My dad is an avid vegetarian and has been since we were kids, so about 40 years?

He always eats a small amount of turkey on Thanksgiving. He speaks of a time when he first became a vegetarian and we went to some friends' house for dinner. The elderly woman host had worked for hours on the meal. She was just crestfallen when he turned down the turkey. He said he made the decision to eat some turkey and he enjoyed it!

How do other vegetarians handle Thanksgiving being that it is centered around turkey!?

Hi I am a vegetarian and so are both my dd's however my dh and ds are not and either are any of my extended family.. No problem I will host Thanksgiving I will cook the turkey, and me and my dd's will eat from so many of the side dishes.. Its our choice not to eat the turkey, however I not make anyone else suffer, they can enjoy the turkey all they want, simply no problem.. Peace. Catherine

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We have a mix of food eaters here. We have a pumpkin soup course, a salad course and then play some games and watch some ball games. Then, we have a buffet of all the other traditional stuff. No one knows or cares who eats turkey or not. But, the sweet potato never lasts, no matter how much I make.

Honestly, at my place, no one would notice if someone didn't choose to eat the turkey or not; but,I do make it. I am thinking of just making a breast this year. I will be out of town Dec 1 - 12 and I don't want to have to make turkey soup over the weekend and I don't want to throw is away either.

I used to be a very strict vegetarian. Since hubby, and kids eat meat I am the odd (wo)man out. I used to just eat the sides. There are so many other options on Thanksgiving beside turket. I never felt like I was missing anything. I now eat a little meat. So I make the turkey and have a little.

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We have vegetarians in our family and we make all the traditionals, then a tofurkey and vegetarian gravy. Makes everyone happy.

Nightowl: Want to share your sweet potato recipe...pretty please!

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Our family was vegetarian for about 6 years. If another family member was hosting, we would just eat lots of sides. I always bring the stuffing, so I would just make a lot. Thinking back though, we did eat the turkey gravy. If I was hosting, I would make a turkey and a tofurkey or a Quorm roast for us. It never really was a big deal. My mom always has Christmas though and she would always make us a veggie lasagna (even though she always makes enough sides for a small army.)

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Serving a vegetarian lasagna alongside the traditional items is a nice idea and be enjoyed by vegs and non alike. Or stuffed shells, something like that that gives the veg a main dish. We sometimes do that anyways.....

cj/

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I can't stand tofurkey, it is so yuck, so I get a Celebration "roast" from Field Roast Grain Meat, Co. It is so incredibly delicious and makes the best "meatloaf" sandwiches. My mom isn't veggie and eats the heck out of it.

And my parents make the sides vegetarian. No marshmallows, no chicken/beef broth, etc in the sides.

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I just became a vegetarian in April of this year so this will be my first Thanksgiving dinner. I just plan in eating the sides. My DS is one too but will eat the Turkey (he is not a strict Vegetarian where as I am). It does not bother me that my DH and other DS eat meat. I fix it for them and eat my own meatless food. I can also say that the Tofurkey is nasty.

The imitaion Turkey made by Quorn is remarkabley good. My DD is a veggie but not the rest of us and we all like it. I highly reccomend it.

Hi Cuthie.

I have been a vegetarian since before middle school. For me Thanksgiving is more about being with family and friends. I honestly enjoy all the madness before with all us girl in the kitchen more than the actual eating. So for me I am more than happy sticking to the side dishes. I usually bring margarine and rice milk for my mom to use in the potatoes etc. No one notices. I also do all the desserts.
Some of which are not veggie friendly.

I also always bring an apple or pear pie. This year I am also bringing some vegan white chocolate hazelnut cookies for munching throughout the day.

So basically thanksgiving is like any other get together. I bring an extra dessert or side so I know there will be something I can have...and I bring extra to share. Its amusing how much they will eat BEFORE asking what is in it

I try to be respectful. Being vegetarian is my choice. My family has made different choices and that is ok. My mom always serves dinner buffet style so I do not have to worry about looking at the turkey while trying to eat.

I have never cared for stuffing myself so here it is a non-issue- However if you are expecting vegetarians I would reccomend making a second batch outside the turkey- (without the sausage etc).

Happy Holidays!

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Peace.

When I first stopped eating meat in 1999 I thought that each year when the Holidays came I would eat some turkey but I never have. I eat fish though so I eat fish alot especially during the Holidays.

I tried Tofurkey once about 12 yrs ago and I still have the aftertaste horrendous yuck!

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Yes, I always thought the Quorn products were so yummy! We still eat them sometimes even though we eat meat now. I do have to agree with the Tofurkey not being so hot. It has kind of a weird aftertaste and usually turned out pretty dry.

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- George Orwell Animal Farm

Sure, PM me an email. Anyone else can, too.

I have it scanned with a picture of how it should look. It is served in an orange. This recipe calls for eggs, but I have made it without the egg and it is fine for those who don't eat eggs.

For those of you who are not vegetarians, you need to be aware of the broth or stock in the stuffing, and the marshmallows on the sweet potatos.
They seem innocent to most.

I'm always a bit embarassed because people make such a fuss about trying to comply to my diet. I don't mind at all just picking around things and eating what I want. It's nice that others care, but I don't want to be a burden or a challenge to anyone. Obviously, family and close friends know that I'm a vegetarian, but I usually don't tell others.

I personally like the idea of bringing a dish or two to share that is completely safe for the vegetarian (and/or picky eater... which is another story... we also deal with those in our family)!

I used to try to plan meals taking into consideration everyone's likes and dislikes but a few years ago, I gave up on that and just planned according to what I felt made a good meal! Guess what?! They still come and the side benefit is that I am much more relaxed! I ask them to bring a dish to share and that seems to be a major part in the solution.

Enlighten me....marshmallows can't be eaten by vegetarians???

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

The gelatin in marshmallows is an animal product.

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Reading is Fundamental.

Marshmallow cream is ok (no gelatin), as far as I know.

After reading this I just wanted to add that if someone says "no thank you" Please just accept that. I have had so many situations where people are trying to "force" their food into me. I say "no thank you" it works with some people but others, many with good intentions, can't accept it. I don't want to have to say "I don't eat that because...it is so damn unhealthy...it has meat or broth or gelatin in it...the way you cooked it grosses me out...I would not eat that if I were dying on a dessert island."
I don't want to have to explain.
I think it's very considerate of everyone to think so much about making enough of a variety of foods to please everyone. Thank you!

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Annadrose - that's why I think it's always a good idea to have a tossed salad and/or various crudities....nothing to cook, just fresh food washed and sliced....should be OK with almost anyone...

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Yes, it is and rice krispy treats made with marshmallow fluff are just as good.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

Okay now I feel like an IDIOT. I automatically assumed (ouch that's stupid now) that the cream was the same. I am an obsessive label reader and I never bothered to read it! If only I would have read this yesterday BEFORE I went to the store! Sigh~at least now I know I will have them for Christmas and this opens a whole new world of s'mores for me.

Thank you I love you for giving me back this simple treat!

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Faith + Love = Happy

That's why marshmallow creme is not firm...no geletin. Yippee for us marshmallow lovers!

I took some of your advice and fixed a Quorn turkey today. It was delicious. Even DH loved it and said he'd rather have that than turkey. I also have some veggie based gravy. Hot "turkey" sandwiches for supper!