Thanksgiving is a celebrated on the last Thursday of November. It celebrates the story of the harvest get-together between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. Traditionally people eat turkey, but what if you’re a vegetarian?
What is a vegetarian?
A vegetarian is someone who does not consume meat, poultry, and fish. People choose to become a vegetarian for plenty of reasons. They could become one because they believe it is cruel to animals or it could be for religious reasons.
The ADA (American Dietetic Association) claims that vegetarians have a lower chance in getting diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and multiple cancers. So it would be much healthier if people went along with a vegetarian Thanksgiving. Switching to a vegetarian diet from a meat filled one can add more years on to one’s life. Becoming a vegetarian can cut food bills at an average of four thousand dollars a year.
Thanksgiving
In 1621 a group of Englishmen boarded the Mayflower to set off to what is now the United States of America (they called it the “New World”). They left England because they valued their religious freedom more than anything. The Pilgrims didn’t agree with the Church of England so they formed their own church but that was considered treason.
So they set sailed to America in search of a better life. The Pilgrims wanted to land in Virginia but ended up in New England. Close to winter they couldn’t move the boat south so they made up their own colony Plymouth. During that winter 46 of the 102 Pilgrims had died. Although there was so many tragic deaths that winter, the harvest went so well that year that the pilgrims had a feast with the Native Americans to celebrate their survival.
Today in America citizens celebrate Thanksgiving by getting together with their families and enjoying a home cooked meal with one another.
Tofurky
Can’t eat Turkey on Thanksgiving? Then, eat an alternative to the traditional holiday bird. Turtle Island Foods, Inc. is a company from Hood River, Oregon that provides vegetarian and vegan (a person who does not eat or use animal products) food that they call Tofurky. All of the meals are made with organic tofu or organic soybeans.
As a vegetarian or someone wanting to try something new Turtle Island Foods, Inc. sells a product called Tofurky® Feast. It includes a roast that is made with tofu, soy, and wheat. And it is stuffed with rice and whole wheat bread crumbs. Tofurky® roast carves just like a regular Turkey but is boneless. The feast also comes with Vegan Fudge brownies and Tofurky® Jurky Wishstix. Even though this sounds amazing there are many other options for a big blown out vegetarian feast. Tofu isn’t always a favorite of many.
Pre-Game
As an appetizer guests could gobble down mashed potato fritters which is taking mashed potatoes and vegetables, such as shredded carrots and shaping them into a ball. You fry this then serve it with ketchup.
Another appetizer that would taste amazing is Truffled Mushroom Deviled Eggs. Some vegetarians choose not to eat eggs but it’s a personal decision. For this dish you make deviled eggs as you usually would, but you top it with shiitake mushrooms not button mushrooms because they are too rubbery for the meal.
Side Dishes
Side dishes are even bigger than the main course. They complement your food and tie the meal together. A meatless side dish that is easy to make is baking cauliflower with brown butter, pears, sage, and hazelnuts. Also even though frying them makes this side dish less healthy, fried Brussels sprouts really taste great.
The traditional way of making sweet potatoes by mashing them and topping with marshmallows might seem a little bland after a while so spice things up a bit. Slice up the sweet potatoes and cook them with walnuts.
Gravy
Vegetarians don’t eat gravy. Why? Because it is a sauce made from the juices produced by the cooked meat. There are tons of substitutes for gravy. Instead of using the leftovers of turkey, make your thanksgiving Turkey with vegetable broth and shiitake mushrooms. So make the gravy like you regularly would but with those ingredients.
Main Dishes
The main dish for a vegetarian dinner does not have to include a meatless similar version of Turkey. Non-vegetarians eat other things besides big birds for meals.
Lasagna is a family favorite that includes meat but can be made with vegetables instead. Stuffed shells sometimes have ground beef in them but can be made with just ricotta cheese or butternut squash. The combination of broccoli and cheese is a classic favorite, so why not add some roasted vegetable macaroni and cheese. It takes only 30 minutes to cook.
Desserts
Did you know that gelatin is made out of the fat left over from various animals? Therefore, eating jello for dessert is out of the vegetarian harvest festival. Some stores do sell vegan gelatin for a reasonable price so vegetarians don’t have to miss out on the transparent, wiggly fun.
In conclusion, if someone is deciding to go down the vegetarian road then they don’t have to feel left out of the family when having such a feast,
