Token Thanksgiving Post

Every good vegan blogger has a Thanksgiving post, right? This is mine. In an effort to remain positive despite one glaringly negative aspect of Thanksgiving, this post will contain no awful photos, no facts about turkeys, and no reasons not to eat them. (Okay, that was probably cheating)

Below are a few tips I've compiled at random:

• If you eat a turkey, acknowledge how he got to your plate and, if that makes you feel uncomfortable, allow yourself to examine those emotions.
• If you're a vegan going to a turkey-centered Thanksgiving meal, be proud of your beliefs. Be honest (but not bratty) about why you didn't take any of the turkey.
  
• If a conversation arises at the table, state as quickly and concisely as possible why you don't eat turkeys, and then if people want more information, tell them you'll be glad to talk with them later. It's not good to talk about meat-eating while people eat meat. It's also likely that you'll be the only one on your side of the discussion, which automatically makes you wrong.
  
• If you don't feel comfortable celebrating with people while they eat a turkey, don't do it.
• If you do feel comfortable going to a turkey-centered feast, bring a delicious vegan meal for yourself to eat and others to taste. See below for ideas!
  

And here are some non-turkey Thanksgiving dishes:

Nut roasts are awesome. And healthy. And make great, filling main course dishes.

• ThisDishIsVeg Nut Roast recipe with photo
• AllRecipes.com recipe with great reviews (no photo)
• VeganEasy recipe that looks both easy and delicious (w/photo)
• MeatoutMondays recipe w/photo

Also a favorite of mine is (anything made with) potatoes.

• MyVeganCookbook's potatoes au gratin (photo made me lick screen)
• C'est La Vegan mashed potatoes
• VegWeb twice-baked potatoes
• VegWeb cheesy potato casserole

Green bean casserole anyone?

• FatFreeVegan green bean casserole

Stuffing can be made vegan.
Any dessert can be made vegan.
Google "vegan Thanksgiving recipes" or "vegan side dishes" or "vegan (insert-what-you're-looking-for-here)." You'll be amazed at the results. And if you need any help (like "What the heck is nutritional yeast?" don't hesitate to ask).

Anything you can do, I can do vegan.*

*Stolen from a Facebook post by Jasmin Singer of Our Hen House.