As a traditionally meat-involved holiday, Thanksgiving is commonly accepted as a vegetarian's nightmare. HOWEVER, that truly doesn't need to be, and actually isn't, the case. There are plenty of amazing, fall-festive foods that we vegetarians welcome, and if you ask me.. they're a whole lot better than eating an animal.
1. Mashed Potatoes
Oh yes. Personally, mashed potatoes are my weakness, and if you want to make them vegan, swap out the dairy for some vegan butter, and you're set! Mashed potatoes for all, and for all a good night.
2. Butternut Squash
Mashed or roasted, butternut squash is such a fall staple, and it's delicious and cruelty free!
3. Green Beans
Everybody loves a good green bean. Green beans with slivered almonds are honestly a great, simple, healthy side dish for any meal, and also a classic Thanksgiving side. Unless you have a nut allergy. Then skip the almonds.
4. Stuffing
Is it really Thanksgiving without stuffing? No, probably not. Stuffing does tend to involve the use of chicken broth or other meat-related ingredients, but it can easily be made with vegetable broth instead, and voila! Vegetarian friendly stuffing.
5. Sweet Potatoes
Fried, mashed, roasted, baked... there are so many options. Sweet potatoes are easily one of the best Thanksgiving foods. Especially served with mini marshmallows on top.
6. Pies
Arguably the greatest part of Thanksgiving, and any holiday, really, is dessert. Let's talk about pies.
Maybe you're a pumpkin pie kinda person.
Maybe apple pie is what calls to you.
Or blueberry, or peach, or... anything.
There are endless pie possibilities.
Who doesn't love food with endless possibilities???
7. Pumpkin Ravioli
An Autumnal twist on a classic, you really just can't go wrong with pumpkin ravioli. Plus, eating this as opposed to regular ravioli technically makes you even even more environmentally conscious vegetarian, because you're skipping out on the dairy!
8. Pumpkin or Butternut Squash Soup
Pumpkin is such a major player in the fall season, why not have it in soup form, too!
Butternut squash soup definitely also comes in as a strong competitor.
Squash or pumpkin. Pick your fighter.
9. Cranberry Sauce
Regardless of whether you're a fan of old-fashioned, homemade cranberry sauce, or store bought OceanSpray cranberry sauce that comes in a can (honestly... it's really good), we can all agree that cranberry sauce is pretty much a must-have for Thanksgiving.
10. Risotto
Risotto is great all year round, but when it starts getting chilly outside, this is a great, warm option. Even better, you can put a fall twist on it and make pumpkin risotto. Because why the heck not.
11. Pasta
PASTA. Need I say more?
There is so much you can do with pasta, and in the fall, so many vegetables are at their prime that it just makes sense to craft an autumnal pasta dish.
There are endless pasta possibilities..... or should I say... pastabilities.
12. Mac and Cheese
Okay so yeah, maybe this technically just belongs in the "pasta" category, but mac and cheese really deserves a category of its own. Let's be real here.
Maybe mac and cheese isn't something that immediately comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving, but generally speaking, Thanksgiving is a very family style event (I mean... duh, its a family/friend-oriented holiday, but anyway), and mac and cheese is a dish that can easily be shared and made in large quantities at once. So, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say mac and cheese is a go.
13. Homemade Desserts
Aside from pies, there are so many desserts which might show up on your table for Thanksgiving.
Maybe you have an overzealous family who dishes out desserts nonstop. Maybe you're a cookie-baking kind of home. Personally, my family and I always end up with more pie than any of us could possibly eat, but we also bake some cookies here and there for the holidays.
It's just a great excuse to eat all your favorite homemade baked goods and not feel guilty, because you simply can't put all that hard work to waste!
As the holidays come in quick, and Thanksgiving really is right around the corner, lots of questions tend to circulate as people wonder what those of us who choose not to eat meat are going to do.
My final answer is this: even if I wanted to eat meat, and I do not, my stomach really wouldn't even have room for it because I'll be too busy consuming all of my other wonderful holiday options.
Happy Fall, and happy holidays!
