How to have a healthy Plant-based Jewish New Year
This year will be my fourth year having a plant-based jewish new years feast. changing over from a traditional jewish new year with lots of roasted chicken, brisket, chopped liver, herring, KICHEL, etc. to a plant-based one can be a huge mind shift and it can feel impossible to think of ways to make your new year feel traditional and still be plant-based. Over the years I have managed to refine my new years menu and figure out which combo's keep all of the meat-eaters happy and are still healthy and plant-based. READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY MENU.
In my mind, traditional Rosh Hashanah foods include anything that is sweet (to symbolize a sweet New Year) and anything that is round (to symbolize long life and eternity) so my menu always includes lots of these traditional foods such as apple dipped in "honey", "honey" cake, round challah's with raisins, tzimmes, big salads with pomegranate seeds, veggie bakes, as well as some general traditional fare that I have managed to make plant-based e.g. chopped liver and chicken soup.
I also believe in balance and since this is a festive holiday, I think that eating a little bit of sugar and some more processed foods is warranted. I, however, always try to balance this out by serving lots of fresh veg and salads. This way, we all fill up with lots of veg and don't overeat on the richer foods. One of the best things about being plant-based is that you don't ever feel sickly full or bloated, even when you overeat a little so having a plant-based festive meal helps everyone to feel more comfortable and my guests always comment about how they don't feel sick like they usually do even though they've overeaten.
Starters:
- Traditional Chicken Noodle Soup. If I am short on time I usually buy the Quorn chicken and add that in place of homemade vegan chicken or just leave the chicken out altogether.
- Mock chopped liver. This recipe is out of this world good and I have served it to many an unknowing Jewish grandparent without them noticing the difference. I serve it with whole-grain crackers or nacho chips.
- Challah made without egg.
- An assortment of plant-based dips: guacomole, hummus, dairy-free tzatziki and baba ganoush.
- Apples with vegan honey or maple syrup.
Wishing all of my Jewish readers, patients and friends a healthy and prosperous New Years.
X
Jess, The Green Dietitian
