So, you have a vegetarian coming to dinner for Thanksgiving? You are not alone! With the number of plant-based eaters in the world growing exponentially, you are bound to have one show up to dinner at some point! Before you have a total meltdown over the fact that someone will be at the turkey day table that does not call it turkey day, let’s put this in perspective! Some things that you already make on Thanksgiving are meatless or can be made meat-free with a few easy swaps! Tara to the rescue to show you how to handle the marvelous + spectacular news that a vegetarian is coming to Thanksgiving dinner!
Tara’s Tuesday Tips:
How to Handle a Vegetarian Coming to Thanksgiving Dinner
1. Don’t Panic
I promise you this will not ruin your holiday! Welcome your vegetarian friend with open arms + remember this day is not just about food.
2. Don’t Exclude Them
I am SO excited when I arrive at a dinner + the host has given even a split second of thought into a meatless option for me + my family. That could be as simple as a phone call or a text ahead of time for us to bring a dish to share, or they went and got us a store-bought mock-meat meal. Truly, it does not have to be much, vegetarians are so grateful when someone treats their dietary restrictions with respect instead of treating them like outsiders who have burdened them.
3. Try Something New
So many of you have told me that you made one of my recipes + were so pleasantly surprised that a meatless dish could be so wonderful! Thanksgiving is a perfect time to try a new recipe! The best part? You could easily make their meal ahead of time + get one thing checked off your list.
4. Side Dishes For the Win
Side dishes are a vegetarians best friend. But be careful! Stealth chicken broth can ruin their meal for sure. Vegetarians can’t eat side dishes made with sausage or chicken, turkey, beef stock/broth. Side dishes with milk, butter, cheese, sour cream, or cream cheese might be an issue for your plant-based friends as well. Be mindful of this when offering them side dishes.
5. Try a Vegetarian Gravy (even the meat eaters might love it!)
Everything tastes better drowning in a little pool of gravy. Learning how to make easy, yummy, vegetarian gravy is a skill you will not regret having in your cooking arsenal. I have two recipes that fit the profile (I linked them below). You can make the meatless gravy today in advance + store it in a jar in the refrigerator until Thursday!
6. Buy Something!
Frozen roasts, grocery store meals, a bag of frozen meatless chicken nuggets, so many options! I love wandering around the grocery store checking out the new meatless products. Some of them I would not eat on a daily basis, but if you have a vegetarian coming to Thanksgiving dinner + you aren’t used to feeding a vegetarian, buy them one of these fake meats, trust me.
7. Make Them Dessert!
They are vegetarian, not weird. Everyone loves dessert. Make them something they can eat! If you don’t understand what they can and can’t eat, ask them!
8. Don’t Make It a Big Deal
In a world where you can be anything, be kind. Seat your vegetarian guest away from the turkey carving area, make sure they know what is safe for them to eat, but don’t be weird about it! Remember, your plant-based dinner guest might be revolted by the smell of basting turkey that you have been looking forward to for the last 364 days.
9. Do Your Homework
Talk to your vegetarian guest! Find out if they are vegan, plant-based, or vegetarian. Can they eat dairy, eggs, or butter? The last thing you want is to prepare something special for them and they still can’t eat it! We encounter this all the time, if this situation is stressing you out, simply ask your vegetarian guest to bring their favorite dish to share!
10. Mind the Meat Spoon!
Oh, the meat spoon, it can spoil any good party. Keep the vegetarian dishes separate with separate utensils. Your vegetarian friends don’t want turkey juices in their food! Give them their own serving spoons! On behalf of all of my plant-based people out there, please place our food in a vegetarian-friendly zone, spoons included.
🧡🤎ALL of Tara’s Original Thanksgiving Recipes In One Place!🧡🤎
Click Here for ALL of My Vegetarian Family Thanksgiving Recipes
A Few More Tuesday Tips to Help You Survive
What To Eat On Thanksgiving If You Don’t Eat Turkey
10 Easy Food Substitutions For Plant-Based Eating
Guide To Plant-Based Meat Alternatives
Meatless Thanksgiving Recipes for
Your Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dinner Guests
Main Dishes:
Instant Pot Chickpea Seitan Nuggets
Dairy Free Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
Sweet Potato Mac N Cheese (dairy free)
Meatless Eggplant Meatballs (Vegan + Gluten Free!)
Soup:
Easy Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup
Easiest Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Corn Chowder (Vegan!)
Quinoa Vegetable Soup: Instant Pot or Stove-Top
Gravy:
Quick and Easy Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy
Sides:
Easy Vegan Flaky Biscuit Recipe
Easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
The Best Loaded Vegan Baked Potato
Savory Pumpkin Hummus (Oil-Free!)
Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Vegetables:
Oil-Free Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Sun-Dried Tomato Brussels Sprouts
Salads:
Thanksgiving Salad with Pumpkin Vinaigrette
Asparagus Salad with Lemon Garlic Dressing
Oil-Free Balsamic Asparagus Salad
Desserts:
Vegan Apple Cinnamon Mini Muffins
Eggless Almond Butter Blondies
Food for Thought
No matter what you eat on Thanksgiving, remember what we are celebrating … being thankful. Thankful for friends, family, and a table full of food! I hope these tips help you create a welcoming environment for all of your loved ones, even the ones that eat a little differently than you do. Above all, remember to pause + be present + enjoy good food in the company of good people. Happy Thanksgiving, fam!
Hope this helps you enjoy your (no) turkey day!
All the best,
Tara 🧡🤎
⭐Do you have a vegetarian coming to Thanksgiving dinner? Have any more ideas to add to my list? Leave a comment below!
📸I love to see your creations! Follow me on Instagram @myvegetarianfamily and hashtag it #myvegetarianfamily
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