Last Minute Thanksgiving Ideas for Vegetarians
Happy Thanksgiving Week! Have you planned your menu and braved the trip to the grocery store? If so congrats! If not I’m here to help. I wanted to share a few Thanksgiving ideas for vegetarians and vegans to help take the stress out of the holiday. Holidays should not be stressful. They should be extra time in your life to spend time with friends and family.
So many traditional Thanksgiving foods can easily be make veggie friendly.
Focus on side dishes
In my opinion you can never have too many sides but for a typical holiday meal you should serve: at least two veggie dishes, stuffing, potatoes (mashed, sweet, scalloped? soooo many choices), and cranberry sauce.
Veggie Sides
The sky is the the limit for us my friends! Think green beans, brussels sprouts, collard greens, side salads, carrots, squash, corn, and mac and cheese. Wait stop…yes…mac and cheese is a veggie side in the south. Don’t fight me on that one. It’s a known fact.
Quinoa Brussel Sprout Casserole
Stuffing or Dressing?
Some people call it stuffing and others call it dressing. I don’t care what you call it. I will be too busy stuffing it in my mouth. Our favorite is Cornbread Stuffing I guess it is a southern thing. It is so good! You can pick any of your sides to turn into the main focus of the meal. We did that with our vegan stuffing but serving it in smoked acorn squashes.
Potatoes!
So many options and opinions here. I like sweet potatoes but but my husband isn’t as crazy about them. There are so many ways to make potatoes. The easiest being mashed potatoes. I don’t peel my potatoes. I know a lot people do but I skip that step. The skin of the potatoes adds nutrients and fiber. Just boil the potatoes when they are tender drain them then add a little vegan butter and almond milk and get to mashing.
Want to try something a little different than just plain old mashed potatoes? Check out these:
Cheesy Vegan Mash Potato Casserole
Vegan Potato and Collard Greens Casserole
Cranberries!
Come on! It’s Thanksgiving you have to have cranberries. I won’t judge if it comes from a can but if you want to try to make your own Cranberry Sauce it’s not that hard. Or maybe you just need a little cranberry something something to get you in a more festive mood? Try this Cranberry Bourbon Arnold Palmer.
Thanksgiving ideas for Vegetarians
(That don’t want to cook)
Don’t want to spend all day cooking? I don’t blame you. Last year we spent Thanksgiving in a hotel out of town and didn’t cook a think. IT WAS GLORIOUS! I love to cook but sometimes you just need a break or a little help. It’s totally cool to ask for a little help occasionally.
Ask your favorite local restaurants if they are catering.
Last year we ordered our holiday meal from a vegan restaurant, Cashew, in Chattanooga. They did an amazing job. In past years we have ordered just pie from them.
Ask your guest to bring something.
You don’t have to make everything yourself. You can also ask your guests to bring their favorite dish. This can also include BYOM bring your own meat. If you have family coming to your house hopefully they share your plant based lifestyle but if not and if they just can’t imaging not eating meat for one meal then tell them to bring their own pre-cooked turkey.
Last Minute Thanksgiving Ideas…
Don’t forget to take time to slow down and and be Thankful. Contrary to popular belief it’s not all about the food. What are you Thankful for this year?
