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A Vegetarian’s Guide to Thanksgiving

Naledi Ushe Student Contributor, Hofstra University
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Hailey Oliveri Student Contributor, Hofstra University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hofstra chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Thanksgiving is a holiday made for vegetarians. Oh sure, everybody boosts about the turkey or ham but ultimately it’s the sides that pull everything together. We have less stress worrying about cooking things that take a day’s worth; all we have to worry about is prep!

Whether you cook or would like to pass these recipes off to mom to make, here’s a list of recipes guaranteed to make the non-vegetarians rethink their way of life:

Spinach Artichoke Dip

For Thanksgiving, forget the notion that vegetarians are the poster children for a healthy lifestyle. Today is your day to splurge. Yes, the vegetable to cheese and fat ratio is disproportional but you’ll thank me later.

 

Butternut Squash and Spinach Ravioli

With patience towards prep work this can stun even the most traditionalist or simplistic food pallets. This is one of those dishes that I’ll admit, lies about the prep time required, but you won’t regret this sweet meets savory mixture! Add spinach to the recipe below to sneak in veggies that will go unnoticed.

 

Beet Hummus

Now is not the time to be picky! Trust me I know your parents probably hustled you into eating beets as a child and the experience is probably still traumatic. BUT just remember the beet is only used as a base to create colorful and instagrammable hummus that will brighten up the dinner table!

 

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers


For those of you who still think the above choices are bird food incapable of filling the bottomless pit fostered during thanksgiving, this will fill you beyond expectation! Not only is this food FILLED with great nutrients at every turn, it is heart healthy and overall beneficial. Pick and choose which vegetables to include for a little personal touch!

 

 

Multi-Mashed Potatoes

As you can tell I’m on the tad health conscious side of thanksgiving, mainly in hopes that the appetite we all acquire this day won’t reflect on the scale when we go back to school. That being said I’ve heard the more colors on your plate the better off you are. This beautiful swirl will have you second-guessing which potatoes you like more!

 

Stuffed Mushrooms

Over the summer these were my other substitutes to veggie patties. Whether eaten plain or on a pretzel rolls this recipe will have you rethinking mushrooms as BAE. And don’t worry about texture because the flavor will overcome any hesitation!

 

Roasted Asparagus

Because I’ve thrown some semi complex recipes your way, I decided to end things on a simple note! Don’t be afraid of a little green. When cooked properly asparagus completes the missing element on your plate. It goes with everything so no need to eat this separately!

 

Happy Eating! 

Hofstra '17
Hofstra Chapter Vice President (December '16 - December '17)

From a young age Naledi has been obsessed with all things pop culture and entertainment. Through writing for Her Campus she has been able to reach a large audience of badass collegiate women who share her crazy passions as well. Beyond Her Campus Naledi is IN LOVE with Hofstra. Her favorite part? The school of comm for allowing her to branch out and get a real dip into the real world prior to graduating. Additionally Naledi is one of those classic people who studies abroad in the spring of 2016 and won't ever stop talking about it! Her best advice? Go and see the world kids and fall in love with your major like Ali and Noah from the Notebook fell in love with each other.
Coming from a small town in Connecticut, Hailey is a recent graduate of Hofstra University. She spent her time in school working as the Campus Correspondent for the Hofstra chapter of Her Campus where she led the chapter to a pink level status every semester she oversaw the chapter. She also served as the Personnel Director for Marconi Award Winning station WRHU-FM. While holding multiple positions at Hofstra, she was a communications intern at Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, the company that oversees Barclays Center and Nassau Veteran's Memorial Coliseum.