You don’t know how it happened, but somehow you ended up becoming the host of this year’s holiday feast. But there’s a dilemma: You’ve embraced healthy eating and all kinds of delicious, plant-based goodies, but you’re not sure your guests are going to be too keen on the idea of a fully plant-based feast. Nobody wants to be preached at, so instead, lead by example and show all of your meat-eating friends and family how tasty and satisfying plant-based eating can be!
Make appetizers everyone will love: Everyone loves finger food, so why not ease them into the plant-based dining experience with some appetizers! Some of my favourites include:
- Rice Paper Wraps
- Nori Rolls
- Spinach Almond Patties (recipe down below!)
Host a potluck: Potlucks are perfect for avoiding heaping mountains of dishes, appeasing picky eaters, and giving you, the host, more time to mingle and enjoy your time with your guests rather than spending the night working away in the kitchen. Assign each guest a different component of the plant-based meal to bring. You may be their go-to plant-based expert, so it might help to leave them with some suggestions on what to bring.
Do a cooking class: Maybe you’ve never hosted anything before, or you want to add some new plant-based recipes to your arsenal. Trying out a cooking class at the studio is a fun way to build your knowledge! There is a huge variety to choose from, especially with the new curriculum hitting the scene in the new year.
Have a dessert exchange: “What is a dessert exchange?” you might be wondering. Once you find out, you will marvel at what a truly wonderful thing a dessert exchange is. Everyone attending the dessert exchange brings enough servings of the dessert for everyone attending the party to enjoy, as well as a copy of the recipe for all the guests. You and all of the guests get to leave at the end of the party with a bit of each dessert to share and enjoy with your family later! Be sure to make extras for sampling at the exchange! Here are some of my favourite desserts:
Be a gracious guest: Share the plant-based love and bring 2-3 items to the holiday events you attend as a guest. This way, you make sure to have something at the party that your tummy is comfortable eating, and you’ll also be able to expose your friends, family to new things. Need some help?
This combination makes a flavourful and filling dinner all on its own, so it will keep you happy and satisfied if you aren’t quite feeling the food at the party you’re attending:
Spinach Almond Patties
Both spinach and almonds are an excellent source of calcium, making these delicious bites a perfect non-dairy treat. They are also full of protein and fiber. They can be eaten on their own along side a tahini dipping sauce or in a sandwich or on a salad.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Place the spinach and onions in a food processor and blend on high until a coarse paste begins to form. Add the bread crumbs, ¾ cups ground almonds, oil, tamari, rice flour, dill and blend again until all of the ingredients are combined.
2. Fill a small bowl with water for wetting your hands while rolling the balls. Place the remaining ¾ cup ground almonds on a large plate.
3. Begin rolling the spinach mixture into small balls, and then roll each ball in the ground almonds, coating the outside of each ball.
4. Place the finished balls on lightly oiled cookie sheet.
5. When sheet is full, place in pre-heated oven for 30 minutes.
6. Allow balls to cool on the sheet and place them in a bowl or on a platter.
