The Skinny
With the Fourth Of July a month away, it may be time to start thinking about the day’s menu. It’s a wonderful holiday for those who love to eat, featuring barbecued hotdogs and hamburgers, with guests bringing potato salad, pie and other treats. Of course, one thing that jumps out about many of these traditional dishes is that they may not be waist-, heart- and vegan-friendly. Luckily, WellWell has gathered a few healthier and/or plant-based alternatives to the Independence Day favorites so you can still enjoy the best parts of the Glorious Fourth without worrying about what you’re doing to your beach bod.
The Slate
Veggie Burgers
Ol’ reliable, the crème de la crème of plant-based options – the veggie burger. While plant-based burgers have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, even becoming a fast food staple, the nutritious new take on the old American classic has yet to enter the mainstream for BBQing events. One thing to watch with a lot of these prepackaged brands is their sodium levels. Veggie-based companies often pack in the salt in an attempt to amplify the flavor for those less convinced by the product. With that in mind, here are a few brands to try:
Morningstar
Impossible
Amy’s
Dr. Praeger’s
Veggie Hot Dogs
With the rise of veggie burgers, it was only a matter of time before more plant-based hot dog options started popping up. These vegan-friendly, often soy-based alternatives to the traditional high-in-fat and sodium hotdog may not be showing up at baseball games anytime soon but they certainly may be easier on your tummy as you watch the fireworks displays. Similar to burgers, it is wise to check the salt levels of these alternatives. A few to try:
Morningstar
Lightlife
Tofurky
The Good Frank
Southwestern Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is inherently healthier and more vegan-friendly than the storied potato salad due to the former’s reliance on mayonnaise. There are plenty of variations to choose from but for simplicity and ease, VeganHeaven.org recommends southwestern pasta salad. The recipe is specifically tailored to compliment BBQ dishes and is relativity easy to make featuring a small list of ingredients including avocado, lime, tomatoes, beans, corn and obviously farfalle pasta.
Rainbow Cauliflower Rice Salad
Similarly, rice salad is a great plant-based side dish alternative without heavy creams or mayo. Forks Over Knives, suggest rainbow cauliflower rice salad for Independence Day, boosting the added bonus of rice derived entirely from cauliflower for an extra nutritional boost. Making the dish even more enticing, the site lists the total prep time as mere 20 minutes.
Vegan Apple Pie
Celebrating Independence Day with some American apple pie may seem out of the realm of possibilities for vegans or anyone trying to cut down on sugar and calories but recipes for vegan apple pie are readily available. FoodWithFeeling.com presents an option healthier than the traditional pie and it’s entirely vegan. At the core of the recipe is a coconut pie crust rounded out with the classic filling of a bunch of peeled and sliced apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, and flour.
Eyes Up
Have your own signature plant-based Fourth of July recipe? Let us know at info@wellwellusa.com.
