Weekly Spotlight: Reusing Your Thanksgiving Leftovers and Complete Post-Holiday Meals!

Thanksgiving and the holiday season are both cooking and eating-heavy, and you might find yourself with some leftovers. This includes starters and side dishes, but also leftovers. This guide offers creative recipes for reusing your leftovers, both ingredients and food. This way you avoid food waste and create more delicious meals. There’s also a section on whole-food snacks, in case you need a lighter, quick meal.

If you are looking for even more inspiration for your Thanksgiving leftovers, this weekly spotlight is perfect to read next!

We also strongly recommend that you download the Food Monster app — with over 20,000 delicious recipes, this is the largest resource for meatless, vegan, plant-based, and allergy-friendly recipes to help you get healthy! And don’t forget to check out our Weekly Meal Plan Archives!

This week we’re bringing you delicious, completely vegan and plant-based ways to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers and quick whole meal meals!

Reuse leftovers

Source: Thanksgiving Leftover Tacos with Cranberry Salsa

It can be intimidating to have extra Thanksgiving leftovers, but there are lots of fun ways to repurpose your leftovers. Plus, getting creative with your leftovers is a great way to inspire new recipes and flavor combinations, and reduce food waste. These recipes work well to inspire you in the kitchen, but also to enjoy Thanksgiving food again without it seeming monotonous.

Create Recipes Using Thanksgiving Ingredients

Source: Mulled cider with rose, cranberries and pears

Leftovers not only include leftover appetizers and sides, but also ingredients from preparing specific recipes. Maybe you made a roast and have extra lentils and nutritional yeast on hand. Maybe you bought one too many sweet potatoes for your recipe and have one left over. These are wonderful recipes to try if you have random ingredients for Thanksgiving.

Easy whole-food meals and snacks

Source: Hearty Rice Salad with Roasted Vegetables

Sometimes after a busy vacation, food can seem overwhelming or you might take time to return to your regular eating routine. It’s the perfect time of year to listen to your body and its needs. These recipes are all whole food recipes, lighter and easier to prepare. Since vacations can also be heavy on cooking, the kitchen may become the last place you want to be. These meals don’t take long and will leave you feeling full and focused!

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