We’ve said goodbye to the sweetness of the holiday season, now we are onto gloomy January. But don’t get too down. January is a fun month to try new things, to challenge ourselves and perhaps even set a goal or two. Quite often in January, we all have a goal to eat a little healthier. So I’ve rounded up a few recipes that are hearty, filling, and made with wholesome ingredients. These can be your go-to gluten and dairy free recipes for the new year. My intention was to focus on recipes that are straightforward and don’t take a ton of time to make. These recipes are staples for me and Adam to help get us through these chillier months.
healthy gluten and dairy free recipes to try
- Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
- Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
- Vegan Three Bean Chili
- Kale Chickpea Salad
- Roasted Vegetable Risotto
Starting your day off right is so important. And what better way than with a quick and delicious Orange Creamsicle Smoothie. This smoothie is loaded with tons of vitamin C (hello oranges and bananas) and even has some veg in it to help with the colour and add some more nutrients. The creaminess comes from the soaked cashews and coconut milk. And the extra orangy flavour is present thanks to adding the actual peel of the orange into the blender. This smoothie is best enjoyed with a straw (obviously- all smoothies are). But guys, ditch those plastic straws that are such a waste and treat yourself to some stainless steel straws that are reusable and so friggin amazing. It’s 2020, make a small difference to your home and say goodbye to that plastic crap.
a healthy dairy free smoothie recipe that beats the clock
Ok after that little rant about plastic straws, let’s get back to this cup of goodness. This carrot orange smoothie truly tastes like a classic Orange Julius that you get at DQ. It has the perfect texture and amazing flavour. This is one of the vegetarian winter recipes that take less than ten minutes to make. It is great for those busy mornings when you are running around like a crazy person. Take a sip, take a breath and then continue with the craziness. You got this.
This Lentil Shepherd’s Pie is definitely a cozy, winter recipe I can get behind. Out of these five recipes, this one takes the longest to make, but the effort put into this dish is totally worth it. This Lentil Shepherd’s Pie is packed with lentils, herbs and topped with creamy mashed potatoes that melt in your mouth.
I feel like potatoes have a bit of a bad reputation, so some might see this recipe and steer away from it because of the potatoes on top. Well, let me say this. If your potatoes are loaded with butter and cream then, yeah they aren’t the best for you. But potatoes contain Vitamin C, potassium and are fibrous. It is a lovely balance to have with the lentil/vegetable mix in this recipe.
Check out the Picky Husband’s Top 5 Favourite Recipes from the site.
would you put ketchup on this winter classic?
Is it weird to eat Shepherd’s Pie with ketchup? Growing up I always did, and now even as an adult, I know this cozy vegetarian winter recipe needs it too. Find some comfort from this healthy Shepherd’s Pie, it would be so lovely as a Sunday night dinner, loaded up with ketchup (of course).
a freezer friendly gluten and dairy free recipe for the new year
Who doesn’t love a one-pot recipe like chili, to help move the week along nice and smoothly? This Vegan Three Bean Chili, is freezer friendly or lasts in the fridge for a week. It is so simple to come in the door from working put the pot on the stove and heat the chili up. I love topping my chili with avocado, a little lime and dipping some tortilla chips into it. This is one of those healthy bowl recipes that is actually a comfort food. This chili is loaded with protein, vegetables and a ton of nutrients. It also works as leftovers for lunch the next day.
a vegetarian winter recipe that brings the heat
This one pot vegan meal is packed with the spicy flavours of a good chili and it takes less than 1 hour to make. This vegetarian winter recipe has become a staple in my house because of how easy it is to make it. If you like more heat than the average person. Taste-test the chili and you can always add more chili powder.
I focused on easy, straight forward gluten and dairy free recipes for this post, and this Kale Chickpea Salad definitely falls in that category. This recipe has two main ingredients, kale and chickpeas. It may sound kind of lame, but I promise you the dressing is what makes it a party for your tastebuds. You don’t need a crazy amount of ingredients because the star of the show is the vegan salad dressing.
would this salad work as a vegan side dish?
Hell yes, it would! This salad also works great as leftovers or a quick snack. It is easy to prepare ahead of time (the chickpeas take 40 minutes to roast). So it’s a great Sunday meal prep recipe. Make the dressing and the chickpeas ahead of time. Have the kale chopped and massaged and then throw it all together in the morning to take it to work for lunch. This vegan side dish is so versatile. It pairs beautifully with dinner, or as a lunch, or just snack on it throughout the day. This is a salad that will set you up for success to stick with those new year goals.
A girlfriend of mine told me the other day, that any hits on my site for this Roasted Vegetable Risotto are probably from her. Apparently, this recipe has become a staple for her. For one, I’m beyond touched! I love hearing that my recipes are enjoyed and used! And for two, I understand why she keeps coming back to this recipe. It’s been a staple for me and Adam FOREVER. It was one of the first recipes that I created (before I even had this blog).
a healthy bowl recipe packed with flavour
One of my favourite gluten and dairy free recipes is a big bowl of this risotto. You can roast whatever vegetables you want because the risotto is really what you’re going to be after. It is creamy, cheesy and has brilliant flavours because of the white wine, vegetable broth, garlic and onions. It’s a show stopper that I hope you start coming back to time and time again.
All these healthy gluten and dairy free recipes are Picky Husband Approved. He is my toughest critic, and I value his opinion wholeheartedly. I’m not saying I don’t get upset when he tells me he doesn’t like something after I just spend three hours in the kitchen. But I suppose that is part of the job and it’s partially up to him to make sure the recipes are up to snuff.
I hope Adam and I did you right by these recipes. I chose them to help kick your January off to a good start. Give you a little guide to help you switch over from holiday mode. Enjoy a smoothie for breakfast, a salad for lunch and three options for dinner, which all work great as leftovers. Happy 2020, let’s kick it off with a healthy start!
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