Thanksgiving, that annoying meat-eating holiday, can be a challenge for us vegetarians. You have the giant turkey that sits at the center of the table staring at you. Plus, the annoying relatives who will judge and ask many questions such as, “Where do you get your protein from?” Celebrating a holiday that revolves around food can be struggle, especially if you have limited or no food options. You might end up starving and wondering why you even showed up for dinner.
If you’re scared that you might fall into this Thanksgiving trap, don’t fret. Here are a few tips to help you survive this Thanksgiving.
Cook
Don’t sit back and let your parents do all the cooking. Chances are, if your parents eat meat, they will serve it. So don’t be afraid to go online and look up recipes. This is something that will also work if you’re spending Thanksgiving with family or friends who live close by. You can cook something and bring it with you. There are websites, such as foodnetwork.com and allrecipes.com, that have vegetarian recipes. By cooking, you also get to spend quality time with family in the kitchen. It could be a great way for them to get insights into your vegetarian lifestyle. In the end, they might be inspired and try your dish.
Side dishes
Side dishes can become your best friend. There will probably be many side dishes you will be able to eat, such as mashed potatoes minus gravy, mac and cheese, string beans, sweet potatoes, salad, etc. The list can go on. So, don’t be afraid to load up a little extra on the side dishes if you can. However, always double check and politely ask for ingredients.
Tofurky
As we all know, turkey is the staple Thanksgiving dish. If you’re not looking forward to the many side dishes, Tofurky can come in handy. Tofurky is a company that creates meat alternatives, and luckily they have something that caters to Thanksgiving. They have a roast that is meant to be a replacement for the turkey, gravy to put on your mashed potatoes and the feast that comes with both the roast and the gravy, including a brownie for dessert. You can buy Tofurky at the nearest Wholefoods. The price ranges from, $15.99-$20.00. For more information visit tofurky.com
Dessert
If nothing else, eat dessert. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of the unlimited desserts? If that apple pie and ice cream is your only option, don’t hesitate and go a little crazy, even if that might warrant a few looks from jealous children. You can also help yourself to cookies, pumpkin pie and cake.
Eat something before you go
If you are going to someone’s house and have no control over what is served, and none of the options work out for you, eat something before you go. You never know how dinner is going to turn out, and chances are you won’t know what is on the menu until you get to your destination.
Don’t let relatives get to you
There are always those family members who shame us, crack jokes or ask too many questions. Honestly, there is no perfect way to handle difficult relatives who suddenly think that they are the food police. The best way may be to try not to let it get to you. If they have a question, answer it. If they make a joke, try your best to laugh even though that will be difficult. Try to remember that this is only a couple of hours of your life and it will be over soon. Don’t ruin your Thanksgiving by obsessing over every comment or question.
Being a vegetarian can be a challenge, especially on a day like Thanksgiving. Hopefully, with these tips, your Thanksgiving will run a little more smoothly. However, Thanksgiving is just not about food. It is also a holiday where you get to spend time with family and friends. So, despite the obstacles, try and enjoy your Thanksgiving.
