4 Light, Raw & Plant-Based Thanksgiving Recipes to Nourish Your Holiday

A Light & Loving Start to Thanksgiving

The day before Thanksgiving has always been my soul’s checkpoint ~ the moment where I pause, breathe, and choose foods that uplift my body, elevate my mood, and support my digestion before the holiday feast.

These four recipes are:

  • raw or gently blended
  • enzyme-rich
  • gluten-free & dairy-free
  • anti-inflammatory
  • beautifying for the skin
  • spiritually uplifting
  • light on digestion

But before we dive in, I want to say something that matters…

If You’re Alone This Thanksgiving, You’re Not Alone

I’ve spent several holidays with only my animals ~ and truthfully, some of those were the most fulfilling, peaceful, deeply connected moments of my life.

I treasure the holidays with my family (even though many of us live far apart), but I also treasure the quiet ones. The ones where it was just me, Louis, Rodger, Maverick, nature, and God.

So if you find yourself alone this year, please hear this:

  • There is nothing wrong with you.
  • You are not forgotten.
  • You are not any less loved or blessed.

If you don’t have animals, spend time in nature. Talk to God. Let the breeze, the desert mountains, or the trees hold you. You are never truly alone ~ not even for a moment.

Now let’s nourish your beautiful body. 

Check this article about a dietitian's guide to a plant-based Thanksgiving

Recipe 1

Cucumber Beet & Purple Onion Salad

A hydrating, mineral-rich, liver-loving salad that prepares your body for any holiday meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
  • 2–3 beets, thinly sliced (raw or cooked)
  • 1 small purple onion, thinly sliced
  • Fresh parsley (handful)
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp cold-pressed olive oil
  • Sea salt + cracked pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Combine sliced cucumbers, beets, onion, and parsley in a bowl.

2. Whisk lemon juice, ACV, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

3. Pour over salad and toss gently.

4. Let marinate 20–30 minutes before serving.

Recipe 2

Raw Vegan Sweet Potato Soup (Carrot~Sunset Blend)

Light, creamy, beautifying, and rich in beta carotene ~ without losing any enzymes.

Ingredients

  • 32 oz fresh carrot juice
  • 1 whole peeled sweet potato (raw)
  • ½ avocado
  • ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 7 Medjool dates, pitted
  • Pinch sea salt
  • Optional: cilantro or sprouts

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients into a high-speed blender.

2. Blend until creamy and slightly warm.

3. Pour into a bowl and top with sprouts or cilantro.

Recipe 3

Raw Vegan Almond Butter Chocolate “Reesie’s” Hearts

This holiday dessert is decadent yet clean ~ light enough for before or after a feast.

Ingredients

Almond Butter Filling

  • ½ cup raw almond butter
  • 1½ tbsp maple syrup
  • Pinch sea salt
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate Layer

  • ½ cup raw cacao powder
  • 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
  • 2–3 tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ tbsp warm water (as needed)

Instructions

1. Make the filling: Mix almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and sea salt. Set aside.

2. Make the chocolate: Stir cacao powder, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and a little warm water until glossy and pourable.

3. Assemble:

  • Pour a thin layer of chocolate into silicone heart-shaped molds.
  • Add a teaspoon of almond butter mixture.
  • Cover with more chocolate.

4. Freeze 30–40 minutes.

5. Remove and store chilled.

Recipe 4

Cheesy Kelp Noodle Pasta with Spirulina Pesto

Your signature dish ~ light, silky, mineral-rich, and so energizing.

Ingredients

For the noodles

  • 1 package kelp noodles
  • Juice of 1–2 lemons
  • Sea salt

Cheesy sauce

  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • Warm water to blend

Spirulina pesto

  • ½ avocado
  • ¼ cup pine nuts
  • 1 tsp spirulina
  • Fresh basil
  • Sea salt

Instructions

1. Soften noodles by marinating them in lemon juice + sea salt for 20–30 minutes.

2. Blend cheesy sauce until creamy.

3. Blend spirulina pesto into a thick, vibrant green dollop.

4. Assemble: Toss noodles with cheesy sauce and top with spirulina pesto.

Final Thoughts: Nourish Your Body, Nourish Your Spirit

Whether you're spending Thanksgiving with family, with your animals, or in the sacred quiet of your own company ~ these recipes will help you feel:

  • lighter
  • clearer
  • calmer
  • deeply nourished
  • spiritually connected

Food is frequency. Choose the foods that elevate you.

With love,

Check out Andrea's holistic wellness coaching
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