Part of sticking with something is being prepared for any situation. That means bringing your own paleo goodies to parties and finding recipes you love that satisfy your holiday sweet tooth.

Here are a few of my favorite Holiday recipes from the last 6 years. These are my go-to treats and are always a hit among clean eaters and that uncle that only comes for the desserts.

Merry Christmas from my kitchen to yours!

Almond Bark (Vegan, Paleo, GF)

No Bake Fudge (Paleo and Vegan Options)

Paleo Chocolate Soufflé

Blackstrap Molasses Cookies

Nut Butter Candies

Dark Chocolate Coconut Clusters

Paleo Shortbread Cookies

Grain-Free Sugar Cookies (Paleo and SCD)

Primal Palates Gingerbread Cookies

This dessert was a total accident but I’m obsessed! Who wouldn’t want to treat their guests or family with a cool layered pumpkin treat?

These treats are Vegan and Paleo, Dairy Free, Egg Free and Refined Sugar Free.

Warm Pumpkin spice bars are one of my favorite Autumn treats to whip up for my family. We had our favorite pumpkin recipes from Paleo Magazine. This year, I have been focusing on vegan recipes because I have so many friends who avoid dairy and eggs. These are my Paleo Magazine inspired Vegan Pumpkin Crumb Bars.

My initial reaction to ditching meat is summed up in this photo:

Recently, I met a women who had been Vegan for a year. She said to me, “I know you are Paleo, so we are the exact opposite.” I can’t say this offended me, but it did give me something to think about.

Paleo, Vegan, Pescatarian, Vegetarian? What’s the difference?

It’s no surprise when people tell me that they are trying to eat better, but don’t know where to start! Google clean eating and you’ll get a massive amount of options.

The search can be overwhelming and drive people to just sit and cry into their pint of ice cream instead. 

The Vegetarian Challenge

Little did the women I met earlier know, I was already 5 days into my vegetarian journey! After hosting clean eating challenges every month, I decided that this month, I’d create some vegan and vegetarian meal plans to challenge myself.

I told myself to give it 7 full days and then I could quit. I completed 2 full weeks!

If you have been following me for any amount of time, you know that I have been Paleo for almost 6 years. I won’t go into details of my journey, but you can read it here on Marks Daily Apple.

I feel that too often, we find a diet or a belief and we dive in without doing our own research. I didn’t want to follow something blindly! With that said, we as humans, tend to shut out other opinions when we believe we already have the right answers. I didn’t want to be one of those close minded people either.

So this month, I decided to launch my 14 day group and challenge my diet by going totally Vegetarian. I let up on my paleo lifestyle a little. While I maintained 100% gluten- free and soy free, I wasn’t as strict in all areas. 

Paleo to Vegetarian, What Did I Learn? 

