This vegetarian, dairy free side dish is packed with fresh herbs and wholesome ingredients such as apples, butternut squash, and caramelized onions. A perfect accompaniment for your Thanksgiving meal, it’s so delicious that I’ve even served it as a main dish for the kids in the past!
Autumn Stuffing (Vegetarian)
Hearty Dill Vegetable Soup
Dill is by far my favorite herb to add to soups and salads. It has a wonderfully fresh, citrus-like taste and is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. We begin by caramelizing onions and garlic until golden. Added to the pot are protein rich chickpeas, vitamin packed celery, and sweet carrots. To bring it all together, I add vegetable broth and alllllll the dill! Something about dill and carrots in a soup always gets me warm and fuzzy inside… it’s a wonderfully comforting dish that will please even the kids (Sawyer couldn’t get enough!). A great soup for your Thanksgiving table!
Pecan Pie Bars (sweetened by dates)
These gluten-free and vegan treats are a perfect autumn-inspired treat or dessert for your Thanksgiving table! Unlike the usual pecan pie that’s loaded with corn syrup and sugar, ours is naturally sweetened with dates and maple syrup and uses fluffy almond flour for the base.
Vegetable Pot Pie (Vegan)
One of my favorite easy weeknight meals (and perfect Thanksgiving side dish!) involves putting lots of veggies into a whole-wheat crust and baking it in the oven. I love semi-homemade meals because as a mom of 2, time somehow always escapes me. ⏰ This veggie pot pie is made with golden caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, fragrant garlic, sweet carrots, vitamin rich celery, creamy sweet potatoes, and cauliflower rice for texture. The aromatic pie made the kitchen smell SO good… definitely a recipe you’ll want to try! 🌱 You can also bulk it up by adding quinoa for some plant-based protein!
Chocolate Rice Crispy Bars
This no-bake frozen dessert is such a great way to “healthify” a classic. Inspired by @eatingbyelaine, this has quickly become a favorite at holidays, can be made dairy-free and is vegan and gluten-free. Sink your teeth into the rich flavors of chocolate and creamy almond butter, and you’ll be hooked!
Banana Pumpkin Quinoa Cookies
These gluten-free and vegan cookies are perfect for parents looking to sneak some extra veggies + protein into their children’s diets. With plant based protein from the quinoa, oats, and peanut butter, these cookies also provide beta carotene, vitamin C, and iron from the pureed pumpkin. I give these cookies to my kids as a breakfast baked good or afternoon snack… it’s so versatile and nutritious!
Candy Corn Halloween Smoothie
I find smoothies are the easiest way to get my kids to eat their fruits & veggies, so we drink smoothies all year round! We made this Halloween-themed snack with all natural colors (thanks to pineapple, mango, and even pumpkin for some HIDDEN VEGGIES!)
Halloween Frankenstein Monster Smoothie Bowl
Meet our Frankenstein Monster Smoothie Bowl made with clean ingredients and none of the 𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓻𝔂 artificial stuff. Would you believe that you can get such a rich green color from spinach rather than using the unhealthy chemicals from food dye?? My kids and I both love these 2 smoothies (the green face is a tropical fruit smoothie while the brown is a chocolate blueberry smoothie) because they taste delicious, have hidden veggies, and are perfect for Halloween!
Pumpkin Bread
This HIDDEN VEGGIES treat embodies the flavors of autumn and will not disappoint if you’re longing for those sweater and boots fall days ahead. Naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup or robust honey and spiced with warm cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, this pumpkin bread is perfect for a crisp autumn morning breakfast or even an afternoon treat. Made with nutrient dense whole wheat pastry flour, sweet pumpkin purée, and creamy yogurt, this bread can be topped with pumpkin seeds and/or chocolate chips (we’ve done both and the kids prefer the chocolate… obviously!).
Almond Butter Zucchini Muffins
These grain-free, gluten-free, and flour-free muffins (say that 3x fast!) are a great hidden veggies recipe that works well for breakfasts, snacks, and school lunchboxes. Amazingly, almond butter acts as a replacement for flour and creates a perfectly moist and fluffy treat!
Sweet Potato Quinoa Tots
Inspired by @eatingbyelaine, we make this vegan and gluten-free kid friendly recipe weekly but add a bit of cinnamon + maple sweetness to it! With only 3 main ingredients (sweet potatoes, quinoa, and oats), Elaine’s recipe is a wonderful savory option but over here, we’re generally team sweet! 🍁
Frosted Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
Nothing represents autumn more than warm spices, sweet raisins, and robust manuka honey. Added to the mix are chia seeds, sprouted rolled oats, carrots, yogurt, and vanilla. It’s such a wonderful way to start a chilly morning, all snuggled up to this cozy make ahead breakfast that’ll keep you satisfied for hours.