Hosting a Vegetarian Dinner for Thanksgiving
“Thanksgiving at your house? I’d love it! You know I’m a vegetarian / vegan?”
Those last five words strike fear into the hearts of many hosts. They certainly don’t have to. Accommodating a vegetarian or vegan has never been easier. Know that most vegetarian are very appreciative of your efforts and usually follow the acceptance with a “what can I bring” offer.
Given the mountain of food that is on most thanksgiving tables, it is certainly easy to include a couple of vegetarian items without anyone really being the wiser. My mother would accommodate my food choice by making a vegetarian stuffing (my favorite part of the meal) and putting some into a casserole dish for me before stuffing the rest into the turkey. Most dinners include a vegetable and a salad so there was always plenty to eat!
It’s helpful to understand the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan. Vegetarians don’t eat anything with a face (including fish) — no meat or meat products (chicken stock, for example). Vegans don’t eat animals or animal by-products such as milk, cheese, eggs or honey. If you are buying prepared or processed foods, it’s important to read the labels carefully. There is whey or casein (milk proteins) and eggs hidden in many products that you wouldn’t think of. The term “dairy free” can be misleading — it usually means that it is lactose- free, but could still contain whey or other milk derivatives. It’s only helpful to those with a lactose intolerance, not to vegans.
There are two thoughts about going vegetarian for a holiday — one is to find substitutes that keep the flavor and integrity of traditional favourites (a “fake” turkey for example). The other thought is just to start creating new traditions and finding delicious new recipes. I guess it depends on how many traditionalists will be at the table.
So many vegetarian/vegan products are available today that making a traditional thanksgiving meat-free is super easy! For the turkey replacement you can buy a Tofurky, a stuffed seitan roll that is delicious and easy to cook (does have to thaw, though, like a turkey, so plan ahead), a Field Roast or make your own “Great Gluten Turkey” – a recipe I tried one year to great derision from my friends (I thought it turned out quite nicely, thank you very much).
It is easy to veganize (my own word) other traditional recipes – substitute vegetarian broth for chicken broth, Tofutti sour cream for real sour cream, Whole Foods sells Sweet Sara vegan marshmallows (to put on top of your sweet potato casserole), vegan margarine for butter, etc. For most things you won’t be able to tell the difference. It’s really not health food but the taste will be delicious.
For new recipe ideas check out finding vegan.com or vegetarian.about.com or just google vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes and be overwhelmed. There are also tons of good vegetarian / vegan cookbooks available. My new favorite is The Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. For local support and ideas check out compassionatelivingoutreach.org. They are hosting a vegan pot-luck thanksgiving dinner at a local venue for those who don’t want to face a table full of meat-eaters.
With a little creativity and an open mind Thanksgiving will be the holiday it’s suppose to be — about giving thanks for the abundance we are all blessed with. And a delicious, humane dinner!
What do you do for vegetarians and vegans on the holidays?
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