How to Plan a Vegetarian Thanksgiving Meal

Sure, Thanksgiving brings turkey to mind. But vegetarians don't have to feel left out. Plan a fun vegetarian Thanksgiving and you won't miss the meat. General planning tips are also included here.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Holiday Cookbooks
• Vegan Cookbooks
• Vegetarian Cookbook

1. Figure out how many guests to invite. Consider the size of your home; the number of chairs, tables and dishes you'll need; and your ability to cook for many people.
2. Decide whether you want to ask people to help you out, either by bringing parts of the meal (wine, appetizers, desserts, side dishes) or by coming early to help out.
3. Consider ways to decorate your home that might reflect your lifestyle choice not to eat meat. To entertain children, a sense of humor could come in handy if you played a game of pin the hole on the cheese, instead of pin the hole on the donkey.
4. Determine the food preferences or restrictions of your guests. Though as a vegetarian you may enjoy tofu, consider that some people have gastrointestinal reactions to it. Consider that some people may have food allergies. Remember that many vegetarian dishes are high in fat, and that some guests may be watching cholesterol and fat intake.
5. Consider the sequence of the meal and its balance. Try to balance heavy, starchy dishes with lighter vegetable dishes. Also, think about how many courses you want to serve, and how many appetizers you want to have available for pre-meal noshing.
6. Think about how you can mimic old standards in a vegetarian way. Consider making stuffed tofu, rather than stuffed turkey. A vegan nut roast or a stuffed squash is also a hearty main dish. Many of autumn's seasonal ingredients are vegetarian friendly. Explore different squash recipes you could use, including one as a soup course. For strict vegans, consider making a vegan pumpkin pie.
7. Once you've planned the menu, consider the timing and preparation of each dish. Is it physically possible for you to make all the dishes you've planned? Think about your kitchen and its limitations as well. If you have one oven, make sure you have a preparation timetable that optimizes its use.

Tips & Warnings

• Leftovers are expected at Thanksgiving, so take that into account.
• In case nonvegetarians are at the meal, advise these guests of what you are serving. Aside from a meat lover's disappointment at the absence of turkey and turkey gravy, they may not physically be able to consume vegetarian or vegan alternatives.
• Most vegetarians will eat dairy products and eggs. However, vegans do not eat any animal products at all, including dairy.