Thanksgiving is a time to spend with your friends and family. It’s also a really good time to eat –  especially amazing vegan recipes!

We’ve assembled some popular dishes to help you craft the perfect vegan Thanksgiving meal!

Vegan “Turkey”

Make this vegan dish the centerpiece of your

 Thanksgiving dinner. The recipe from The Hidden Veggies is juicy and roasted to

 perfection. This holiday main is made from vital wheat gluten and garbanzo beans (or tofu) mixed with a turkey flavored broth.

Recipe: https://thehiddenveggies.com/vegan-turkey/ 

Vegan Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy

Of course, if you’re having vegan turkey, gravy is a must. Gravy also goes hand-in-hand with mashed potatoes. This vegan recipe from Naturally Zuzu  adds a new spin on classic mashed potatoes and gravy by adding vegan meatballs made from mushrooms and lentils and a mushroom-based gravy. It’s a tasty triple threat for sure!

Recipe:https://www.vegandinner.net/recipe/vegan-meatballs-and-mashed-potatoes-with-mushroom-gravy-by-245f0fc8/ 

Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

One of the biggest reasons some struggle with evolving from vegetarianism to vegan is their love of cheese. But, as we all know, there are some great cheese alternatives.

These vegan scalloped potatoes from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen use nutritional yeast to give them that delicious cheesy taste. 

Recipe: https://www.karissasvegankitchen.com/vegan-scalloped-potatoes/

Cranberry Moscow Mule

Because Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy yourself with your friends and family, drinks are definitely a must. Here’s a refreshing cocktail from Go Dairy Free. What’s more festive than a cranberry spiked Moscow Mule?

Recipe: https://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/cranberry-moscow-mule 

Vegan Chocolate Pie

Save room for dessert? End your vegan Thanksgiving festivities with a nice chocolatey decadent dessert. This silky-smooth textured pie recipe from Forks Over Knives comes from an expected ingredient: steamed acorn squash. Just another thing you won’t have to worry about missing out on this year! 

Recipe: https://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/vegan-desserts/chocolate-pie/ 

Whether you’re a veteran at throwing a vegan Thanksgiving feast, or a newbie learning the nuances to a great vegan spread for family and friends, these recipes can get you started.  Do you have a dish that’s a must on your list each Thanksgiving?  Share it with us on our Facebook or Instagram.  Our mouths are already watering as we head toward more holidays!

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When you become vegan, it may feel like you’re adopting an all-or-nothing lifestyle. In certain regards, that’s true! By definition, veganism involves zero consumption or use of animal products or byproducts. It’s not always abundantly clear, however, which foods and products are truly vegan and which are not. Many vegans can recount times in which they have accidentally eaten meat or a meal that involved animal byproducts.

What Should I Do If I Accidentally Eat Meat as a Vegan?

• Don’t Panic
• Drink Water
• Manage Any Food Sensitivity
• Refocus Food Consumption
• Maintain Vegan Nutrition

Starting a vegan family?  Learn about vegan prenatal vitamins here

Don’t Panic

More acute than any other effect may be the feeling of psychological distress after unintentionally eating animal flesh or an animal byproduct. Panic may be the first thing you want to do, especially if you don’t feel like the lapse was your choice. Understand that a momentary slip doesn’t mean that you aren’t vegan anymore. Give yourself some grace and try to think positively about the ways you can get back on track moving forward.

Manage Any Sensitivity

Very few people are allergic to meat, but many vegans do report symptoms of food sensitivity when meat is accidentally introduced into their diets. Sensitivity can include symptoms as mild as headaches and irritability and as inconvenient as bloating, gassiness, or heartburn. If you do experience sensitivity, drink plenty of water, and typically, any symptoms usually subside within a few hours. Taking a digestive aid or doing something lightly active like taking a walk may also help alleviate discomfort sooner rather than later. In most cases, your body will process the animal product appropriately, even if you’re experiencing mild discomfort. If you find that you are one of the rare people who does experience an allergic reaction, take appropriate measures to consult a physician or emergency doctor to manage your symptoms.

Keep Nutrition Top of Mind

If intense cravings and subsequent lapses are frequent occurrences for you, you may need to look to your overall nutrition for answers. When all of your nutritional needs are met, cravings for “forbidden” foods are often less severe and less frequent. Make sure that you’re aware of the nutrients that are harder to come by for vegans, and take extra measures to include them in your diet on a regular basis, whether by finding new recipes or by making a supplement part of your routine. Maintaining a state of optimum nutrition through nutrient-dense plant-based foods and supplements will keep your body strong and capable despite any setbacks in your diet. 

Pick Up Where You Left Off

Above all else, know that your momentary detour from veganism doesn’t mean that you can’t jump right back into that lifestyle with dedication and excitement. In the grand scheme of things, an accident or two will not negatively impact the benefits of a plant-based diet. Remind yourself of the reasons you started. Remain consistent and feel confident that your choice to maintain a plant-based lifestyle will keep you healthy and happy in the long run regardless of a mishap or two.

The post What Should I Do If I Accidentally Eat Meat as a Vegan? appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

The holidays can feel like a particularly fraught time of year – especially if you’re concerned that the menu at your holiday get-together won’t include vegan-friendly options. Between Aunt Margie peddling her holiday cheesecake and Uncle Dave insisting that no one can celebrate properly without a bite of Christmas ham, holidays may feel hopeless. While many aspects of celebrating with family and friends who have different values may be out of your control, the following tips aren’t. Here are five ways to make this holiday season a little less uncomfortable.

Here’s our Holiday Survival Guide for Vegans

Plan Ahead

Take the stress out of uncomfortable day-of surprises by discussing your needs with your family in advance. Doing so will not only help you feel more at ease, but it will help the person in charge of the holiday menu feel much more comfortable as well – after all, the purpose of working hard to create a holiday feast is so that it can be enjoyed by all. At the very least, you may avoid the surprised reactions or off-the-cuff inquisitions, and at the very best, those that you’re celebrating with will have time to make more inclusive arrangements.

Be Prepared

One of the hardest things around the holidays is the collision of values that can occur with some of the people we love most. Simple questions can easily feel like interrogations, and it can be tempting to feel hurt or offended if a family member or old friend can’t come around to seeing your point of view. Combat uncomfortable questions and potential escalations by being prepared. Be cognizant of the questions that might arise about your decision to live a vegan lifestyle, and practice answers that will make you feel cool, collected, and confident.

Eat Ahead

If you’re not confident that your needs will be accommodated at a gathering, don’t risk getting “hangry”. Not only will filling up ahead of time save you from uncomfortable hunger pangs, but it may also save you from temptation if there’s a non-vegan dessert or dish that you simply can’t resist on an empty stomach.

Bring a Dish

One of the best ways to ensure that you’re included in the festivities is to contribute a dish of your own. Find a recipe so good that your friends and family will hardly believe it’s vegan, or whip up a vegan take on a family favorite. Sharing is caring, after all, and there’s nothing quite like sharing good food with loved ones to make the holidays bright.

Focus on Loved Ones

Of all the activities that happen over the holidays, the one most highly anticipated by 83% of Americans is spending time with family and friends. If your diet or lifestyle is a point of contention with family, move the conversation to some common ground. Now may not be the time to convince your loved ones to become vegans, but it is the perfect time to spend time together and enjoy each others’ company.

Is there a tip we missed? Contact us and let us know! Then check out our line of quality vegan products and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the latest nutritional tips, tricks, recipes, and scientific news.

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