Vegan Food - Good for Health
In the holiday season , everyone is looking forward to indulging in festive treats and hosting friends and family for elaborate lunches and dinner, albeit with a twist! Since Thanksgiving fell on a weekday this time, many families are planning to celebrate over the weekend.
As more people become conscious about what’s on their plate and how it impacts their health as well as the environment, a growing number of people are indulging in vegan menus. While it’s difficult to imagine a holiday meal without the traditional roasted turkey at the table, or the creamy mashed potatoes loaded with butter, those hosting feasts are experimenting with pumpkin instead of turkey or chicken and replacing dairy with plant based alternatives.
Chef Steffi Diaz says she and her family have consciously decided to make a vegan spread for guests this time for their extended Thanksgiving celebration. “We turned vegetarian in the lockdown and decided to cut down our dairy consumption six months ago. As a chef, I have been curating holiday menus for two months and found a lot of alternatives to dairy and meat. A lot of people feel that it’s not possible to fix a festive dinner that’s totally vegan, tastes delicious, and is easy to make. But it is,” she adds.
WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER A VEGAN MEAL?
You can do your bit for the planet. Plant-based meat substitutes have healthy proteins Vegan foods aid weight loss and are good for your heart. A no dairy, no meat feast will help cleanse your system and prep your body for Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties. You’re less likely to feel fatigued if you go vegan during celebrations.
VEGAN ALTERNATIVES TO TURKEY
Burmese tofu made with chickpea flour
Roasted cauliflower
Sweet potatoes
Roasted vegetables
Vegan pot pies
Stuffed squash
Stuffed aubergine
ALL IN A BOWL
While you’re doing your bit to help the environment by going vegan, you might want to avoid food wastage, too. It is suggests that creating medium-sized bowls with vegan versions of traditional dishes. “Herbed mashed potatoes plated with Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, yam, boiled veggies, and corn pudding make for a perfect vegan bowl.
SALADS TO THE RESCUE!
One can never get enough of salads, especially when you’re trying to eat healthy! “Winter offers the freshest of veggies and fruits which also means that you can experiment with different salad options. Salads don’t have to be boring; you can make them vegan yet delicious,” says Noel Vincent, a vegan chef from Mumbai, adding, “Salad made with compressed tomatoes, melons, avocado, watermelon, fresh lime, and corn doesn’t just pack a punch but also tastes great in this season. Pomegranate salad made with apples, roasted squash, carrots, and baked beans with cider dressing is another great alternative.”
WHAT TO USE INSTEAD OF BUTTER, CHEESE, AND YOGHURT?
Nut butter (hazelnut butter, peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, pistachio butter, walnut butter, macadamia butter) is a great alternative, as is coconut butter while making desserts. Use almond cheese in place of ricotta cheese, cashew cheese instead of brie, seed crumbles instead of Parmesan and kimchi queso instead of conventional queso Yoghurt made with milk from non-dairy plant sources like almonds, soy, coconuts, peas, or cashews is popular.
VEGAN TURKEY ROAST
“Pumpkins are a healthy, delicious substitute for turkey. They taste great when stuffed with herbs, mashed potatoes, veggies and rice. Avoid adding sweet potatoes to the stuffing as it makes the dish taste sweet,” says chef Krupa Singha, adding, “While making dough from chickpea flour (using it as a substitute for turkey) and stuffing it with all the ingredients does sound taxing, it is worth the effort.”