The holidays are all about food. The trouble is that they may not be about your food, and one turkey-centric holiday comes to mind. So what's a plant-based eater to do? Here are our favorite tips for enjoying Thanksgiving as a vegan, with your appetite and your relationships intact.
How do you make sure there's vegan food at Thanksgiving?
1. Host your own
The only surefire way to guarantee everything on the table is vegan is to cook it yourself. It's also a chance to show your friends just how good plant-based food can be. If a whole menu feels like a lot, start with our plant-based recipes for ideas, from appetizers and sides to gravy and dessert.
2. Talk to your host
Not up for cooking it all? Fair enough. Give your host a friendly heads-up about how you eat, well before the day. No need to make a big deal of it: they're probably juggling a lot already, and a little notice is always appreciated.
3. Bring a dish, or two
Something savory and a dessert are always a good bet. Offering to bring a couple of dishes takes pressure off your host, guarantees you'll have something to eat, and introduces skeptical relatives to delicious vegan food without a lecture.
4. Bring your own drinks
Not every bottle is vegan. Some wines are clarified with animal-derived fining agents such as egg white, casein or fish gelatin, and the label usually won't tell you. Bringing a few bottles you've checked, and sharing them, is a nice gesture too. Feeling festive? Add a carton of plant-based eggnog.
5. Eat something before you go
Your dishes may be the only ones you can eat, so have a proper snack or a protein-rich smoothie before you leave. Arriving full makes the day about the people, not the buffet.
How do you handle questions about being vegan at the table?
6. Remember: it's a table, not a pulpit
You were probably invited by someone who loves you, so this isn't the moment to turn dinner into a debate. You have good reasons for eating the way you do. If someone asks, offer to talk about it in more depth after dinner. You'll still get to share your view, and it won't feel like you against everyone else.
7. Leave other people's plates alone
Vegans don't love hearing that their food looks strange, and the same goes for everyone else. Let people enjoy their meal without commentary. Nobody needs extra Thanksgiving drama.
8. Brush off the jokes
Every so often someone will make a show of the fact that you eat differently. It isn't always easy, but try not to take the bait. A smile and a change of subject usually ends it faster than a rebuttal does.
What's the point of it all?
9. Enjoy yourself
It's a holiday, and at the end of the day, food is just food. The people around the table will long outlast the meal on your plate. If you want more on eating plant-based day to day, read about everyday vegan protein options and our tips for healthier holidays. Traveling to get there? Pack some of our favorite vegan travel snacks.
