feast, just practice portion control and you will be just fine! Take a small serving of the dishes you like and you will have a delicious, well portioned meal and feel much better afterwards than if you had eaten multiple portions of everything! This can be applied to any meal really. If don't want to miss out on the food, then just eat a small bit of it and enjoy it!

# 3 Stay Active!
     There is nothing better to do during the holidays then getting some exercise! No matter what your diet is, or whether you are sticking to it during the holidays or not, being active is never a bad idea! It helps with digestion after a big meal and burn off some of those extra calories! You don't even have to spend a lot of time working out either! A simple jog or walk around the neighborhood, or doing some home exercises like pilates or yoga is enough to be beneficial! It can be fun too! If you have family or friends staying with you (or you are staying with them) invite them to come along with you! Company always makes exercising more fun!

 

Here are a few links to my blog posts where I have great workouts, link to workouts and exercising ideas!

Fall in Love with Fitness
Everyday Activities+Workouts 
'Love Yourself' Workout 
Pilates 
Daily Workouts 
Workout Video 



#4 Be Verbal!
     You can't expect people to underand your food choices if you don't explain it to them! Let people know that you are trying to eat healthier, have smaller portions, cut out certain foods or have a food allergy. This way, they know what to make when they ask you to a meal, or even help you find food to eat at a party or potluck. I have found this helpful so many times! If you tell people how you like/need to eat, then most likely they will make sure you always have something to eat, and will understand when you refuse certain foods!

#5 Eat at Home
     When you are vegan (or are following any other diet or lifestyle) it can be difficult to find things to eat at restuarants, parties and other people's houses. If you know you can't eat at a cetain place, or you aren't sure, then I suggest eating ahead of time. Instead of sitting there, hungry and wishing you could eat something, you can be full and able to participate joyfully! Don't let this make you feel left out! Accept that you eat differently that other people, and move on!  Also, I wouldn't suggest making a big deal about it either! This can make people( especially the host/hostess) feel bad or even kind of angry! Make yourself some delicious food, suited to your needs, and eat it at home before you go to the party (or where ever you are going) and enjoy yourself without stressing about the food situation!

     I hope these tips have helped you! I know that I find them pretty helpful! Eating healthy during the holidays doesn't mean your a snob or that you don't care about the holidays, it just means that you prize your health over a cookie or piece of pie! Apply these tips during the holiday season and you won't have to lose your 'holiday weight' or get back on track come January!

Share this post with your friends and family to help everyone staying healthier during the holidays! Sharing this post and my blog will help spread the message of living a healthy lifestyle, so please share to inspire others to live a healthier life!

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Happy Holidays to you and stay healthy, happy and laughing!

Hannah

Seasonal Super Food- Health Benefits for Pumpkin!

     Pumpkin is pretty popular around this time of year, and that is great because Pumpkins are so good for you! It defiantly should be considered a Seasonal Super Food! Pumpkins are beautiful, delicious and also super nutritious, so no wander they are in every food item this time of year!

     Pumpkins are an excellent source of important vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, E, C and B2 and Potassium, Manganese and Copper! They are also full of Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus!

    Pumpkins are great for your eyes because they are rich in carotenoids! Carotenoids promote healthy eyes and night vision as well as protect against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration!

     Because Pumpkin is so rich in carotenoids, vitamin C and E, and Potassium, they help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and several types of cancers. Carotenoids also help promote longer life and vitamin C and E prevent wrinkles!

     Pumpkins are a low GI( Glycemic index) food, which is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, age-related macular degeneration and obesity.

     Pumpkin is packed with fiber and low in calories, making it a great weight-loss food! Fiber helps to lower cholesterol levels, regulate blood sugar , protect against heart disease and colorectal cancer!

     The Vitamin C found in Pumpkins help antioxidants to function and your body absorb Iron!

     The Vitamin A that is in Pumpkin aids in growth and development!

    Folate can also be found in Pumpkin! It aids in cell renewal and fetal development!

 

How to Eat Pumpkin

      As you can see, Pumpkin really is a healthy vegetable and more than just a seasonal flavor! Besides the usual ways of eating pumpkin, there are also some unusual ways that you can enjoy this nutritious squash!

     Pumpkin is of course delicious in drinks like Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Hot Cocoas, Frappuccinos and Smoothies. I love to try out vegan recipes and tweak  them to make it my own! Hopefully I will be sharing some of those with you soon!

     Baked goods also benefit wonderfully from pumpkin! I have several recipes like pumpkin muffin tops and muffins here on my blog!

    Savory dishes are also a delicious way to enjoy pumpkin! It can be added to chili, curries, soups, pastas or even roasted and added to salads, rice bowls or just eaten on its own!

    However you choose to enjoy pumpkin, the health benefits are the same! Eating pumpkin fresh is always best, but you can also use the canned version! Keep in mind that 'pumpkin flavored' or flavoring has none of the nutritional benefits that fresh or even canned has to offer!


     Pumpkin is a wonderful seasonal vegetable and is packed full of nutritional benefits and eating more of it shouldn't be hard around this time of year! Now that you know all the health benefits of pumpkin, you have even more reason to eat it everyday and feel super healthy and festive!

