How to Survive Thanksgiving as a Vegetarian

Graphic by Abigail Lay

Let’s be frank with you: vegetarianism is a bitch. If you are one, then you understand how hard it is to find viable options at a restaurant, at a friend's house, or even at your own dinner table. You never know when your next serving of protein will be, and it's constantly consuming your thoughts. Thanksgiving, a holiday dedicated (mostly) to eating a turkey, is a vegetarian's worst nightmare. Yes, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce can be a blessing, but those sides will only keep you full for so long. And on top of stressing about your food, you can always count on your relatives to give you shit for your dietary restrictions. 

So, shake off your judgemental uncle’s comments, embrace your truth, and stop relying on your family to whip up some good-ass vegetarian dishes. Assuming someone else has got the mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and stuffing covered, here are a couple of alternative meals that will satisfy you AND the omnivores at the dinner table.

This incredible mac and cheese recipe from Bon Appetit is one of our favorites. All the different types of oogey-gooey cheese — fontina, gruyère, parmesan, and white cheddar — melt in your mouth. Of course, creativity is always welcomed. Add or sub whatever cheese your heart desires or whatever other toppings you crave. Your guests will be begging for seconds.

Vegans, we did not forget about you. Although some of us genuinely cannot fathom a world without cheese, we feel for you, and we have the perfect vegan macaroni and cheese recipe to give you the warm-and-cozy feeling of the holiday season. The secret to this recipe's silky, creamy texture is the addition of grated potato. The yeast seamlessly works together with the raw cashews, mimicking the classic cheese sauce. The recipe also includes broccoli for all the healthy eaters out there but can be removed if carbs are more your thing.

Lastly, a butternut squash steak that will change your life. Your family will love it so much that they may even switch out next year’s turkey for this dish. Why are we so confident that our fellow omnivores will enjoy it? The brown butter-sage sauce adds a salty and a little nutty flavor to squash slices. This hearty, rich meal is sure to impress that judgemental uncle.

Hopefully, with these recipes, all the vegetarians out there won’t be dreading the Thanksgiving meal again. Although they won’t stop your relatives from judging how you live your life (sorry, we can’t fix that), these dishes will be sure to shut them up for an hour or two.