A Recipe For a Family Fight

I agree that it's definitely awkward to be in attendance at Thanksgiving as a vegetarian when your host is unfamiliar to you, or at least not part of your family. I definitely avoid that, when possible. For my family get-togethers, though, I savor the opportunity to talk with my family about buying cruelty-free, free-range turkey (I've gotten my way several times about this now!) if they insist on killing things to eat them. ;) I'd rather push their money toward that niche of the farming industry, if it's going to be spent anyhow. I suppose I'm lucky, however, to have a responsive family and family-in-law. Here I go, counting my thanks already! :)

Everyone's family drives them nuts at times but this is just ridiculous. I have been vegetarian most of my life and I love, love, love Thanksgiving. Food, family, and a healthy dose of spirits is great before the crazed gift giving season. As with most things, ignore the heckling and engage the other person (vegetarian or carnivore) in conversation. It is a great time to catch up with our families.

As a vegetarian, I'd prefer others don't WORRY about what I"m eating or not eating. It is irrelevant. It's a day to give thanks, not hassle and judge and annoyingly tease. I don't want anyone making special dishes at a holiday like this-- there is plenty to eat without turkey. Can we all just CHILL on this one?! Some eat meat, some don't. The thing this country needs to learn is: LIVE AND LET LIVE. Can't a family get together without what someone IS or IS NOT putting in their mouth a problem? Strange and sad.

As a vegetarian, I'd prefer others don't WORRY about what I"m eating or not eating. It is irrelevant. It's a day to give thanks, not hassle and judge and annoyingly tease. I don't want anyone making special dishes at a holiday like this-- there is plenty to eat without turkey. Can we all just CHILL on this one?! Some eat meat, some don't. The thing this country needs to learn is: LIVE AND LET LIVE. Can't a family get together without what someone IS or IS NOT putting in their mouth a problem? Strange and sad.

I can relate. I have been a vegetarian for 20 years now. At first I used to get that look and then the questions poured in. But now my family is very encouraging . My elders have switched to a primary vegetable cusine and brag about their low cholestaral levels. As far as the feast, I bring two vegetarian dishes so that I can make sure I have something to eat. Usually my dishes are the first to go.

We enjoy the Tofurky roast every year for the holiday, and now we are including the "Celebration Roast" by Field Roast as well, which is quite delicious. I disagree completely with Ari, we NEVER "really want to be eating the turkey" at any gathering. We could never again imagine "celebrating" another holiday by consuming the body of a sentient being killed against his or her will.

In our family it is the vegetarian that does the heckling. She recently has become a vegetarian after 60 odd years of being a meat eater. She insists on make comments on our choices of food we serve, but we do accommodate her everytime! FRUSTRATING!! I think I am going to Boycott the holidays.......

I've been a vegetarian over 20 years and back in the day there were no suitable analogs, but now we have Tofurky!!! I am counted on to always bring a Tofurky to our family gathering for myself and kids and anyone else who hasn't tasted it before. Our family and friends usually average about 24 people and we all have a great time.

We enjoy Tofurky every year for the holidays, and now we are also including the Field Roast "Celebration Roast", which is quite delicious. I completely disagree with Ari, we NEVER "really want to be eating the turkey." We could never imagine "celebrating" another holiday by consuming the body of another sentient living being killed against their will.

my boyfriend's mother always makes a vegan 'turkey' dish and his 90 year old grandmother straight out of Germany makes him vegan pies every holiday. there are 3 vegans in our large extended family and we all get along together well!

my addult family is spread all over the country .... so it was a real occation when 4 of them and spouses and kids got to geather.... remembering the youngest always the "drumstick" I ask him if he wanted it this time too.
\He reminded me he had been a veggie for 10 yrs.... wow where does the time go......
Thanksgiving..... is a great time to get togeather... talk.... laugh ... adn eat.... noi mather what it is ...Thanksgiving... hase great sidedishes....mashpoitatos.... esp garlic doesn/t need gravy.... stuffing doesn't have to be sstuffed I was suprised my "Sothern Made" Mother in law... realy liked my dressing.... the recepe ius found on a stovetopstuffing box.....and used preseasened bread and cornbread..... green beans.....celery....olives.... cranvberries...jellied or fresh cooked.... we do both ..... we had a Son in Law introduce deviled eggs........ that was a new one on me .... but hey I like them.... called his moither for the "resc"
The "Vagan" is welcom to bring a dish too,,,, and a good time will be had by all.

I find it offensive that your article attempts to portray that only "women" are vegetarians. I am a 27 year old male who has been a vegetarian for 23 years and I can attest to the fact that it is women ho eat more meat and cook up some of the most despicable "delicasies" ever brought before man.

I take personal offense to your no fatuation without representation article posted here.

Immediately after reading this article I had to say something. I am a former spouse of a vegetarian but a meat eater myself. After remembering back to our previous Thanks Giving day meals I recall that this never seemed to be a problem. With family oriented meals or meals with friends alike it was never an issue. My personal belief in this situation is that I would not worry about what people with half the wit and consideration of a three year old think and surround myself with people who know me and understand my position on the subject. All others need not bother themselves with my personal choices lest they be bothered with theirs. Have a great Thanks-Giving to all!

My Vegan daughter cooks up a bunch of goodies on Thanksgiving from a Tofu-rky to Vegan pumpkin pie & "Vegan Cheesecake" which are both tofu based. Everything she's cooked up in past years has been quite tasty & my son is bringing his Vegan roommate from NYC this year to shae in the bounty. I cook up a yummie real turkey for the omnivores in the family & we celebrate our blessings together. Live & let Live.

I'm surprised that Newsweek would publish an article (by Sarah Kliff ) that was not proofed for spelling and grammatical errors. And having read the comments about accommodating non-meat eaters, I always thought the focus at any Thanksgiving would be the gathering of friends and family regardless of the fare.
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My fiance and I are vegetarians; no one else in our family is. Everyone else has their turkey, and we prepare our own tofurkey, and stuffing prepared outside of the turkey. I don't understand what the big deal is.

My daughter is a Vegan & we get along just fine. She gets a Tofu-rky and makes a tofu based pumpkin pie. In fact she is currently putting together her shopping list & plans to make a tofu based "Vegan Cheesecake" . Most all of what she makes is very tasty, so we've learned to live & let live. My son is bringing his Vegan roommate up to Thanksgiving dinner this year to share in the Vegan Bounty. Oh and I'm cooking a Real Turkey for us non-Vegans !!