Are you looking for something different this coming Thanksgiving? Do you want to give back and help your children see a different perspective? Then do we have the complete opposite Thanksgiving for you!
Turkey Day with a Twist
Thanksgiving always revolves around a turkey, right? Getting it thawed in time, prepping the bird and getting it in the oven is quintessential to a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Basting and checking it’s temp throughout the day, along with prepping all the side dishes and pies is no small feat. But what if instead of slaving over the oven all day, you had more time to spend with family and friends? The latter option would be a reality if you wanted to cook a vegan or vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner!
There are plenty of options to make a “turkey” roast, whether you make it homemade or buy a popular soy loaf that you pop into the oven. A lot of prep work goes out the window on the day of, even if you choose to make a homemade loaf. These recipes are often relatively easy and fast to assemble, and some recipes can even be made the night before, so all you have to do is pop them into the oven on Thanksgiving day. The sides you make can all vary, whether you want to do a full-blown vegan menu or still have sides with dairy and meat is all up to you! Most people will agree that the turkey is by far the hardest part of any Thanksgiving dinner, so replacing it with something faster and just as delicious takes a huge amount of time off your plate, which can be used to focus on the sides or sitting and relaxing with friends and family.
Visiting a Turkey
Another new tradition you can add to Thanksgiving is visiting a farm with rescued turkeys! Your kids may really enjoy this experience, as it can help them get out into nature and see more animals. These birds are typically rescues from a slaughterhouse, but there may be smaller, local farms that raise turkeys for meat and offer tours and visits. However and whichever facility you want to visit is up to you! It is always a grounding experience meeting animals and seeing firsthand where our food comes from. You can visit on Thanksgiving day if the facility or farm is open, or you can plan your visit earlier or later in the week so it’s still close to the holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Katie Kyzivat