What’s one of the best parts of the fall season? That’s easy. The food! We can safely assume that everyone loves yummy veggies, seasonal fruits, and an assortment of tantalizing pies. But if you’ve recently switched to veganism or a plant-based diet and are unsure how to replace all of those delicious fall classics with healthy alternatives, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got all the best in guilt-free desserts, meat-free meals, and roasting tips you and the family will go crazy over.
Oven-roasted Veggies
As one of the most delicious ways to consume vegetables, oven-roasting has always been a go-to for the vegan- especially during the cooler fall months when we’re craving a little warmth and spice in our life. Simply pick up an assortment of seasonal fall veggies like carrots, squash, string beans, potatoes, and even pumpkin, cut the ends off and peel if you like, though not necessary, and throw them in a good-sized ceramic baking dish. Brussel sprouts are also a great fall veggie to include with these delicious oven-roasted veggies along with a fair amount of oil and cooking spices. After you boil and spice them up, pop them in the oven for no more than 30 to 45 minutes and let cool before serving.
Unsure what spices to use? Don’t fret! After all, there are a lot of options to play with, especially during autumn. Nutmeg, for example, is a great cooking/baking spice that’s not too sweet or spicy but will pack a good punch when you need a little extra flavor. A few other fall go-to’s are cinnamon, salt, pepper, and rosemary. These are all subtle enough, yet allow for the option to build up the flavor incrementally, and really spice up any vegetable dish. You can even place whole sticks of cinnamon directly in your baking dish and cook along with all your veggies to get that full-bodied taste (and make the house smell amazing in the process). Alternatively, for a spiceless option, you can always add in dates or beats to flavor up your veggies for a little extra sugar-free sweetness.
The Best Guilt-Free Deserts
We all know and love our fall dessert classics; pumpkin pie, apple and blackberry cobbler, coffee cake, and caramel apples. But these treats often leave us feeling too full, sugared-out, and kind of exhausted. Why is that? Well, oftentimes, these desserts are made with cane sugar, animal by-products like milk, butter, and cream, and other unnatural ingredients that tax our internal systems and require hard processing on our digestive tract. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Many people don’t realize that you can sweeten your desserts with an array of natural alternatives, from honey to maple syrup, dates to fruit jams. Replace the cream and butter with cashew cream or coconut oil, and switch from normal wheat flour to almond or oat flour!
And while all of these options are readily available ingredients at your local grocery store, not all of us have the time it takes to craft a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing, Pinterest-worthy dessert. So what can you do in a pinch? Order the all-time best vegan cashew-based vegan cheesecakes from Los Angeles vegan food supplier, Elive Food. These delicious guilt-free cheesecakes are sweetened with maple syrup and dates and have a cashew base to recreate that creamy, crunchy textural base we all love so much. Simply head online to Elivefood.com and choose from an assortment of inspiring flavors, such as chocolate “rocky shore”, turmeric, matcha, avocado-lime, strawberry, and plain!
Meatless Meals
Being vegan can present a number of cooking hurtles, such as satiating a craving for meat without spoiling your plant-based diet. Luckily, there are a few excellent plant-based alternatives to replace the real deal! Jackfruit is actually one of the most tantalizing vegetables, both aesthetically and flavorfully. These geometric-looking large-sized vegetables can be baked or cooked before carving out their stringy insides to use as an amazing chicken replacement. Jackfruit has such a similar texture and flavor to chicken that most fans are totally unable to tell the difference! After you have gathered the innards of the jackfruit you can sauté, bake, roast, or put into a pressure cooker and enjoy with an assortment of other seasonal vegetables. For a different flavor, try making a chickpea or black bean patty, as each make a really great guilt-free beef alternative that you can thoroughly enjoy.
Making your own patties is fun and experimental, but can admittedly, be all-consuming. So if you’re feeling a bit lazy or uninspired to make your own, no worries! Simply order your meatless alternatives from Elive Food in Los Angeles. As one of the best vegan/plant-based suppliers in Southern California, this Female-owned company offers amazing chickpea patties, meatballs, and even dipping sauces to flavor up any dish. Simply hop online, order your plant-based favorites, and have them delivered to your door in no time! With your new vegan staples, you can easily craft beautiful, well-rounded fall dishes for the whole family, without spending all day meal prepping! Check out Elive Foods to get more recipe ideas, meal inspiration, and to order the best Los Angeles vegan products online!