Happy Turkey Day! Or, as I like to say, Happy Tofurkey Day! Many people wonder what it’s like being vegetarian during the holidays, since most of the meals are centered around turkey, ham, pork, and chicken. Growing up, I always had a huge serving of turkey on my plate, alongside a heaping spoonful of stuffing made with chicken stock. On New Year’s Day, my nana would always make enough pork and sauerkraut to feed a country, and I would always indulge. After being educated on the cruelty I was contributing to and making the transition to vegetarianism, holidays looked a little different for me. Luckily, my sister and cousin are vegan and do not eat meat as well, which made holidays a lot easier since we were a team. Instead of eating turkey, we would either get Tofurkey, which is vegan meat made from tofu, or meatless chicken fingers. Although I am not vegan, I always eat the delicious vegan dishes my sister and cousin prepare, such as pumpkin pie, mac and cheese, falafel, mashed potatoes, and much, much more.
Being vegetarian during the holidays is not as difficult as people think, it’s just different. Since I was always a huge fan of meat, the holidays, which are usually centered around a lot of food for my family, were very different for everyone once I became vegetarian. Not only did those cooking have to take into account the vegans and vegetarians when preparing side dishes, but they also had to make extra room for the meatless options that we bring to dinner. Subtle changes such as leaving butter off of the vegetables, using vegetable stock instead of chicken or beef in the stuffing, and using almond milk and vegan butter in the mashed potatoes include a few of the various accommodations my family has made for those of us who choose not to eat meat and/or dairy. I know I am extremely lucky to have a family that cooperates easily when it comes to holiday meals, since most families would not go to the lengths that mine do. Of course, I often get the disgusted look from my grandfather when the vegan mashed potatoes are passed his way, but generally, my family is accepting of vegetarianism and veganism. Although Thanksgiving may seem odd this year because of COVID, it is still a great time to celebrate your family and friends, even if socially distanced. While you’re at it, maybe try making a meatless, or even vegan, dish for your Thanksgiving meal!