Turkey and ham are not just traditional Thanksgiving foods. For many people, they are the cornerstone of what makes the holiday meal come alive. If you or a member of the family is vegetarian, you'll discover plenty of options to make the dinner table as exciting as ever, while pleasing the palate of everyone invited.
Step 1
Make it about the holiday rather than the food. This is a time for families to come together, share memories of years past or talk about goals and the future. Play the ABC Thank You Game, where families follow a circle, each saying a thing they're thankful for, starting with the letter of the alphabet that falls on them. Prepare crafts and games for the kids. Or put together a sketch and involve the whole family.
Step 2
Select dishes that incorporate favorite Thanksgiving ingredients, even if turkey is absent. Examples include sweet potatoes, acorn squash, wild rice, tarts and pies, quiche and soups, and vegetarian shepherd's pie. You can also have a variety of stuffings, such as old-fashioned potato-bread stuffing, or more exotic ones, such as walnut-apple or cranberry-pear stuffings.
Step 3
Have a variety of salads available. They're often ignored during Thanksgiving meals, but they can easily become the center of attention here. Again, use traditional foods, but don't be afraid to mix. Examples of good salads for the season include roasted squash salad.
Step 4
Consider a turkey alternative. Several companies specializing in vegetarian food have ready-to-cook meals such as Tofurkey and Garden Protein's Veggie Turkey Breast. These meals are usually available in the frozen food section of health-food stores and sometimes supermarkets.
Step 5
Don't forget the soups. November brings about the first chilly days of the season, so it's an ideal time to try warming soups and consommés. Try pumpkin soup, potato soup or squash soup, if you want to stay with the fall theme. Or try different alternatives, such as wild rice and cranberry soup or French onion soup.
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