Please share this post with your friends and family! Spread the love of a healthy lifestyle to more people so the world can become a healthier place!

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New Posts Every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!
H. Banana
    

Fall Inspired Vegan Recipes

     Fall is here! I love fall so much :) The weather here is slowly beginning to cool off, and it is getting darker earlier as well! We are slowly breaking out the sweaters and cozy blankets and praying that it doesn't decide to warm up again!

     Fall comes with its own set of flavors, from pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg to caramel and apple .. the list could go on and on! With these delicious flavors, you can make a million different recipes that are 'fall inspired' to get you in the mood for the season! I have many recipes here on my blog that I have shared with you in honor of my favorite season-Fall! In case you've missed some, or you need a refresher, I am going to share them with you again!

 

Okay! Lets get into it! I am sharing the links to the recipes, so feel free to click over to them for the recipe and step-by-step instructions!

 

 

Meatless Monday Chili has to be first on my list! We make chili all the time during the colder months and this is a great vegan, oil free, and delicious recipe!

Pumpkin Muffin Tops are of course a must have for the fall months! Pumpkin and cinnamon make these muffin tops the perfect fall snack or even breakfast! For a completely vegan option, sub in maple syrup for the honey!

Sweet Potato Pumpkin Faces are a great and fun way to make your meals more festive! These are also great for little kiddos to help them eat their veggies! Perfect as a side item or a delicious snack!

Healthy Homemade Bread is a staple recipe to have anytime of the year, but especially in the fall and winter months! There is nothing better when its chilly outside than a warm slice of bread with jam, pumpkin or apple butter or dipped in some soup!

 

This Sweet Potato Casserole is on of the best I've ever had(not to brag or anything)! Its super creamy even though there is no butter or milk in it! Its great for the Thanksgiving table!

 

Harvest Salad is a delicious, healthy, and flavorful dish that is perfect for lunches, dinners and the Thanksgiving table! Its great warm or cold, so it does wonderfully in packed lunches!

 

 

Gingerbread Cookies are a delicious treat to make in the fall months! They are packed full of fall flavors and are perfect with  cup of coffee! For the vegan version, sub maple syrup for honey and vegan cream cheese for regular cream cheese!

These are just a handful of the fall inspired recipes that I have here on my blog! Hopefully you enjoy these recipes and they get you in the festive, fall mood! Each one of these recipes contain delicious fall flavors, healthy nutrients and are all really easy to make! Delicious food can still be healthy, even during the holidays!

Please share these recipes and my blog with your friends and family to help everyone live a healthier lifestyle!

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Stay healthy, happy and laughing!

H. Banana

Pumpkin Muffin Tops!

These are the kind of muffin tops that you do want! :) They are healthy, soft, pumpkin-y, spiced, and delicious! Also, they can be made completely Vegan!

 

   Fall is officially here, and with it comes pumpkin flavored everything! Most of the popular Fall treats aren't that great for you, but thankfully there are some great healthy choices too! These muffin tops are the perfect example, since they are both healthy and plenty pumpkin-y to satisfy your fall cravings and keep you feeling great at the same time!

   I am calling these muffin tops because I baked them in a ( leaf and pumpkin shaped) whoopee pie pan, so they are a bit thinner than muffins. I love the way they turned out! Beautiful fall shapes, super moist and soft, and a great serving size to help you not over eat!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour
2-3 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice or Cinnamon
1 tsp Baking Soda
3 Tbsp Ground Flaxseeds
8 Tbsp Water
1/2 cup Coconut Oil- room tempt.
1/2 cup Honey(or Maple Syrup if you want to keep this completely Vegan)
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1/4 tsp Salt

First, we need to make our Flax Eggs! We aren't using eggs in the recipe, so that it can be Vegan( if you use the maple syrup)! If you've never made a flax egg, don't be scared of them! They are super simple!

Add your ground flax to a bowl and add in the water. Stir well- you'll notice it go really thick. Leave it to the side while we get on with the recipe.

Add the flour, pie spice( or cinnamon), baking soda, and salt to a bowl and stir to combine. Then add in the rest of the ingredients, including the flax egg.

 

Stir well, making sure to mix the flax egg in well. Then, grease a pan and spoon in your batter. If you don't have a whoopee pie pan, you can use mini muffin tins, regular muffin tins or a 8x8 baking pan.

I wanted to use my whoopee pie pan because of the fall shapes! :)

 

Make sure to press the batter into all the little corners. I like to give the pan a little tap on the counter to help it settle.
Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes for the whoopee pan and mini muffin tins. For the regular muffins or 8x8 baking pan, 12-15 minutes. To check that they're done, just stick a tooth pick in the center. If it comes out clean, they are done! Also, they will smell really good!

 

Let them cool for 5-6 minutes before removing them from the pan.

Eat them fresh from the oven, or store them in an air tight container for a few day- but I doubt they last that long! I love how festive, delicious, pumpkin-y, healthy, and cute these little muffin tops are!

I enjoyed my(1st) tasting with a warm cup of coffee and a good book! They are the perfect afternoon snack, dessert, and they are even healthy enough to have for breakfast!

I really hope you try these delicious and healthy fall treats! If you like them, please share this post with a friend and family member to help them celebrate fall on the healthy side!

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New post every Friday!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana