What will you be serving up this holiday season? Between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and ringing in the New Year, traditional feasts are plentiful and hearty. But with food prices rising around the world, festive meals will be more expensive than ever before. A turducken (a turkey stuffed with duck and chicken) may not be the most economical choice this year! So why not consider some plant-based alternatives? They’re nutritious, less pricey, and will spare you the meat sweats, too!
Inflated Food Prices
The United Nations says global food prices are the highest seen in over a decade, and unfortunately, the outlook is grim for the next several months.
A recent CTV News report says inflated food prices will be the norm for the foreseeable future in Canada; they’ve already risen by an average of 5% since January. Some products have gone up by 25%.
The meat counter is where it hurts the most. The price of beef is up 50%. The cost of chicken has risen 13%, and pork is pricier than ever too.
Statistics Canada says the price of a 500-gram pack of bacon surpassed the $8 mark for the first time in August. A nationwide turkey shortage isn’t going to help us at the checkout. And Canadian dairy prices are expected to rise by 10-15% too. Ouch!
Plant-Based Alternatives
So what’s a foodie to do in these tumultuous times? The beef wellington and bacon-wrapped meatloaf may be out, but there are many delicious plant-based options out there that will rock your world!
Besides, with more and more people looking to improve their health and the planet’s health by eating more vegetarian or vegan meals, it’s good to have some meatless recipes ready to go.
The Very Good Butchers, a plant-based company in Vancouver, BC, has a selection of vegan holiday food boxes available for purchase. Its Vegan Stuffed Beast, for example, is made with lots of good stuff like chickpeas, veggies, and flavorful spices.
Does chugging raw eggs in the form of eggnog turn your stomach? Try Oat Nog!
Chef Rene Johnson has released a cookbook called From My Heart To Your Table, featuring her plant-based holiday favorites collection.
Kathryne Taylor of Cookie + Kate touts her roasted carrots with farro, chickpeas, and herbed tahini sauce as a holiday-worthy vegan dish! I’ve made it for my family, and everyone loves it.
In her cookbook, Oh She Glows for Dinner, Angelia Liddon offers recipes for Festive Bread-Free Stuffing Balls, Rosemary and Thyme Mushroom Gravy, Creamy Mushroom, Green Bean, and Wild Rice Casserole, and Sneaky Protein-Packed Mashed Potatoes. Salad lovers will drool over her festive kale salad with sweet apple-cinnamon vinaigrette & pecan parmesan.
And if you’re looking to warm up on a cold day, try this vegetarian meatloaf by Giada De Laurentiis. This recipe is worth the effort and is one of my family’s favorite veggie meals!
There’s never been a better time to experiment with more plant-based meals. They’ll save you some coin, carry a smaller carbon footprint, and might help you kick off the New Year feeling less bloated than usual! Bon appetit!