My approach to food is simple: “Eat a variety of foods, mostly plants.”

This approach, along with three additional frameworks (learn more here), serves as the foundation for all my food choices. Each week, my goal is to maximize plant diversity. The more colorful my plate, the better. Interested in adding more plants to your diet but unsure how to get started? Here’s a look at what’s on my menu this month.

OCTOBER 2026

Another roundup of delicious, nutritious recipes, featuring seasonal ingredients and fresh produce. Enjoy!

This month, I’m categorizing the recipes a little differently. In an effort to simplify my weekly menus, but still keep things interesting, I’ve decided I’ll collect recipes that fall within these categories: pasta, soups & stews, Buddha bowls, salads, handhelds. Each week, my goal is to make one recipe from each category. Here are the recipes that caught my eye this month:

Pasta

Slow Cooker Mushroom Ragu with Vegan Ricotta

Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Bucatini

Vegan Pumpkin Lasagna Roll Ups

Butternut Squash Pasta (protein-packed!)

Baked Stuffed Pasta Shells with Spinach & Tofu

Spaghetti Squash with Vegan Vodka Sauce

No actual vodka in this one. The sauce is made with cashews, sun-dried tomatoes, nutritional yeast, and lemon juice. So good! Mixed with mushrooms and spinach, the umami-rich sauce is served over perfectly roasted spaghetti squash. Filled with heart-healthy fats and fiber, it’s the perfect fall meal! Top with crispy lentils or pumpkin seeds for a nice crunch.

Soups & Stews

Lemon Chickpea Soup

Cabbage Curry

One-Pot Tomato Chickpea Stew

Moroccan Lentil Soup

Roasted Vegetable Soup

I’ve made this once before and really liked it. This time, I used the recipe more as a guide, and made some adjustments. I used sweet potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, onion, and garlic. For the liquid, I used crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth. I skipped the coconut milk and beans. For creaminess, I added 1/2 cup hummus. Delish!

Vegan Pumpkin Chili (tofu crumbles)

Creamy Spinach Tortellini Soup

Slow Cooker Golden Lentil Soup

Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Pumpkin Chili (tempeh crumbles)

Mole Poblano Chili

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili