fouthy-six – Tips for a Tasty vegan Thanksgiving
If you’re hosting thanksgiving holiday at your house and are anticipating vegetarian guests this year, avoid worry about preparing one big meat eating meal, plus another separate vegetarian food. Most vegetarians do not require the ‘meat equivalent’ at thanksgiving holiday. Yes, traditionally Thanksgiving offers largely about the food. But more importantly it’s about family members, togetherness, happiness and serenity. And if this is your first thanksgiving holiday after transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, try some of these ideas to incorporate healthy food preparation into your meal that your vegetarian visitors, and you as host, will be thankful for this Thanksgiving:
— Bake some stuffing outside of the turkey.
– Make a little portion of vegetarian gravy.
— Keep cooking utensils individual to prevent “cross-contamination” between meats foods and vegetarian food items.
– When recipes are usually adaptable, use substitutions such as vegetarian broth, soy margarine (the formulations without designer whey are suitable for vegans), soy dairy, and kosher marshmallows which are made without gelatin.
— Use vegetable oils instead of animal fats for baking, and vegetable shortening such as Crisco for pie brown crust area.
– Read ingredients lists cautiously on pre-packaged foods, being aware of terms like gelatin, designer whey, and “natural flavors” that can be animal-derived.
– Prepare plenty of vegetable and fruit part dishes, but leave them simple.
– Offer plenty of bread, beverages, fresh fruits, and non-gelatin desserts, which are suitable without having modification for most vegetarians.
— Invite your vegetarian visitor to prepare a “Tofurky” or even vegetarian ‘turkey equivalent’ entrée to share with you the rest of your guests, or if you’re hosting thanksgiving holiday, prepare a small one. your own meat-eating guests might just be interested enough to want to try this!
– Ask your vegan guest for help, suggestions, or recipes that would enhance their vegetarian choice. You may find that your guest offers to help out in the kitchen or provide a dish from home. Please don’t take a dish from home as an insult to your cooking; take it as a desire to share customs at Thanksgiving. Even meat-eating homes can benefit from a healthy, nutrient-dense vegetarian recipe idea any time of the year!
– Most importantly – make TONS of brand new, delicious (not overly cooked) vegetables that are perfectly within season like squashes, fairly sweet potatoes, and green coffee beans, etc.