Why Trust Us
Disclosure
Just because you choose to follow a vegan or plant based lifestyle, doesn’t mean you should miss out on all the traditional Christmas treats! From gluten free, vegan mince pies to Rudolph-shaped protein pancakes… here’s your ultimate guide, courtesy of Neat Nutrition…
Rudolph Pancakes
Ready to unleash your artistic side? These Rudolph-shaped pancakes are great for kids (and adults alike), making tucking into a healthy breakfast seem a whole lot more exciting!
Ingredients
– 1 cup of oats
– 1 scoop Neat Nutrition protein powder vanilla
– 1 egg
– ½ cup almond milk
– Coconut oil for cooking
– Raspberries and choc chips for decoration, and toppings of choice
Method
Blend all the pancake ingredients until smooth and pour into a squeezy bottle.
Heat the coconut oil in a pan on a medium heat.
Once hot, squeeze out pancake mixture in the outline of a reindeer, before filling in the middle. Cook until golden brown on both sides and serve with a raspberry nose and choc chip ears.
Snowball Protein Balls
With all the treats flying around during the Christmas period, it can be hard not to constantly find yourself craving another sweet snack. These protein snowballs are a tasty way to make sure you’re eating something nutritious and packed full of protein. Who said eating healthy on the go had to mean missing out on the festive fun?
Ingredients
– 8-10 medjool dates
– 1/2 cup macadamias
– 1 scoop vanilla vegan protein
– Pinch salt
– 1 heaped tbsp. cashew butter
– Vanilla extract
– 1 tbsp. sweetener (maple)
– 1-2 tbsp. chopped cacao butter (added at end)
– Maple syrup, desiccated coconut and ground almonds to decorate (ground)
Method
First, blend the nuts and dates together until they start to break down. Add in all your other ingredients and blend again until well combined.
Mix the chopped cacao butter at the end so that this remains in small chunks.
Roll into small, bite-sized balls before rolling in a small amount of maple syrup and then in desiccated coconut and ground almonds to give the “snow” coating!
Mince Pies
Gluten free, vegan and protein-packed mince pies… because it isn’t really Christmas until these guys are on the table.
Ingredients
– 60g rice flour
– 35g chickpea flour
– 40g tapioca flour
– 25g vegan vanilla or naked protein
– 80g vegan butter or margarine
– Pinch of salt
– ½ tsp cinnamon
– 1-2 tbsp granulated sweetener of choice (such as stevia or xylitol)
– 2.5 tbsp water
– 2 apple cubed
– 1 tsp coconut oil
– 150g mixed raisins, sultanas and goji berries
– 2 oranges, juiced
– ½ tsp cinnamon
– 1 tbsp maple syrup
– Pinch of nutmeg
– Coconut cream / yogurt or ice cream to serve
Method
Mix together the 3 types of flour, protein, salt, cinnamon and granulated sweetener before rubbing in the butter. Add in the water a tablespoon at a time and work it into a dough, being careful not to overwork.
Roll into a ball and wrap in cling film, putting it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
Whilst this is chilling, on a low to medium heat, start to cook the apple in the coconut oil, adding in all the other filling ingredients. Cook in a pan with the lid on, stirring frequently, until the apple is soft.
Place a little flour on a clean surface and roll out the pastry gently. Be careful as this will be a little more crumbly than regular pastry.
Cut out circles with a cookie cutter and place into a greased cake tray, using extra pastry to patch up any holes or cracks. Fill the pastry cases with the filling and cook at 180c for 15-20 minutes.
Best served warm with a dollop of coconut cream, yogurt or ice cream!
Eggnog
Nothing says Christmas like Eggnog! Made using warming spices, sweet maple syrup, vanilla whey and egg yolk, it’s essentially a healthy custard shake – what’s not to love!
Ingredients
– 3 large – egg, yolk
– 1/8 cup – maple syrup, pure
– 1.5 cup – milk dairy free
– 1/2 teaspoon – nutmeg
– 1/4 teaspoon – cinnamon
– 1 teaspoon – vanilla extract
– 1 scoop vanilla whey
Method
Whisk eggs, maple syrup, and milk in a medium saucepan, and then place on a burner over medium heat. Whisk regularly until the mixture reaches 160* F or so and coats the back of a metal spoon slightly.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 10-minutes. Mix in the spices and the vanilla.
Chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight, and whisk well before serving.
Sweet Potato, Cranberry and Sage Tarts
These festive flavoured savoury tarts are perfect for serving as a healthy alternative to your average party pastry. You can even whip them up on Boxing Day, mixing in some of your leftover Christmas veggies.
Ingredients
– 60g rice flour
– 35g chickpea flour
– 40g tapioca flour
– 25g vegan naked protein
– 80g vegan butter or margarine
– Pinch of salt
– ½ tsp sage
– 2.5 tbsp water
– 4 eggs
– 1 tsp sage
– 2 handful vegan cheese or feta
– 1 handful dried cranberries
– 1/3 cooked sweet potato cubed
Method
Mix together the 3 types of flour, protein, salt and sage before rubbing in the butter. Add in the water a tablespoon at a time and work it into a dough, being careful not to overwork.
Roll into a ball and wrap in cling film, putting it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
Once chilled, place a little flour on a clean surface and roll out the pastry gently. Be careful, as this will be a little more crumbly than regular pastry.
Cut out circles with a cookie cutter and place into a greased cake tray, using extra pastry to patch up any holes or cracks.
Whisk up the eggs and mix with the other filling ingredients. Fill the pastry cases and cook at 180c for 15-20 minutes.
Hangover Cure Green Shake
The lead up to Christmas means party season is in full swing and plenty of festive headaches the morning after! This green shake is packed full of greens and electrolytes from the coconut water to replenish and hydrate your body, getting you feeling back on track.
Ingredients
– 1 cup coconut water
– 1 large handful spinach
– 1/2 small banana
– 1 cup frozen mango
– 1 scoop vanilla protein
Method
Nothing complicated here – because who can deal with that on a hangover? Simply blend everything up and serve to relieve that aching head!
Festive Sweet Potato and Parsnip Mash
This sweet potato and parsnip mash is a great way to boost your veggie intake whilst satisfying any comfort food cravings. It’s perfect to accompany your roast dinner, for a festive take on bangers and mash, or even eat on it’s own with lashings of gravy and a dollop of cranberry sauce – that’s what we call seriously festive comfort food…
Ingredients
– 1 x large sweet potato
– 2 parsnips
– 2 1/2 tbsp. coconut oil or butter
– 3 tbsp. heaped protein vegan naked
– 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
– Pinch of nutmeg
– 1 tsp. honey
– 1 tsp. mixed herbs
– 1/2 tsp. dried sage
– Salt and pepper to season
Method
Steam or boil the sweet potato and parsnips until soft
Drain, and place back in a pan on a low heat and mash with all your other ingredients until lump free. Serve!
