We all make New Year resolutions. Even if I claim I don’t, in the back of my mind I am always thinking I will do better, eat better, be better starting January first.
I mean I think the majority of us are guilty of over indulging through the holidays, and I for one know my body is begging for some healthier foods come January. Less sugar, less carbs, less alcohol, more veggies, more water, more thought as to what I am putting into my body!
So we have compiled some of our easiest, lighter, and healthier recipes to help you reset in the new year! Some of our favorite salads, soups, and treats that won’t leave you riddled with guilt.
It’s a new year y’all, and it there is nothing wrong with resolving to do better. Even if you fall off the wagon, its good to work towards the goal of doing better in all aspects of our lives, not just our diets. The holidays will roll around again and we will all likely over indulge AGAIN, but for now we can try and eat better, and be a little nicer to our bodies, and hey, maybe each other. I mean after all, it is a new year, might as well aim high with those resolutions.
Happy New Year Y’all. Hoping for a year filled with health and joy for you all!!!
1. I have always loved Caesar salads. They are easy enough to throw together, delicious, and don’t require a ton of ingredients. That’s why I love that you can make an extra delicious vegan Caesar salad using our vegan Alabama White Sauce as a dressing. I almost always have a jar of Alabama White sauce in my fridge because it is so good and so versatile! Just marinate some tofu in this magic sauce, grill it up, and you might just be eating the best vegan Caesar salad you have ever had! You just have to trust me!
2.My whole family loves soup, and I am all about it as well in the winter months. This particular vegan “chicken” southwestern soup is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, or if you are nursing a cold. It’s packed with healthy vegetables, beans for protein, and just a little kick of heat to help open up the sinuses if a cold has got you down. We use jackfruit in the place of chicken for the perfect texture. You can also make this soup in a slow cooker to make it that much more convenient on those busier days.
3. I love, love, love, summer rolls! I do not however, love rolling them. I am the WORST at trying to roll them up. I don’t know why this particular skill set is not one I possess, but I don’t. So I finally just gave up and decided to mix all of that goodness into a salad and call it a day. This salad is packed with everything you love from a summer roll, no rolling required. Its topped with marinated tofu and the best, easiest, peanut dressing, too. So if you can not seem to roll a summer roll either, just accept the defeat and rejoice in the fact the salad is just as good, if not better than the roll!!
4. My whole family were big tuna salad eaters before going vegan. Its easy, tasty , light and quick. So once we went vegan it was one of the most missed meals for our family. I had tried various chickpea un-tuna salads but could not convince my kids. So once again, I turned to jackfruit because of its neutral flavor and perfect texture. Just add some dulse flakes to add a little “fishy” flavor and you will have a pretty convincing vegan version of tuna salad. Thanks goodness!!
5. I love zoodles and not having to always cook! This raw zoodle asian salad requires no cooking, is super easy to throw together, and is packed with flavor! I really like to make this salad for weekly lunch prep. It keeps well and only gets more flavorful as it sits. You can add some quick grilled or baked tofu to the salad for a kick of protein if you feel like it, but either way this salad is in constant rotation in our house, and maybe should find it’s way to yours!
6. I have always been a big fan of falafel! Making an easy and healthy falafel at home is probably quicker and easier than you might think. I also have always been a fan of falafel topped salads. This recipe has the salad sitting in a pita bowl as an added bonus. We fried our bowl (like I said, we can try our best but sometimes I am still gonna fry a pita to make a crispy bowl for my salad) but you could always bake a pita over an oven safe bowl and let it crisp up that way. This salad is fun, pretty, filling, and super tasty! If you have never made an easy falafel at home, give it a go!!!
7. Everyone claims to have the best vegan chili recipe, but trust me when I say they are lying, because I have the BEST VEGAN CHILI recipe. I will give all glory and praise to my mom for creating the best chili ever, I just made it vegan. Even our non vegan friends make this chili now at home! We use cauliflower to replace the ground meat my mom always used, and the texture is perfect. This chili is easy, healthy, and seriously the best you will ever have!
The Best Vegan Chili
8. Speaking of chili, one of our favorite ways to eat it is on a baked potato. I often bake up a batch of potatoes on the weekend so we can reheat and eat them on busy weeknights. Chili freezes well, so making a batch for meal pre for recipes like this works really well. The vegan cheese sauce is cashew based and still pretty healthy. This meal is easy and hearty and perfect for a cold winter night when you are craving comfort food, but a healthier version!
9. Just like with vegan tuna salad, jackfuit does an amazing job imitating chicken salad as well. This super flavorful tarragon and almond vegan chicken salad is so quick and easy, and perfect for sandwiches, topping salads, or snacking on with crackers, or cut up veggies. Whip up a batch on the weekend and you are set for lunch during the week!
10. Even with your best effort to eat well and cut sugar, you are bound to have a craving every now and again for something sweet! Well, why not make a batch of this healthy and super tasty vegan cookie dough. It uses chickpeas and nut butter, and has just enough chocolate chips to help cut the craving without throwing you completely off course. We roll them into little bite size balls for easy snacking and portion control, but you can make a batch and eat it right out of the bowl, no judgment and no guilt!
