Post Updated: November 8, 2024
How about we rename this holiday, “ThanksLiving”? This major holiday in the US is (very) slowly experiencing a makeover on a couple of levels.
First, there’s a burgeoning sensitivity to Native Americans and their plight amid centuries of oppression. For Native Americans, Thanksgiving Day is (understandably) a day of mourning. You can read more here.
Second, increasing numbers of people are choosing compassionate food choices on their celebration table. For my vegan friends and me, we call it ThanksLiving! Let’s celebrate being together and the sanctity of all lives, human and animal.
And there’s no shortage of plant-based food options either! Nutriciously has curated a massive list of options which you can find here. (I recommend subscribing to their newsletter too for good tips yearound.)
Sam Turnbull, the chef from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken (where I get many of my recipes) has curated a suggested list of recipes.
One of my favorite plant-based bloggers is Shane and Simple. Here he offers 11 Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes. Shane’s recipes are generally whole food plant-based, easy and healthy.
If you would like some ideas to have a more compassionate holiday this year (and every year in the future), this short post offers some tips.
And here’s Alicia Silverstone’s well-written take on the holiday including her favorite dishes.
I’m not sure if one or both of my kids will be here this year for the holiday. While my whole family enjoyed the complete ThanksLiving meal I made in 2022, there was some grumbling about it being vegan after the fact. Ha ha ha- they both enjoyed it while they were eating. Just giving me grief.
I told my kids if they come home, it’s a vegan meal and that’s non-negotiable. But, I’m also not married to the idea of a traditional holiday meal either, so we’ll see what everyone wants. And who knows, we might end up at a friend’s house and I’ll bring something wonderful. The most important part is being together, whatever we eat.
Enjoy a safe and compassionate holiday however you choose to celebrate.