Last year I published a post about my Thanksgiving menu (check it out here!) and a lot of people said it was super helpful. I’ve been asked a ton of times already what foods I’ll eat during the holidays and to point them to yummy recipes. Well, here ya go folks! Here are some tips to make it through the holidays and lots of recipes down below. And FYI, last I counted I was above 101 recipes, so enjoy the extra treats 😉
#ChronicLife Tips for the Holidays:
1. Get familiar with Food Substitutes
- Use EVOO or Ghee instead of butter.
- Make coconut sweetened condensed milk (recipe below) or make a dairy free cheese (recipes below too!)
- Try a can of coconut milk instead of cream or milk.
- Make your pies with an almond flour crust, instead of a gluten laden one!
- Use brown rice flour, almond flour, coconut flour, tapioca starch, etc for your baking.
- Need bread crumbs? Use a mix of almond flour, tapioca starch and/or coconut flour
2. Take a dish with you that you know you will be able to eat.
Try one of the 101 recipes below!!!
3. Do things on your own terms.
There’s no right or wrong way to do the Holidays! Whatever makes you feel happy, comfortable and in control – that’s what you need to do. Pace yourself, avoid triggers that you know will make you sick and DON’T APOLOGIZE FOR IT!!!!
4. Be kind and patient with yourself.
You’re doing the best you can, under the current conditions. If you could do better, you would! So be patient and love yourself above all!
Yummy, Yummy Recipe Roundup:
There are a ton of awesome recipe round ups online (just like this one from the Paleo Diet Recipe Cookbook) Check out these recipes and plan your holiday menu!
Condiments or Ingredients:
Dressings
Paleo Ranch – Use on salads and as a veggie dip!
Italian Dressing – use as a dressing and to marinate meat and veggies!
Sweet Onion Poppyseed Dressing
Gravy
White Wine & Thyme Cashew Gravy
Others
Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk – use in place of canned sweetened condensed milk
Dairy Free Cultured Cream Cheese
Appetizers:
Dips
Dairy Free Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Easy Shrimp and Avocado Ceviche
Others
Paleo Fried Zucchini with Cool Dill Dip
Garlic Herb Roasted Shrimp w/ Homemade Cocktail Sauce
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings – use ghee or coconut oil instead of butter
Pumpkin Spice Sweet Potato Fries
Grain-free Rosemary Olive Oil Crackers
Side Dishes:
Veggies
Beet and Brussels Sprout Salad
Autumn Salad w/ Apples, Pomegranates, Persimmons, Candied Hazelnuts & and Orange Vinaigrette
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Brown Butter Sauce – use ghee in place of the butter!
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Paleo Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Roasted Carrots & Mushrooms with Thyme
Mashed Potato Subs
Roasted Garlic & Butternut Squash Mash
Paleo Mashed Cauliflower Recipe
Honey Glazed “Sweet Potatoes” with Homemade Marshmallows
Stuffing
Apple Cranberry Holiday Stuffing
Paleo Low-Carb Stuffing Recipe
Chestnut and Rosemary Stuffing Recipe
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry Sauce with Apples and Ginger
Bread Substitutes
Paleo Pumpkin Biscuits – she also has some other Thanksgiving recipes on this post as well!
Main Dishes:
Paleo Butterfield Big Bird Recipe
Mushroom & Sage Rolled Turkey Breast Recipe
Heritage Turkey & Mashed Parsnips
Desserts:
Pumpkin
Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe
Pumpkin Pie or try The Best Paleo Pumpkin Pie
Raw, No Bake Triple-Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
Other Pies
Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Pecan Crumble Recipe
Apple Pie or try this Apple Pie
Jungle Pie with Chocolate Crust, Banana Slices & Chunky Coconut Topping Recipe
Cookies
Paleo Pumpkin Cookies with Chocolate Chips Recipe
The Best Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Chocolate Chunk Salted Caramel No-Bake Cookies Recipe
Paleo Almond Pumpkin Choc Chip Cookies Recipe
Double Chocolate Chip Coconut Flour Cookies
Almond Cookies Recipe Topped With Chocolate Avocado Fudge Frosting
Paleo Almond Butter and Chocolate Glaze Muffookies Recipe
Gluten Free Macaroons Recipe with Raspberry Chia Seed Jam
Hazelnut-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies Recipe
Peanut-Free Tagalong Cookies Recipe
Guilt-Free Pecan Pie Cookies Recipe
Jam Filled Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Vanilla Cinnamon Icing Recipe
Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue Cookies Recipe
Gluten Free Paleo Oreo Cookies Recipe
Grain-Free Gingerbread Men Recipe
Others
Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Recipe
Raw Vegan Nutella – spread on any and everything!
Paleo Pumpkin Sweet Potato Custard
Drinks:
Pumpkin Mulled Wine – important note: use coconut sugar, honey or maple syrup when making this!
Paleo Vanilla Low Carb Marshmallow Smoothie
Vanilla Bean Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
PS. if you can’t make your holiday menu from this list, there’s no hope for you 😉 haha!!
Food can be delicious AND nutritious. Using the right ingredients will not only make your body feel 10000 times better after eating, but will also help give you the fuel you need to make it through the holiday season.
Wishing You A Pain Free Day!
