NEW: Plant Yourself merch designed by my daughter, Yael Zivan.

PYP 110: Dreena Burton on Feeding the Plant Powered Family

dreena burtonDreena Burton has taught an entire generation how to cook delicious, innovative, and down-home vegan meals. In her fifth cookbook, Plant Powered Families, she combines delicious, accessible, and kid-friendly to create one of the books you will never lend to anyone, ever.

I prepared for this interview by gathering questions from my niece Rachel, who works full-time as a public school teacher in New York City while transitioning her family (including toddler Benjamin) to a whole food, plant-based diet. Dreena's wise and compassionate replies can help all of us who have chosen to navigate this toxic food culture with discernment and integrity.

Dreena has graciously given me permission to share three of the best recipes in Plant Powered Families, below.

In our conversation, we cover:

  • the challenges involved in feeding kids healthy (packed lunches, unfamiliarity, specific foods, etc.)
  • not judging ourselves on the journey
  • how to prevent your kids from “food rebelling” or sneaking contraband
  • finding a balance with our toxic food culture
  • “It's the parenting part that's difficult”
  • the importance of great photographs in a cookbook
  • Rachel's practical questions about transitioning to a plant-powered lifestyle with her husband and young son
  • dealing with picky eaters
  • navigating social situations and peer pressure
  • “hiding the vegetables” vs teaching your child to try new foods
  • helping kids develop autonomy around food choices
  • being kind without being a pushover
  • and much more…

Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.

Recipes

Oatmeal Banana Bitesdreena-Oatmeal Banana Bites

These muffin-like bites use only pureed banana as a sweetener, and as a bonus, they can be prepped in just minutes! Adapted from Vive le Vegan!

Makes 8–12 bites

1 cup rolled oats (use gluten-free certified oats for gluten-free option)
1 cup oat flour (use gluten-free certified oat flour for gluten-free option)
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup pureed overripe banana (roughly 2 large bananas; see note)
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract or ½ –¾ teaspoon vanilla bean powder
3 tablespoons nondairy chocolate chips (optional, can substitute dried fruit; see note)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, combine the oats, oat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, sea salt, and nutmeg. Stir through until well combined.

Add the banana, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips to the dry mixture, and stir through until combined. Using a cookie scoop, place 2-tablespoon mounds of the batter onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 13–14 minutes, until just firm to the touch and a light golden on top. Remove from oven and let cool on pan for a minute, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Banana Note: Use an immersion blender and a deep cup to puree your bananas (this is easiest, but a blender or small food processor will also work). It produces a very liquefied mixture, not like what you can get through mashing.

Idea: Try adding raisins, chopped dates, or chopped dried banana in place of the chips

Crazy BrowniesDreena-Crazy-Brownies

Makes 16 brownies

These brownies are incredible! They are fudgy and dense and sweet. Make them and see whether your family can even GUESS what’s in them!

1/2 cup kidney beans
1/2 cup pitted dates
1/3 cup peeled, precooked, and cooled yellow or red potato (see note)
2 tablespoons tahini or nut butter (see note and nut-free option)
2 tablespoons coconut butter (see note)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
3 tablespoons nondairy milk
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup coconut sugar
2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder or 11/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3 tablespoons nondairy chocolate chips (mini are nice)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ × 8″ brownie pan with parchment paper.

Using a small or mini food processor, puree the beans, dates, potato, tahini, and coconut butter until smooth, and then add the maple syrup and milk and puree again.

Add the cocoa powder, sugar, arrowroot, vanilla bean powder, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt to the processor and puree until combined. (If your processor is too small, transfer the date mixture to a bowl, and use a spatula to incorporate the dry ingredients.) Stir in the chocolate chips.

Transfer the mixture to the brownie pan, and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake for 22–24 minutes (brownies will firm with cooling and are more fudgy with less baking, so don’t overbake).

Remove, let cool completely, frost if desired, and cut into squares.

Potato Note: Potatoes add moisture and density when combined with the beans. If you don’t have cooked potato, substitute 1/4 cup of potato starch and increase the milk to 5 tablespoons.

