Vegan Survival Tips for Thanksgiving

Some people know Chloe Coscarelli as a winner on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, but the young chef has made an even bigger name for herself in vegan circles. Her approach to the meat-free lifestyle is friendly and spirited; just check out her upbeat Instagram profile. A vegetarian since childhood and a vegan since high school, Coscarelli’s second cookbook, Chloe’s Vegan Italian Kitchen, was released this fall and nominated for PETA’s Libby Award for Best Vegan Cookbook. This Thursday won’t be the easiest day for those forgoing animal products, so we asked Coscarelli to share her Thanksgiving advice with fellow vegans.

GIVE THANKS FOR SUPPORTIVE FAMILY MEMBERS
For my first vegan Thanksgiving, my mom made a completely vegan meal for everyone. She served a meatloaf, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy, roasted caramelized veggies, apple strudel, pumpkin pie and a chocolate cheesecake. Sounds good, right? We all polished our plates.

ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE’S REQUESTS
I will be with my family this Thanksgiving and we will eat all the classic dishes, but veganized. My dad, being Italian, has requested we add some pasta, so we will make my butternut squash lasagna and maybe some garlic bread. Why not?

FOCUS ON SIDE DISHES
Thanksgiving is a meat-centric holiday, but the sides are so darn good. Almost any side dish, from stuffing to mashed potatoes and veggies, can be made vegan by using olive oil, vegan margarine, vegetable broth, or non-dairy milk in the recipe. Grilled or sautéed portobello mushrooms are also a good stand-in for meat.

THINK “MEAT” LOAF
If you need a main course, vegan meatloaves are easy to make and can be made a day in advance. They are very hearty, especially when smothered in gravy.

COOKING? PLAN AHEAD
Send an e-mail to your guests encouraging them to let you know of any food allergies or aversions. If everyone doesn’t respond, a good variety of dishes is always a safe bet. Grocery stores are full of good, pre-made vegan entrées and side dishes, so don’t be afraid to mix and match homemade recipes and store-bought items to make sure there is something for everyone on the table. And, of course, back it up with a really great dessert (or two!).

ATTENDING? PLAN AHEAD
If you’re headed to a small gathering, tell the host or hostess ahead of time that you’re vegan. I would hate to have someone prepare food that I couldn’t eat, but I’ve found there is almost always something that works. Plus many people enjoy the challenge of cooking for a vegan and like to show off the vegan dishes they prepared.

NOT SURE ABOUT A DISH? INQUIRE POLITELY
The key word here is “politely.” If there is a particular dish that I think may be vegan, I politely ask if it contains butter, dairy, chicken stock, etc. When I explain that I am vegan, people are more than happy to tell me what items do not contain any animal products.

AT THE LEAST, BRING SOMETHING SWEET
I always bring a dessert to someone’s home because that won’t interfere with whatever they have planned. If the host has specifically asked me to bring a main dish, then I will bring something that I know everyone can enjoy.

START YOUR OWN TRADITIONS
One Thanksgiving I integrated some Indian food because it is hearty and so flavorful. It was a really nice addition and was ideal for me, since I don’t really like to play by the rules. And my mom and I love my Coconut Mashed Yams with Currants. 

GIVE THANKS FOR SUPPORTIVE FAMILY MEMBERS, AGAIN
I was very lucky in that my parents were 100 percent supportive about me going vegan. They set the tone for our friends and family; there was no teasing or “she’ll outgrow this” sort of talk. Everyone bent over backwards to try to accommodate me and I appreciated it so much.

More vegan goodness:
Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes
Vegan Pad Thai
Vegan Quickbread with Dates and Walnuts

Would you forgo Thanksgiving turkey for your favorite vegan?