Linda McCartney’s Family Kitchen is an update (by her family) of the book that many of us first used to go vegetarian. Passionate about animal welfare, Linda was vegetarian and now with more people going plant-based, a classic book has been totally made over, it’s likely a different book altogether! But the spirit of lovely Linda lives on. This book is totally gorgeous with barnyard friend illustrations popping up throughout. An absolute delight!
Note foods to avoid giving to young children (not just nuts, but also nut butters, salty foods and choking hazard foods like peas, celery, carrot sticks, fruit pips, hot dogs etc). Learn first aid for choking incidents. Before cooking, read food safety for people & pets (many human foods are unsafe around animal friends).
The book tells the story of how Linda first blazed the trail for meat-free cooking in the kitchen of her and Paul’s family home in East Sussex. Now he and their daughters Mary (a photographer) and Stella (a vegan fashion designer) bring Linda’s kitchen up-to-date, reinventing her best-loved recipes, along with sharing favourite family stories and photos. Recipes include:
- Deep dish pie
- French toast
- American pancakes
- Chilli non carne
- Sausage rolls (make your own pastry)
- Shepherd’s pie
- Pad thai
- Pulled jackfruit burgers
- Panzanella
- Chocolate & peanut butter cookies
- Gingerbread cake
Linda was never one to get stuck in a rut, and if she was cooking today, she’d be thrilled to see all the great ingredients that are now so readily available – quinoa, oat milk and butter, plant-based ice-cream. Cooking has become a whole different world. Being vegan now is so easy and rewarding – and Linda was one of the pioneers who led to this. I’m so proud of her and all that she did. Sir Paul McCartney
Linda McCartney was born in New York and studied art history, before meeting and marrying Paul McCartney (after already having been named US female photographer of the year) and moving to England. Campaigners have since appealed to the company that now owns Linda McCartney foods to drop palm oil from its products, something that Linda would no doubt be horrified that they use it, in her name.
wholefood recipes for plant-powered families
Plant-Powered Families is a nice book by one of our favourite cookbook authors, who always uses fresh wholefood ingredients and uses a little oil and maple syrup (she’s Canadian!) with recipes that will appeal to most tastebuds. This book offers 100 easy-to-make and delicious recipes that everyone will love.
With tips for handling challenges for every age and stage (From toddler to teens), this book is the perfect book for parents raising ‘weegans’ or families looking to transition. As well as advice for helping picky eaters, there are tips on stocking a vegan pantry and making school lunches, plus dealing with challenging social situations. Includes nutritionist-approved references for dietary information.
This is a book you will use, whether you want a quick weeknight supper or a dish for a special occasion. From breakfasts to small bites to dinner and dessert, enjoy recipes for:
- Pumpkin pie smoothie
- Creamy breakfast rice pudding
- Sunday morning pancakes
- Potato-meets-egg salad
- Creamy fettuccine
- Sneaky chickpea burgers
- Mild cheesy dip
- Home fries
- Lemon-kissed blondie bites
- Banana butter ice cream
- The great pumpkin pie!
- ‘Milk’ chocolate fudge sauce
If you’ve ever struggled with finding healthy, plant-based recipes for the entire family, look no further. Dreena’s recipes are kid-approved, wholesome and irresistible. Angela Liddon
Dreena Burton is a self-taught cook and one of Canada’s most popular vegan cookbook authors, whose recipes are also recommended by health professionals, due to always using real wholefoods over fake anything. A mother of three children (who she and her husband have raised vegan), she is author of several best-selling recipe books.
plant-based family recipes for the week
The Vegan Family Cookbook offers recipes for all the family, with tried-and-true recipes. Unfortunately (like many of the best cookbooks) the cover is not very inspiring. But don’t let fool you, as this is a very well-written book with recipes that work.
If you’re of a certain age, your mum likely used to do ‘leftovers on Monday, pasta on Tuesday, a roast on Sunday etc). Anna thinks good food for the family should actually be like that, to offer routine, affordability and no food waste. She suggests to do what their house does:
- Mondays are Pasta
- Tuesdays are Bowls
- Wednesdays are One-Pot Meals
- Thursdays are Stir-fries
- Fridays & Weekends are unplanned (could be eating leftovers, going out for a meal, ordering a takeout, planning a new meal from a recipe book, inviting family and friends over etc).
Then make a list of your family’s favourite foods. For instance, if your children (and husband) love pizza, then make it! Don’t feed them mungbean salad or a stir-fry if they prefer spaghetti bolognese. But you can make a lovely homemade healthy vegan pizza, with salad on the side. Small wins! Ask everyone what their dream foods are. If it’s burger and chips – then make veggie-burgers with all the sides and sauces, and serve with home-baked fries. You get the idea.
Recipes include:
- Homemade banana waffles
- Fried no-egg sandwich
- White bean puree
- Mac & cheesy with broccoli
- Sesame soba noodles with kale
- Lighter kale pesto pasta
- Crispy sweet & sticky tofu
Anna Pippus is self-appointed kitchen manager in her home. She holds degrees in law and psychology and has worked as a farmed animal advocacy lawyer in Toronto and Vancouver.