Nut-Free Option/Tahini Note: I use a good-quality tahini, with a mellow, buttery flavor and smooth texture. If you don’t have nut allergies, try substituting macadamia or almond butter. Another 1 tablespoon of nondairy milk may be needed if the nut butter is quite thick/dense.

Coconut Butter Note: If you don’t have coconut butter, you can substitute another 11/2 tablespoons of a nut butter like macadamia, almond, or cashew butter—or more tahini.

Frosting Note: Chocolate Ganache, page 211, is wickedly good on these brownies!

Umami Sun-Dried Tomato and Almond Burgersdreena-Umami Almond Burger

This has fast become one of my FAVE burger recipes! The flavor is full of umami depth from the nuts, tamari, and sun-dried tomatoes. They taste fantastic paired with sliced avocado in burger buns, or wrapped in whole-grain tortillas!

Makes about 6 patties

2 cups raw almonds
1½ tablespoons tomato paste
½ teaspoon dried rosemary or 1½ teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves
¼ teaspoon sea salt
1 small-medium clove garlic, cut into quarters
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon tamari or coconut aminos
¾-1 cup sliced green onion
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (pre-sliced, or chopped before adding to processor; see note)
1½ cups cooked and cooled quinoa (can substitute brown rice)

In a food processor, add the almonds, tomato paste, rosemary, sea salt, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and tamari. Puree until the nuts are very finely ground. Be sure to grind them fine enough so that the almonds release some oils and become a little sticky; that will help bind the burgers.

Then add the green onion and sun-dried tomatoes and pulse through until the mixture becomes dense and starts to hold together. Add the quinoa and process/pulse through again until well incorporated. Refrigerate for ½ hour, as it helps make it easier to shape the patties.

After chilling, take out scoops of the mixture and form burgers in your hands. I scoop generously with an ice cream scoop, roughly ½ cup for each.

To cook, heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties for 5–7 minutes on the first side, and then another 3–5 minutes on the second side until golden brown. These patties hold their shape well, but if they are flipped a lot and overcooked they become more crumbly and dry. Serve with the fixings of your choice.

Sun-Dried Tomatoes Note: Some varieties and brands of sundried tomatoes can be very tough and hard, and others quite soft. If the ones you have are soft, go ahead and add them straight— but if they are very hard, it is useful to soak them in boiling water for a few minutes to soften (be sure to fully drain and pat dry before adding to the processor).

Recipes reprinted from Plant-Powered Families, with permission from BenBella Books. Food photo credit to: Nicole Axworthy.

Links

Dreena's website: PlantPoweredKitchen.com

Plant Powered Families

Dreena's first appearance on this podcast, in which we talk about her journey from unwell junk food junkie to plant-based eater and cookbook author

Music

The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians. It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour. You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.

Looking for Transformational Change?

You know how when you discovered plant-based eating, you basically went, “Holy shit, how come the entire healthcare system isn't totally embracing this as one of the most powerful keys to disease prevention and reversal!”?

That's how I feel now about a psychological approach to transformational change called “Memory Reconsolidation.” Few psychologists have heard about it, and when they do hear the radical transformations it can bring about in a very short time, they're often skeptical to the point of disbelief.

But I've added Memory Reconsolidation work to my own coaching, and can attest to its amazing efficacy. So much so, that I'm devoting the next year to mastering it, studying with the best clinicians and teachers in the world, and then introducing it into health coaching through my trainings.

Right now, I want to triple my coaching practice to get more and more opportunities to do this work. And I'm lowering my fees – a lot – to make it easier for people to work with me.

If you're interested in working with me (and willing to commit to a minimum of 2 months), click the link below to open the form in a new browser tab and I'll get back to you within 3 business days.

Yes, I'm interested in Memory Reconsolidation Coaching.

You CAN Change Other People!

Well, that's what Peter Bregman and I claim in our provocative book of that title.

What we really mean is, you can help the people around you make behavioral changes in their own best interests. If you think you're powerless to help people change, it's because you've been going about it the wrong way.

Discover our straightforward, replicable process here: You Can Change Other People.

Audiobook: Use the Weight to Lose the Weight

Listen to Josh LaJaunie and me narrate our latest audiobook, about how to start moving when you're obese.

