By Megan McFadden in Vegan for Beginners — Dec 30, 2024

New Year, Delicious Plant-Based Recipes!

Embrace the new year as the perfect opportunity to refresh your eating habits with exciting, healthy choices! Learn more.

Embrace the new year as the perfect opportunity to refresh your eating habits with exciting, healthy choices!

Here are some ways to incorporate more plant-based recipes into your diet in 2025.

This Week's Plant-Based Meal Prep

I aim to make two to four recipes every week on one of my days off. I tend to shop at Target, Fareway, or Hy-Vee.

This weekend, I made three recipes, all from Nora Cooks. Nora Taylor is one of my favorite food bloggers because her recipes are consistently delicious, reliable, and straightforward.

1. Minestrone Soup

Have you ever tried the vegetable soup Olive Garden serves? Minestrone is one of the vegan options. It is an Italian vegetable soup made with beans and pasta.

I originally started making this for my meal prep because minestrone is my favorite soup. I add extra veggies to the base and then saute it longer. This time, I included extra spinach, another celery stick, an additional carrot, and diced summer squash.

2. Italian Chickpea Soup

This was my second time making Italian chickpea soup, and the recipe is delicious. Chickpeas are very healthy for you, packed with nutrients like protein and fiber.

I am still experimenting with including the pasta noodles in the dish. Nora warns against adding them if you do not eat the soup immediately. I noticed that the noodles absorb the liquid quickly. I want to bring this dish to work but have not figured out how to incorporate the pasta with the soup. I will keep you posted when I do.

3. Vegan Tater Tot Casserole

I have brought this tater tot casserole to holiday functions, and even non-vegans enjoy this plant-based version of tater tot casserole.

This recipe contains coconut, so if you want to make it without coconut, use another dairy-free creamer that is unsweetened and unflavored. Although this is not a common allergy, I only mention it because my cousin has a major coconut allergy.

Also, if you prefer to prep meals like I do, prioritize eating this recipe first. I determine whether this dish is good or bad based on the tater tots. After 3-4 days, it is bad because the tater tots are no longer good.

More Plant-Based Inspiration

Whenever I find a recipe I like, I add it to my recipe routine list. All three of these recipes are on this list, and I highly encourage you to check out Nora Cooks because this blog is fantastic.

Check out my previous blog posts highlighting ingredients if you prefer a particular flavor or ingredient.

Starting next Monday, I plan to publish blog posts featuring the Ingredient of the Week, beginning with vegan maple recipes. Hopefully, this will continue every Monday.

Winter Flavors

Some people stop celebrating Christmas with New Year's Day. I am Catholic, so our Christmas season lasts until the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on January 12 this year.

Regardless of your beliefs, you can still cherish your favorite Christmas flavors, along with some in-season favorites for the rest of winter.

Citrus Galore

'Tis the season of citrus. If you like citrus fruits, store them at room temperature or in the crisper drawer with your veggies. If you store them in the crisper drawer with your apples and pears, they will spoil faster.

I tend to cut up a couple of oranges to accompany my supper. Another trick is to squeeze half a lemon into a cup of sparkling water, a healthy alternative to Sierra Mist.

Valentine's Day Inspiration

If you are looking for something special to make for Valentine's Day next month, you are in for a treat. So many red and pink fruits and veggies would spice up your romantic dinner. Give these recipes a try.

Conclusion

Whatever your New Year's resolution is, please consider eating any of these plant-based dishes. Regardless of your dietary preference, it will encourage you to incorporate more foods into your eating routine, which is suitable for everyone.