Veggie & Vegan Holidays w/ toddlers?

[amldaley]

Well, my first almost-vegan holiday is rapidly approaching! I still prepare meat for DD as I know she needs the protein and my food choices are *my choices*. But with just my mom (who eats very little meat) and DD here, I am reticent to even roast a turkey breast. It will sit in the fridge for days...weeks...with my left-over obsessed mother around.

What do you prepare for the holidays?

I was thinking of doing stuffing, pan fried brussel sprouts, a green bean casserole, & rice pudding. Maybe I will do a turkey burger or turkey sausage for DD?

It seems so strange that the holiday meal is so centered on meat, when I know that is not what is important at all - but as the years pass, I don't want DD to miss out on traditional meals, either.

How do you handle it? What do you cook?

[zoestargrove]

I suppose you could cook a boneless turkey breast or tenderloin. Traditional meat - much smaller portion. They are usually in the same area you would find ground turkey in the meat section of the grocery store.

I also think some grocery stores have already cooked turkey breast in the same area you would find the rotisserie chicken. (couldn't get easier than that)

It is funny how the dinner all revolves around a bird - but, honestly its the sides I look forward to every year!

[boolady]

I don't know if you're near a Wegman's, but they have a turkey breast piece they call a turkey London broil that is even smaller than a breast, and is very nice, trimmed white meat. It would probably feed your DD and Mom for Thanksgiving dinner and then you could freeze the rest, use it in sandwiches for her, in soup, whatever. I just Googled a bit, and it looks like it's 1/2 a boneless turkey breast, so a lot less than a full breast that includes both halves.

[boolady]

This is a delicious side vegan side dish that we had at DH's cousin's house last year for Christmas and loved it so much we got the recipe from them and have made it several times since. It would go perfectly with stuffing and brussel sprouts and the other fall dishes you mentioned. I'm a carnivore, and this was the best dish at Christmas dinner, hands down. At home, I usually cut down or cut out the red pepper flake so as not to spice out DD, though it's best with at least a touch of it in the dish. I do agree with the reviews that say you need to cook the squash longer than he suggests-- I just check it with a fork. You don't want it super soft, though, so that you can toss the ingredients without it becoming mush.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/marinated-butternut-squash-scapece-di-zucca-recipe/index.html

[amldaley]

This is a delicious side vegan side dish that we had at DH's cousin's house last year for Christmas and loved it so much we got the recipe from them and have made it several times since. It would go perfectly with stuffing and brussel sprouts and the other fall dishes you mentioned. I'm a carnivore, and this was the best dish at Christmas dinner, hands down. At home, I usually cut down or cut out the red pepper flake so as not to spice out DD, though it's best with at least a touch of it in the dish. I do agree with the reviews that say you need to cook the squash longer than he suggests-- I just check it with a fork. You don't want it super soft, though, so that you can toss the ingredients without it becoming mush.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/marinated-butternut-squash-scapece-di-zucca-recipe/index.html

That looks so pretty and sounds so tasty....definitely one to try!!!!

[ahisma]

Have you tried making any seitan dishes? My kids and DH love seitan, even DD (12 yo) who is a definite meat lover! My DS's are 2 and 4 and are veggie and love it too. DS1 even wanted to bring a seitan loaf to preschool snack time, but I drew the line there, LOL!

There's some fantastic recipes here: http://vegandad.blogspot.com/

You can even search for "Thanksgiving" and see what he's done in years past. He's in Canada and celebrates Thanksgiving earlier...but the meals are essentially the same, traditionally.

There are also fantastic seitan recipes in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Cheap-Recipes-Simple-Strategies/dp/0470472243/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288844941&sr=8-1


ETA: To answer the other part of your question re: how others handle it - We focus on a big, family centered meal - crowded table, bumping elbows, that sort of thing. Some years are more traditional food-wise than others, depending on our whims that year. I'm vegan, DS1 and DS2 are veggie, DH is 95% veggie, DD is an omnivore. We celebrate with extended family - some vegan, some veggie and some omni. There is meat on the table because MIL cooks it but it is definitely not the focus of the meal. I really don't feel like they're missing out on traditions at all - there's still pie to be had, LOL! That said, they don't eat meat in the first place so it's not really a consideration. Sometimes we have a veggie / vegan turkey replacement, sometimes it's just a hodge podge of sides. We always do a vegan stuffing...if anything, that's the core tradition for us.

[citymama]

I'm vegetarian and DD is mostly veg but the rest of the family isn't. We celebrate TG with DHs family who are not at all vegetarian. I love doing braised or roasted Brussels sprouts, rainbow chard, something with protein like a tofu or tempeh dish or a lentils/rice dish. There's always salad and sweet potatoes and veggie stuffing. And pies of all kinds!

[citymama]

Just in time! NYT post on a vegetarian Thanksgiving feast:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/vegetarian-comfort-food-at-thanksgiving/

[wellyes]

You don't need no stinkin' turkey, I always get STUFFED at Thanksgiving and haven't eaten any meat since the early 90s

Vegan Pumpkin Pie
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/9598

[amldaley]

You don't need no stinkin' turkey, I always get STUFFED at Thanksgiving and haven't eaten any meat since the early 90s

Vegan Pumpkin Pie
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/9598

Now I have, "Turkey? We don't need no stinkin' turkey!" stuck in my head! Thanks for the recipe link. I don't do pumpkin pie normally as DH hates it but he is gone and my mom is here and she and I both LOVE pumpking pie! How could I forget this is my "once in a decade" pumpkin pie opportunity?

I was listening to a talk show the other day and a caller said they love pumpkin pie but they want to save room for so many other desserts. So, as a tradition, they eat their pumpkin pie for breakfast every Thanksgiving!!!

I think I know what we are having for breakfast this Thursday!!!

[amldaley]

Have you tried making any seitan dishes? My kids and DH love seitan, even DD (12 yo) who is a definite meat lover! My DS's are 2 and 4 and are veggie and love it too. DS1 even wanted to bring a seitan loaf to preschool snack time, but I drew the line there, LOL!

There's some fantastic recipes here: http://vegandad.blogspot.com/

You can even search for "Thanksgiving" and see what he's done in years past. He's in Canada and celebrates Thanksgiving earlier...but the meals are essentially the same, traditionally.

There are also fantastic seitan recipes in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Cheap-Recipes-Simple-Strategies/dp/0470472243/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288844941&sr=8-1


ETA: To answer the other part of your question re: how others handle it - We focus on a big, family centered meal - crowded table, bumping elbows, that sort of thing. Some years are more traditional food-wise than others, depending on our whims that year. I'm vegan, DS1 and DS2 are veggie, DH is 95% veggie, DD is an omnivore. We celebrate with extended family - some vegan, some veggie and some omni. There is meat on the table because MIL cooks it but it is definitely not the focus of the meal. I really don't feel like they're missing out on traditions at all - there's still pie to be had, LOL! That said, they don't eat meat in the first place so it's not really a consideration. Sometimes we have a veggie / vegan turkey replacement, sometimes it's just a hodge podge of sides. We always do a vegan stuffing...if anything, that's the core tradition for us.


Thanks for sharing the Vegan Dad blog. I had read him before and his thoughts on and uses for Veganaisse. I had forgotten to search him for Thanksgiving! Thanks!