It's $10, and Josh and I split it evenly 🙂

Tip Jar

This podcast is not underwritten by advertising, so I can experience complete editorial autonomy without worrying about pissing off the person paying the bills. Instead, I pay the bills, with your help. It's free for those who can't afford to pay, and supported by those who can. You can contribute to the growth and improvement of the podcast by clicking the “Support on Patreon” or “Donate” buttons on the right to help out.

Music

The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.

It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.

You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.

Gratitudes

Thanks to Plant Yourself podcast patrons – Kim Harrison – Lynn McLellan – Brittany Porter – Dominic Marro – Barbara Whitney – Tammy Black – Amy Good – Amanda Hatherly – Mary Jane Wheeler – Ellen Kennelly – Melissa Cobb – Rachel Behrens – Tina Scharf – Tina Ahern – Jen Vilkinofsky – David Byczek – Michele X – Elspeth Feldman – Leah Stolar – Allan Kristensen – Colleen Peck – Michele Landry – Jozina – Sara Durkacs – Kelly Cameron – Janet Selby – Claire Adams – Tom Fronczak – Jeannette Benham – Gila Lacerte – David Donohue – Blair Seibert – Doron Avizov – Gio and Carolyn Argentati – Jodi Friesner – Mischa Rosen – Michael Worobiec – AvIvA Lael – Alicia Lemus – Val Linnemann – Nick Harper – Bandana Chawla – Molly Levine – The Inscrutable Harry R – Susan Laverty the Panda Vegan – Craig Covic – Adam Scharf – Karen Bury – Heather Morgan – Nigel Davies – Marian Blum – Teresa Kopel – Julian Watkins – Brid O'Connell – Shannon Herschman – Linda Ayotte – Holm Hedegaard – Isa Tousignant – Connie Haneline – Erin Greer – Alicia Davis – Heather O'Connor – Carollynne Jensen – Sheri Orlekoski of Plant Powered for Health – Karen Smith – Scott Mirani – Karen and Joe Crabtree – Kirby Burton – Theresa Carrell – Kevin Macaulay – Elizabeth Rothschild – Ann Jesse – Sheryl Dwyer – Jenny Hazelton – Peter W Evans – Dennis Bird – Darby Kelly – Lori Fanney – Linnea Lundquist – Emily Iaconelli – Levi Wallach – Rosamonde McAtee – Dan Pokorney – Stephen Leinin – Patty DeMartino – Mike and Donna Kartz – Deanne Bishop – Bilberry Elf – Marjorie Lewis – Tricia Adams – Nancy Sheldon – Lindsey Bashore – Gunn Marit Hagen – Tracey Gulledge – Lara Hedin – Meg from Mamasezz – Stacey Stokes – Ben Savage – Michael K – David Hughes -Coni Rodgers – Claire England – Sally Robertson – Parham Ganchi – Amy Dailey – Brian Tourville – Mark Jeffrey Johnson – Josie Dempsey – Caryn Schmitt – Pamela Hayden – Emily Perryman – Allison Corbett – Richard Stone – Lauren Vaught of Edible Musings – Erin Hastey – Sean Owens – Sagar Naik – Erika Piedra – Danielle Roberts – Michael Leuchten – Sarah Johnson – Katharine Floyd – Meryl Fury – for your generous support of the podcast.

Disclosure

This post may contain amazon affiliate links. I may receive compensation from your actions on such links. It don't cost you a dime, tho.

6 comments on “PYP 110: Dreena Burton on Feeding the Plant Powered Family

  1. Excellent interview! I love Dreena and my family has been enjoying every recipe from this book since we received it!

    1. Howard says:

      Stacy, we should have a Plant Powered Family Cookoff!

  2. Julianne Rowland says:

    I loved this interview! It was just the motivation I needed to keep on message despite kick-back from my family, with some great ideas and practical tips to make it easier. Dreena and Sharon McRae are my plantbased-mom heroines. I noticed, however, that the interview seems to end abruptly at 49 minutes – at least that was my experience in iTunes, and it looks like that’s the case here, too.Did part of the podcast get cut off?

    1. Howard says:

      Thanks!

      I’ve just reuploaded the audio file, and hopefully it will not truncate this time. Thanks for the heads-up!

  3. Thank You says:

    Thank You, for another informative podcast.

Leave a Reply to Thank You Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *