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MyFitnessPal Community

Vegetarian/Vegan Thanksgiving Plans

littlechiaseed

So what your plans if your veg? I have three thanksgivings I have to go to. I already did one, was pretty hungry and I did not like my tiny gardein loaf. I'll make a tofurky at my parent's thanksgiving which I like better. But I still have a work one I have to go to and have to bring something, ugh I hate making a meal out of sides. Anyone else feel the pain or do you get alot of comments about not eating turkey and ham at thanksgiving? Or people just say 'eat the sides'. Do you have any go-to sides you make that are veg and more 'mealy'?

Also have you hosted a thanksgiving meal without meat? I might have to next year. Personally, I do not cook meat and thanksgiving will not be an exception. I was thinking about maybe doing a non-traditional meal like doing a mexican meal of enchiladas and sides.

Replies

Chef_Barbell

Taco Bell. :laugh:

AngryViking1970

I'm not vegetarian, but I do like to make this at Thanksgiving. It's pretty filling, but it does have cheese and eggs, so...lacto-ovo?

makingthymeforhealth.com/spinach-artichoke-quinoa-casserole/

tcunbeliever

I love making a meal out of sides...my fill-up side is baked mac & cheese...1 lb gluten free noodle, 2 lb various cheeses, some cashew milk, a couple eggs, and bake...it's totally filling like a meal!!!

krwjohnson

Field Roast Celebration Roast is pretty good as an alternative to meat.
http://fieldroast.com/product/celebration-roast/

GottaBurnEmAll

While I make meat for my husband and son all the time, none of us like traditional Thanksgiving food all that much.

I know we're having ravioli since the kids asked for it (they usually want it every Thanksgiving), and I'm thinking about coming up with some potato/Beyond Beef casserole thing. I'll make some sides to go along like a salad and maybe some roasted Brussel sprouts. I'm also making a Triple Caramel Cheesecake for dessert. We'll probably have some nibbles like veggies and hummus (I make my own) and various cheeses and olives.

I'm a lacto/ovo vegetarian who's soy intollerant. No Tofurkey or Gardein stuff here.

littlechiaseed

We got the tofurky feast with the vegan brownie and gravy. I might bake another dessert since I can't eat traditional sweets most of the time due to my IBS not liking eggs or dairy. My sister makes some good vegan sweet potatoes. It's just easier if it's my family oppose to at someone else's house since it just puts me in a pickle.

dbanks80

You lost me at tofurky

GottaBurnEmAll

Sweet potatoes are something I usually make. Last year I boiled them in their jackets, then peeled them, sliced them in big chunks, drizzled with maple syrup and baked them until the syrup was bubbling. They were delicious.

I'm just not in the mood for them this year.

jessiferrrb

appetizers and sides all day for me. truthfully, mostly the appetizers and then i'm full. i'll have some broccoli and potatoes and salad during the main course, and tell myself that all the cheese i loaded up on in the beginning is my source of protein. lol.

littlechiaseed

dbanks80 wrote: »

You lost me at tofurky

Had it before? I don't like the marinade it says to make so I add brown sugar.

AngryViking1970

I'm not usually a lentil fan, but I'd totally try this. It's vegan, even!

makingthymeforhealth.com/mushroom-lentil-loaf/

AprilDrezlin

I always think Thanksgiving is easy as a vegetarian -- there are some many dishes, and only one of them is turkey! Trying to not think of them as "sides" but as simply delicious foods to eat, and maybe that will help?

vegan4lyfe2012

I have a wonderful cookbook called Vegan Comfort Foods by Veronica Grace. She has the BEST stuffed acorn squash recipe. This Thanksgiving will be my 5th one as a vegan and this will be my 5th one of making this squash. It is totally the MAIN dish! I make this, along with home made mashed potatoes and gravy, baked sweet potatoes (plain...not with that nasty sugar goop), steamed carrots and warm rolls (I buy those pre-made and heat them up). My mom and 16 year old daughter are not vegan, but definitely plant strong vegetarians. They love the meal. My 19 year old daughter is all about the taters and gravy and my 21 year old meat strong son is actually satisfied with the meal. This is an absolute winner!

http://lowfatveganchef.com/vegan-holiday-stuffed-acorn-squash-with-wild-rice-mushrooms-and-cranberries/

RachelElser

I make meals out of sides often at family gatherings, not because I don't eat meat, but because I don't like the main course. It's never been a problem to eat enough of the other non-main dish.

chocolateluvr80

I have been veg for long enough so I have a few go to recipes. I make a sweet potato dish with candied pecans, mashed potatoes, vegan green bean casserole, and a cranberry stuffing. They all go pretty fast. I found all the recipes online.

stealthq

AprilDrezlin wrote: »

I always think Thanksgiving is easy as a vegetarian -- there are some many dishes, and only one of them is turkey! Trying to not think of them as "sides" but as simply delicious foods to eat, and maybe that will help?

That's what I would have thought. But OP has digestive issues with dairy and eggs, so that eliminates a bunch of common sides. Pretty much everything we serve for Thanksgiving has at least a good dose of butter. Most has butter and eggs or milk/cream.

At my family's Thanksgiving, poor OP would be stuck with just a side salad, cranberry sauce, and rolls!

Oh, and apple pie if we make one that year.

PennWalker

littlechiaseed wrote: »

So what your plans if your veg? I have three thanksgivings I have to go to. I already did one, was pretty hungry and I did not like my tiny gardein loaf. I'll make a tofurky at my parent's thanksgiving which I like better. But I still have a work one I have to go to and have to bring something, ugh I hate making a meal out of sides. Anyone else feel the pain or do you get alot of comments about not eating turkey and ham at thanksgiving? Or people just say 'eat the sides'. Do you have any go-to sides you make that are veg and more 'mealy'?

Also have you hosted a thanksgiving meal without meat? I might have to next year. Personally, I do not cook meat and thanksgiving will not be an exception. I was thinking about maybe doing a non-traditional meal like doing a mexican meal of enchiladas and sides.

Vegetarian here. I'm a widow and am usually invited to two Thanksgiving meals at the houses of my meat eating friends. I take a butternut squash/lentil dish to share and then eat their vegetable dishes, have coffee and a desert. Everybody's happy.

ChicagoVeggie

Quinoa? The red is a nice vibrant, festive color, and you can add seasonal things like cranberries and pecans. It's also one of those foods that can work well as a real main for you and a decent side dish for the others, without clashing with more traditional food.

ClareMillsRoberts

I made this last Christmas and it was so good - even my husband's very traditional meat-and-two-veg-eating uncle liked it and took a piece home: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/mushroom-and-squash-vegetarian-wellington/

AngryViking1970

Ooooh, that Wellington looks so yummy!

littlechiaseed

stealthq wrote: »

AprilDrezlin wrote: »

I always think Thanksgiving is easy as a vegetarian -- there are some many dishes, and only one of them is turkey! Trying to not think of them as "sides" but as simply delicious foods to eat, and maybe that will help?

That's what I would have thought. But OP has digestive issues with dairy and eggs, so that eliminates a bunch of common sides. Pretty much everything we serve for Thanksgiving has at least a good dose of butter. Most has butter and eggs or milk/cream.

At my family's Thanksgiving, poor OP would be stuck with just a side salad, cranberry sauce, and rolls!

Oh, and apple pie if we make one that year.

Butter is okay with me but it's like the straight up milk/cream or really soft cheese that cause issues.

I decided to do some things with butternut squash or acorn squash, those are in season now and wouldn't really clash with other dishes. Just hope I don't mess it up.

AmandaDanceMore

Even when I still ate meat, I only really ever took turkey at Thanksgiving out of good manners and tradition. The highlight of a Thanksgiving dinner IS the sides for me, since I don't typically eat stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole!

Sadly, I'll be working over Thanksgiving, so I won't be with my family, particularly my vegan brother who is an excellent cook and makes a killer mushroom gravy. If I was going to a dinner with friends and was worried there wouldn't be something appropriate for me, I would offer to bring one or two things to share. If I was good friends with the host and they were aware of my dietary choices, I would talk to them about either making veggie friendly versions of the old standbys (veg stock in the stuffing, almond milk in the potatoes if you're vegan). If you're set on a main attraction type food, tofurkey or Field Roast (I prefer the Field Roast. SO good!). And there is no written rule that says it has to be "traditional" Thanksgiving fare. If I wasn't sure and had an inkling my choices might be limited, I'd take a veggie lasagna. I know very few people who won't eat lasagna no matter the occasion

littlechiaseed

AmandaDanceMore wrote: »

Even when I still ate meat, I only really ever took turkey at Thanksgiving out of good manners and tradition. The highlight of a Thanksgiving dinner IS the sides for me, since I don't typically eat stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole!

Sadly, I'll be working over Thanksgiving, so I won't be with my family, particularly my vegan brother who is an excellent cook and makes a killer mushroom gravy. If I was going to a dinner with friends and was worried there wouldn't be something appropriate for me, I would offer to bring one or two things to share. If I was good friends with the host and they were aware of my dietary choices, I would talk to them about either making veggie friendly versions of the old standbys (veg stock in the stuffing, almond milk in the potatoes if you're vegan). If you're set on a main attraction type food, tofurkey or Field Roast (I prefer the Field Roast. SO good!). And there is no written rule that says it has to be "traditional" Thanksgiving fare. If I wasn't sure and had an inkling my choices might be limited, I'd take a veggie lasagna. I know very few people who won't eat lasagna no matter the occasion

I never liked the turkey either my mom would always put a tiny bit on my plate and get mad when I didn't eat it or picked at it. So my thanksgivings were usually eating about 10 rolls, mashed potatoes and green beans. My mom is making a gluten free pecan pie and I tried about 1000 times to tell her that gluten wasn't the problem, it's the eggs but she won't listen and my gma likes to bring nasty walmart bakery stuff she finds on sale, but we are having a vegan brownies from the tofurky kit.

It's just non-immediate fam thanksgivings I have issues with because I don't want to be a pest but I don't want to look like a jerk for not eating much, but I'm not going to make myself sick for the sake of not looking like a jerk anymore.

robininfl

We have served vegetarians for years, and what our circle does is just NOT PUT MEAT IN THE SIDES. So big whompin' turkey, yes. Turkey gravy, yes. Also:

Veg gravy
Mashed potatoes
Green beans
Stuffing
Sweet Potatoes
Brussel Sprouts
Desserts
Whatever else you want, just don't put bacon, or chicken broth, into things that could otherwise BE deliciously vegetarian so freaking easily.

We are not as good at accomodating vegans. We just do not hide meat in things, we leave it in the turkey and turkey gravy, and maybe oyster dressing, but not in anything that can reasonably be vegetarian.

Why wouldn't you want to make a meal out of sides? Thanksgiving is almost entirely made up of side dishes, the ONLY thing you aren't eating is the turkey. That never bothered me and does not bother any of our vegetarians. It's the same thing I've always done at celebrations where there is ham as a main dish because ham is disgusting to me. Just eat everything else.

cee134

I like quorn turkey which is easy and filling. I also like vegetable medleys.

pomegranatecloud

In addition to meat my family always has: vegetarian stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus, roasted carrots, citrus and beet salad, leafy green salad, quinoa salad, roasted brussel sprouts, mac and cheese, stuffed mushrooms, roasted potatoes, roasted string beans, bread, cheese and crackers, cookies, and pies.

I don't really get comments about not eating meat, except the occasional in good humor teasing from family. Everyone who knows I'm vegetarian is always very accommodating for dinner parties and the like, but I never bring it up as an issue to be honest. Nearly all my friend and family are very health conscious and always have plenty of vegetarian dishes.

misskariw

littlechiaseed wrote: »

AmandaDanceMore wrote: »

Even when I still ate meat, I only really ever took turkey at Thanksgiving out of good manners and tradition. The highlight of a Thanksgiving dinner IS the sides for me, since I don't typically eat stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole!

Sadly, I'll be working over Thanksgiving, so I won't be with my family, particularly my vegan brother who is an excellent cook and makes a killer mushroom gravy. If I was going to a dinner with friends and was worried there wouldn't be something appropriate for me, I would offer to bring one or two things to share. If I was good friends with the host and they were aware of my dietary choices, I would talk to them about either making veggie friendly versions of the old standbys (veg stock in the stuffing, almond milk in the potatoes if you're vegan). If you're set on a main attraction type food, tofurkey or Field Roast (I prefer the Field Roast. SO good!). And there is no written rule that says it has to be "traditional" Thanksgiving fare. If I wasn't sure and had an inkling my choices might be limited, I'd take a veggie lasagna. I know very few people who won't eat lasagna no matter the occasion

I never liked the turkey either my mom would always put a tiny bit on my plate and get mad when I didn't eat it or picked at it. So my thanksgivings were usually eating about 10 rolls, mashed potatoes and green beans. My mom is making a gluten free pecan pie and I tried about 1000 times to tell her that gluten wasn't the problem, it's the eggs but she won't listen and my gma likes to bring nasty walmart bakery stuff she finds on sale, but we are having a vegan brownies from the tofurky kit.

It's just non-immediate fam thanksgivings I have issues with because I don't want to be a pest but I don't want to look like a jerk for not eating much, but I'm not going to make myself sick for the sake of not looking like a jerk anymore.

...Just say that you've had so much rich holiday food you've made a resolution to only have little bits of the best everywhere you go so that you don't end the holidays feeling terrible...most people are understanding.

rainbowbow

I've been a vegetarian my entire life (25 years now) and I have attended thanksgiving with my entire family, my loved ones family, my office, etc. and not once have i EVER been accommodated for. And by this i mean the "main" dish.

I have always eaten sides and I don't feel i've missed out even a little bit.

Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
sweet potatoes (the kind with marshmallow and brown sugar)
Hawaiin Bread Rolls
Deviled eggs
Salads, pasta salads, potato salads, and more
Corn
Pies (Pumpkin, Pecan, Peanut Butter)
Banana Pudding with Nilla Wafers

I could go on, but essentially i've never ever felt hungry or unsatisfied after a thanksgiving meal. EVER. I am lactose intolerant and I go ahead and take a lactocare enzyme about 30 minutes before eating and go to town!

I guess my point is, it's easier on me and everyone else if i just eat what has been prepared or bring some of my own dishes like the above. In general people atleast try to accommodate not using bacon in the green beans so i'm grateful enough with that.

I have never had someone grill me about not eating meat, i think that'd be pretty pathetic. Also, I have hosted three thanksgivings and all three someone else brought the turkey and i provided ALL of the sides and desserts. They got the easier end of the deal I think.

AmandaDanceMore

I will still never forget the kind hearted but absolutely clueless girlfriend of my uncle, who made some side that she said she made vegan for my brother. "It just has chicken stock! It's fine!" She could not seem to grasp that chickens still had to die to make the stock, so it wasn't, in fact, something my brother would eat. Lol....thankfully we had planned accordingly and had made a variety of things that he could eat. Lol

littlechiaseed

AmandaDanceMore wrote: »

I will still never forget the kind hearted but absolutely clueless girlfriend of my uncle, who made some side that she said she made vegan for my brother. "It just has chicken stock! It's fine!" She could not seem to grasp that chickens still had to die to make the stock, so it wasn't, in fact, something my brother would eat. Lol....thankfully we had planned accordingly and had made a variety of things that he could eat. Lol

Oh yeah a lot of people don't realize that vegetarian doesn't mean just not eating meat. Chicken stock is used in a lot of stuffing reciepe and most gravy isn't vegetarian nor is ceasar dressing for salads. I've a lot gotten some people thinking that it was more of a "health diet" and that I could "cheat" and have alittle of whatever but it doesn't work that way lol