If you’re like me and are taking the October Unprocessed Challenge yet were not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place for unprocessed recipes. A friend and I were chatting about this challenge and we both commented that our first few days consisted of a lot of apples and nuts but if you take some time to plan there is so much more deliciousness to be had with unprocessed foods! I spent some time this week meal planning and I thought it may be useful for more than just myself. I looked through my recipe stash for unprocessed recipes or ones that can easily be made unprocessed with a few substitutions. Here’s what I came up with:
BREAKFAST
Homemade Yogurt (I’m using grass fed organic milk)
Homemade Granola using honey or maple syrup to sweeten
Raw Oats with grass fed milk or homemade almond milk
Homemade Muesli with grass fed milk or homemade almond milk
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (use homemade almond or pecan milk and natural sugar)
Egg Muffins with Kale and Peppers
SNACKS AND SIDES
Energy Bites with Dried Fruit and Nuts
Easy Homemade Ricotta Cheese (this is great on homemade bread with honey or used in other dishes)
Peanut Butter and Apples
Apples with unprocessed cheddar cheese. My favorite combo is pink lady and medium cheddar. (find a cheese with only milk, salt, enzymes/rennet on the ingredient list, like Tillamook)
Healthy Artichoke White Bean Dip with carrots
hummus with carrots or cucumber and homemade pita bread
Homemade Apple Sauce (or store bought but avoided any added sugar in recipe or on label)
Spanish Carrots with Fennel and Toasted Hazelnuts
LUNCH
Butternut Squash Soup with Whole Wheat Toast (skip the cream cheese in the recipe)
Kale Salad with quinoa and raw vegetables
Quinoa Salad with Seasonal Vegetables
Quesadillas using unprocessed cheese, vegetables and homemade whole wheat tortillas
DINNER
Kale Caesar Salad with Lemon Ricotta and Blueberries
Sweet Potato, Mushroom, and Brussels Sprout Hash with Quinoa
Roasted Grape and Walnut Rice Pilaf
Wheat Berry Salad with Dried Cherries, Pecans and Bacon (use bacon with no additive like nitrates or flavorings)
Roasted Red Pepper Cashew Sauce over Whole Wheat Pasta or Farro
Roasted Butternut Squash over Farro with Yogurt Cumin Dressing (use homemade plain yogurt)
Homemade Marinara Sauce over Whole Wheat Pasta or Spinach Pasta and Vegetables
DESSERT
Hazelnut Pecan Fruit Crisp with Homemade Yogurt
Raw Chocolate Truffles with Medjool Dates, Almonds and Chocolate
Vegan Spiced Carrot Cake Cookies (use homemade almond milk)
Banana Peanut Butter Honey Ice Cream
Almond Butter Molten Chocolate Cookies
I hope you too take some time and experiment in the kitchen. This month should be much more delicious than an apple and fist full of nuts. If you have any unprocessed recipes to share please add your links in the comments section! I’d love to try your ideas.
What a great list! Just shared it on the Meatless Monday pinterest board because so many of these are perfect for that!
Thanks Kalyn! I know I’ll be visiting your blog this month too since many or most of your recipes have all unprocessed ingredients!
Oh dear, you’re right, even cheese is processed!! I didn’t consider that….. :/
I took some time to go through the whole unprocessed guidebook from eatingrules.com, which taught me a lot!! Here’s what it says about cheese:
CHEESE: Many cheeses can be made at home with minimal ingredients and equipment. Watch out for processed cheeses and “cheese products,” however. Cheese should be made from milk, salt, and enzymes/rennet or some type of acid.
As a quick comparison, Kraft Singles (those plastic-wrapped slices of “pasteurized cheese product”) contain: Cheddar cheese, milk, whey, milkfat, milk protein concentrate, salt, calcium phosphate, sodium citrate, whey protein concentrate, sodium phosphate, sorbic acid as a preservative, apocarotenal (color), annatto (color), enzymes, vitamin D3, cheese culture, yellow dye.
By comparison, Organic Valley’s new American Singles: Organic pasteurized cultured milk, salt, organic annatto, microbial enzymes.
these all sound incredible – i bet you don’t even miss processed food!
Great list of recipes!