1. Going Vegetarian Wasn’t That Hard. Going from a Standard American Diet to a Paleo Diet, was a harder transition than going from Paleo to Vegetarian.
2. Going Vegetarian helped me to focus on making sure the bulk of my diet is plant based. Sometimes, even as vegans or vegetarians, we can forget to eat more vegetables. Breakfasts can consist of a baked good rather than vegetables. Our lunches can be sandwiches, rather than a big veggie filled plate. We often fall into that old lifestyle of veggies are for dinner! This was a good kick in the pants to eat vegetables with every single meal!
3. I can survive a vegetarian diet! I was hungry for the first 3 days and my body was craving meat. Once I got past the cravings, my body really didn’t feel any different. My energy remained the same and I was reaching my workout goals with no issues. I always thought I needed meat every day, now I know, I can be pickier about the meat I eat.
4. Not all meat is equal. While I already knew this from being paleo for almost 6 years, we sometimes fall back into the habit of just eating any meat. At home, we eat organic, grass- fed meats. When we are out, we don’t always follow that rule. I want to really maintain a focus on the quality of meat that I consume because I feel that is important. Now that I know I don’t need meat with every single meal, that will be easier to accomplish.
5. Oreos are vegan! Just because someone is vegan, it doesn’t mean it is the healthiest diet. Just like with any diet, we need to be careful we aren’t consuming processed foods and junk. Vegetarian and vegan diets always sounded so healthy to me, until I tried this challenge. That had me researching and reading labels like crazy!It amazes me the things that are vegan and vegetarian!
6. Vegan is a lot more strict than vegetarian. I met some vegans on my journey and found out way more about the lifestyle than I had previously known. Vegan is such a personal lifestyle that goes way beyond just food. Vegan are super passionate. One girl I spoke with said, “There are times I am on the phone with clothing companies before I buy a shirt I like, because I need to see if they are vegan friendly!” I get sick of reading food labels, I can’t imagine having to read food, clothing, furniture and labels for every product I own. I give vegans props!
7. I like meat. I enjoy a good burger now and then. My second day as a vegetarian, my husband decided to take me to my favorite burger joint! I had to order a vegetarian burger. While I loved the vegetarian burger, I missed my red meat!
8. Will I go vegetarian forever? No, I believe there are some benefits to eating high quality meat. With that said, I will probably make the bulk of my meals plant based and eat meat a couple times a week. I no longer feel the need to pack my plate with mostly meat.
9.  Vegetarian, Vegan and Paleo aren’t that different. Yes, one eats meat, two eat eggs and some dairy products, one avoids all animal products. However, when we get down to it, the goal of all 3 diets is to focus on plants as a main source of nutrients. Many of the Paleo meals I eat, are also vegetarian or vegan approved.
10. I Love a challenge! Taking time to push myself with food gives me time to think and reflect on how I live and feed my family. I found some incredible delicious recipes that I can incorporate into my weekly meals. My son discovered a love for eggplant! I encourage you to break down your food barriers and mindset, give a plant based diet a try for just a few days.

After doing a ton of research on Vegetarian diets, I decided that Dr. Hyman’s article resonated with me more than any other article I’ve read about food. I absolutely love his vision of food freedom and balancing our diets. More plants is the way to go!

I got asked if I was going to try full Vegan next, I am not sure thats on the menu right now but I am not against it. I love finding what works for me and I love trying new things. Will you give Vegetarian a try? What scares you about trying new diets? How can I help?

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I have been so busy these past few months! Nursing my baby girl constantly (SERIOUSLY.. she eats ALL the time, every 40-90 minutes all day and night long)

She hates sleeping too so it is everything I can do to cook for my family, clean and manage to have energy to play with my VERY ACTIVE 2 year old. Needless to say, I have been exhausted and not able to create too much in the kitchen for my awesome followers. SORRY!!

I’m not sure about you BUT when I am tired, I  C R A V E  sugar so much! This is not a good thing for me because sugar makes me irritable and moody.

I satisfied my cravings by working on this recipe A LOT. I have been making this for every get together and event I’ve attended for the last few months. Hope y’all love them as much as my non- paleo friends.

*side note- I made these for our local police officers for a “Feed the Police” event and they were devoured before most of the police officers got to the event…

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Tis the Season to eat sweets?  If you are anything like me, your days are filled with obstacles of chocolate, cookies, brownies, candy and Christmas baked goods. When I was a teacher, the lounge was totally off limits for me.

I make my own baked goods that I can take with me in case I feel the creeping of a sweet tooth.

Kimberly’s Easy Bark Recipe

Ingredients:

• Almonds, hazelnuts and Macadamia Nuts (you can combine or make separate batches of each type of nut. I’ve done many different versions.)
• Dark Chocolate Chips (Enjoy life brand)

Process:

1. Chop nuts in food processor.
2. Place nuts on a piece of Parchment paper. (I use a silpat-best investment ever!)
3. Melt chocolate chips
4. Pour melted chocolate over the nuts and quickly mix them with a rubber spatula.
5. Spread the bark out on the paper and allow it to cool and dry for 6-8 hours.

What are some of your favorite treats? Share links, recipes and ideas in the comments below.