Do you find it hard to maintain your vegan/vegetarian diet around the holidays?

I've always loved turkey. Other meats, I don't care so much for. After two years, I still struggle with avoiding the turkey at the family diners during holiday season. Does anyone else find it hard to ignore certain meats that you grew up eating? If so, how do you overcome it?Do you find it hard to maintain your vegan/vegetarian diet around the holidays?
I remember,when I first went vegetarian,about 18 years ago,it was a little bit hard having Thanksgiving dinner with out the turkey. I think that this is natural. We're giving up all we've been taught since we first started eating solid foods. It is a little difficult for awhile. Another thing that's also a hard,are your first BBQ's,when everyone is eating BBQ'd chicken,burgers,hot dogs,etc.

It does get easier,I promise. I've been vegetarian for over 18 years,as I said, and a vegan for the last 6. I have learned how to have gorgeous Thanksgiving,BBQ's,Christmas,birthday,et鈥?meals. The biggest tip I can give you on how to get through these meals sane,full and happy is to take control of things for yourself. Never,and I mean NEVER expect someone else to think about you and your diet for you. You have to plan everything for yourself. Figure out what you will want to eat and make it.

I have been living in Denmark the last 2 years,and I'm still a vegan. I have learned, even more so,not to expect people to cook for me,unless they invite me over for a quiet dinner,just my husband and me,and even then,I still can't expect anything. People here don't always know what a vegetarian diet is,or what they can make,let alone for a vegan.I have had to bring anything from my own birthday cake to a tofu quiche for an extended family Christmas gathering. This is a necessity,because,here in Denmark,all they eat for Christmas is pickled fish,ham and lots and lot of cheese,not a single vegetable,unless you count pickled beets and tomato slices.



I have so many recipes for you,but they're quite extensive. You can go to VegetarianTimes.com and look up Thanksgiving meals,they have a special section for it. Or,you can go to Google.com and type in "vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes" and you will have lots and lots to choose from. Make as much food as you're capable of-me,I've been known to bring no less than 6 dishes to a potluck,but that's not necessary.

At least,since you're vegetarian,you can still eat the mashed potatoes they have there and the pumpkin pie,etc,with out worrying about making your own.

Get creative,have fun with it,and think about it as you're starting your own traditions. Make food that's so good,everyone else is going to want some,too. I've made a tofu roast that's so good my in-laws have seconds every year-and they had never had tofu before I moved here.

Be passionate about your beliefs(with out preaching or making people uncomfortable),be passionate about your lifestyle and you'll be surprised at what can happen. I've turned people I never expected on to vegan food.



Also,ignore the others when they wave a turkey leg in your face and make comments on how good it is,even though the urge to shove it where the sun don't shine takes you over. It's really not worth the fight. Just smile and say the serenity prayer (even if you're not religious,it really helps). Good luck and hope you find some great recipes that inspire you.

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.
this year will be my first thanksgiving being a vegetarian.



it will be hard especially because most of my family doesnt know im a vegetarian and they wont approve.



it will be hard not having the turkey and ham but i just remember why im a vegetarian and how that animal was treated. that it used to have blood flowing through its vains and a beating heart. and i remember how its life must have been short and tourched... then i have no problem not diving into that hamDo you find it hard to maintain your vegan/vegetarian diet around the holidays?
I'm a vegetarian and I really like bacon and chicken, so I tend to eat fake meats.

Morning star brand is pretty realistic :) I like it.

good luck.
I cook something special. That way, it is still a food event to look forward to, but it's not focused on the meat I'm not going to eat. I love anything with pumpkin in it, so I think this year I'm going to make something like Mexican Pumpkin Lasagna or something. Yum!Do you find it hard to maintain your vegan/vegetarian diet around the holidays?
I don't bother fighting it, I follow the Buddha's philosophy on vegetarianism which allows meat-eating at feasts. However, I do try to reduce my intake; I can't see any reason other than obstinance to kill yourself over the holidays for this. You maintain the health benefits of vegetarianism even if you cheat a few times a year, and, well, the animal's already dead. -Importantly- your eating it in a feast situation is not likely to cause the death of more animals.



Hmm, a thought to counteract the dead animals: ask your friends and family members to try to substitute fake meat in what dishes it goes well. In my family, stuffed pasta is made with texturized vegetable protein (instead of ground meat) for everyone, not just the vegetarians among us. We all eat it, we all love it, and nothing died!



And yes, I know the Naziterians are going to rip me to shreds for this blasphemy ;)
My family is Adventist, so no, lol.
Why deny yourself. I certainly will not think less of you if you partake of turkey twice a year.
No. I plan an alternative main dish for myself which is also festive. For example over the thanksgiving weekend I had a Stuffed Pumpkin instead of Turkey. I'm not sure what I'll do for xmas yet, probably something with apples and cranberries.



If you are eating with family bring extra of your dish to share with everyone. Also ensure whatever sides are cooked aren't in butter or include animal products. My mom doesn't mind ensuring the sides are vegan :-)
I did, but I successfully broke my food addictions. Some people recommend going 'cold turkey' :) , but I prefer a slightly less severe approach. You need to understand that foods are addictive as described by Dr. Neal Barnard.



I now recognize that I'm mostly vegan and consciously eat very little animal protein products. I do give myself permission to eat bad food at any time, but I also recognize that I will eat this bad food in very small quantities and on very rare occasions like Thanksgiving. That can be very difficult. It's like a smoker who only smokes one cigarette/ two cigarettes per day. You are teasing yourself if you do it daily. Give yourself permission to eat bad food anytime, but stop yourself most of the time. This will be positive reinforcement. Never have a hard rule, because that will inevitably lead to failure.



I'll sample all the courses in when I am invited to a dinner party, but I eat almost all vegetables. I sometimes go a month without eating any animal protein and I now lack the cravings for cheese and meat that I had before.