Being on a whole foods diet usually mean you eat quite a bit of meat as your main protein source, since you aren’t eating cheese or many other sources of protein. However, if you are a vegetarian, you might also want to try out this diet.
It is possible to be a vegetarian and eat whole foods, but keep in mind it won’t exactly be the Whole30 diet. You are going to add in some foods Whole30 people don’t eat to make sure you have well-balanced meals with enough nutrition.
Here are some Thanksgiving dishes that are vegetarian and also whole food-approved.
Sauteed Kale
You can start with a simple vegetable side dish that is easy to prepare and satisfies most people. Kale might not sound that exciting, but when you sautee it with the right seasonings and spices, it turns it into something very delicious.
Traditional sauteed kale uses chicken stock to season it, but you can switch to vegetable stock instead. You will also use coconut oil or olive oil to sautee it, garlic, and spices like red pepper flakes. If you like it this way, you can also add a little lemon juice to the kale when you are cooking it.
Butternut Squash Soup
If your family often has soup with your Thanksgiving meal, then you can’t go wrong with some butternut squash soup. Along with the butternut squash that is chopped into small pieces, you are going to add an apple, onion, sage, garlic, vegetable stock, carrot, and various other herbs and spices. Some recommended ones include cayenne pepper, salt and pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. For the creaminess of the soup, add in coconut milk instead of using regular milk like traditional butternut squash soup recipes.
Brussels Sprouts Salad
This “salad” is actually just a combination of vegetables and berries that is the perfect vegetarian side dish for your Thanksgiving meal. It combines Brussels sprouts that have been roasted with butternut squash, along with raw nuts like pecans or almonds, and some cranberries on top. The seasonings are classic fall seasonings like cinnamon, nutmeg, and thyme. Adding a little raw maple syrup can also add some sweetness without using sugar.
Green Bean Casserole
Traditional green bean casserole uses milk and some other ingredients you can’t have on the whole foods diet, but it is possible to make this vegetarian and whole foods friends with a few changes. You are going to leave out the dairy but use many of the other components, including green beans, French fried onions, salt, pepper, and cream of mushroom soup. You can then add some coconut aminos. You don’t want Worcestershire sauce since it is sometimes made with seafood.
