Do you think this Thanksgiving menu offers enough to eat for a vegetgarian guest?

Question

One of our guests is a vegetarian, I want to make sure I offer her enough to eat, while still accomodating guests expecting typical fare. She eats eggs and cheese and knows there will be a real turkey.

Appetizers:
sliced cucumbers topped with edamame spread
Spiced mixed nuts
Cheese, crackers, olives

Main Meal:
Turkey
Gravy (turkey and vegetarian gravy)
Stuffing
Cranberry sauce
Green Beans and mushrooms
Mashed Maple Sweet Potatoes
Mashed White potatoes
Green Salad
Rolls

Still working on dessert.

Answer 1

I think it sounds great! Don't worry too much about preparing a totally seperate meal for the veggie. A ton of people, both veggie and not, have this weird idea that in order for a meal to be a meal, there has to be a central dish. For large meals like this, I don't think there's any problem with her eating a component plate (basically, eating a bunch of "side dishes" as your meal).

Is the stuffing vegetarian? If you're planning on actually stuffing the bird, I'd leave some out and just put it in a casserole for her. I love stuffing. :-9

Your best bet is just to tell her what you're planning to serve. You could ask her if it looks okay to her. If she wants more, maybe she'll offer to bring a little something that everyone can try. In fact, that's the best thing to do... tell her the menu and see what she thinks. :-)

Answer 2

Make sure the stuffing is not made with chicken soup base, or bacon, which are very common in stuffing recipes.
If the stuffing is substantial, then this is an ok menu. If it's from a box, then it is not too much for a vegetarian. On another note, I'd recommend variety in the potatoes (though you didn't ask for my opinion on that). You have 3 starches: 2 mashed potatoes and one bread (roll). If you must have sweet and white potatoes, why not leave the sweet potatoes in chunks? There are many recipes, both sweet and savory, which you can make by cutting sweet potatoes into chunks or wedges, or by using the chunks from the can. The vegetarian will fill up on appetizers (they sound good). Just be sure to watch the hidden meat: chicken soup and similar stuff in your recipes.

Answer 3

There's really not enough protein for a vegetarian. You may want to consider getting some tofurkey. They sell it small sizes. You could also make a little quinoa. Although it's a grain, it's very high in protein. Ask her what her favorite protein source is, and provide that as well. The side dishes are great, but a small protein source along with them will give her a balanced meal.

Kim at: http://www.peaceful-organic-planet.com/healthy-food.html

Answer 4

For any major meals we do at others homes, I always bring my main dish. Surprisingly, my main dish is what you would consider a side dish. So for this to be the case then a whole bunch of side dishes are just fine. I however suggest, that either you inform your vegetarian friend that the stuffing is poultry broth based (if it is going to be), or buy a vegetable based stuffing. Both taste similar because the Sage is what give it that distinctive stuffing taste and aroma! And to have a vegetarian based gravy is truly awesome of you! Otherwise, unlike what these other people are saying, you're not doing very much special for her because it's the same things omnivores eat! Oh and also, maybe bringing some type of nuts/seeds to the table for a protein kick, like pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds, sunflower seeds. These she and everyone else for that matter can add to the green beans, salad, and even mashed potatoes! And like the person above me said, ask her opinion because she just might want to bring herself a main dish to broaden everyone else's taste buds!!!

Answer 5

It's very nice that you want to accommodate your vegetarian friend. Do make sure there is stuffing that is not cooked with meat broths or inside the turkey and that none of the sides are cooked with meat stock or juices. If you can, you might want to have a protein-y main-dish type thing for her. There are many vegetarian roasts that you can buy--Tofurkey, Now and Zen, and Quorn all make vegetarian roasts--and just heat up.

For appetizers, hummus and veggies is almost always a good choice for vegetarians. Chips and salsa (or veggies and salsa) is also good.

Answer 6

The only thing on your list that she cannot eat is the turkey, I think. That should suffice. If you are wanting to be an extraordinary hostess simply research a vegetarian main dish. I think that a lot of the posters who degrade your attempts to provide for ALL of your guests when you are hosting a holiday meal are not oriented towards what it is to provide a meal that warms the heart as well as filling the belly. In so much as you would try to include in the meal a friend's favorite desert or your hubby's favorite bread, I think it is wonderful that you are thinking how to make your vegetarian friend feel welcome, loved and be able to have that same kick-back fullness that the rest of your guests should feel after a Thanksgiving dinner. Research starter:

http://www.boutell.com/vegetarian/nut-roast.html

Answer 7

My family never caters to my vegetarian needs! lol Well my mom did cook some stuffing in a separate pan for me, that was awesome, but I never expect anyone to cook any separate dishes for me when I come to their house.
If I were coming to your house I would be very happy as long as there was some vegetarian stuffing for me to munch on. :)

I do think it's wonderful that you're taking your vegetarian friend's diet into consideration. It's really no different than making a pie with splenda for a diabetic, right?

*Edit*
In reading some of the replies, isn't is shocking how much hate some people have for vegetarians? I didn't even realize that this kind of hate for non meat-eaters existed until I started reading some of the questions/answers here. It's just so unbelievable to me that a decision based on such a peaceful thing brings forth so much hatefulness.

Answer 8

Turkey was never my favorite thing as a meat eater so as a vegetarian eating nothing but sides is awesome (as long as those sides are vegetarian and aren't made with meat broths or other hidden meat products that aren't actual meat but made from animals) As far as thanksgiving it is a horrible holiday, they ate a meal with the Native Americans (real nice nice) then essentially slaughtered them and oppressed them for the next 500+ years and the government or descendents of those people have yet to apologize and try and make amends to the Native Americans who haven't sold out to the US Government (ie the ones who don't own casinos and don't pander to the white/rich man!)

Answer 9

try coming up with an actual vegetararian dish as opposed to just side dishes. My favorite is a vegatable cassarole.In a dutch oven or chicken fryer-drissle some oil- start with a base of garlic, onion, carrots and ocra (or celerly). After browing base, add a combo of root veggies and green beans. Mix in a veggie broth. Top with a jalapeno corn bread made with buttermilk. Bake covered at 400 for hour or until cornbread is cooked.

Think of a main dish that could stand on its own. the listed link might give you some other ideas. Pumpkin and pecan pie are wonderful traditional deserts.

Answer 10

Sounds good to me. We used to go to my husband's brothers house for Thanksgiving. Now this is family and they know we are vegetarian, but every year we had: turkey, giblet gravy, green beans w/ bacon, mashed potatos with bacon bits mixed in; sausage stuffing. You get the idea. Even the deviled eggs had bacon bits in them.

Hmmmm, maybe they didn't want us there. Anyway, they got their wish. We don't go anymore.

As for those of you who "assume" that a vegetarian wouldn't accomodate a meat eater, you are wrong. I have Christmas dinner every year for my family and cook a ham for those who eat meat. Just because I chose not to eat it doesn't mean I can't be accomodating.