Thanksgiving is a holiday that all Americans usually celebrate, regardless of ethnicity, religion or creed. However, there is one thing that has made the day somewhat awkward for people. If you do not eat poultry because you are vegan, or vegetarian, and are invited to someone’s house, graciously accept, but follow theses etiquette guidelines.
1) Be gracious for the invite, and do not give your answer conditionally based on what they are serving. Offer to bring a dish to pass if you are worried that there will be not enough selections for you, but don’t tell them that is why you are doing it.
2) If you do bring something, do not bring anything that is meant to replace or upstage the turkey (or ham if that is what they chose instead). Bring something that could “go either way” as a side dish or something you would eat as a staple.
3) If you are not sure if a dish is 100% completely vegan, do not ask your hosts unless you know they are vegan. People forget they will not explode if one drop of butter or chicken broth enters their system (unless if they have an allergy to it). Just don’t scoop some on your plate with no lecture from you, or try a little bit of it. Afterall, it is the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law, right?
4) If you are a vegetarian who once in awhile partakes in wild caught fish and the rare free range chicken, do not ask your hosts, unless they are foodies and you say it in admiration “Wow! That’s beautiful. Is it wild caught? I ask because the color is outstanding.” Not everyone can afford to buy free range and wild caught isn’t always available at every store.
5) If you are the host, and the guest doesn’t want a particular dish, don’t force them or make them feel guilty.
6) If there is not much on the table that you can eat, make sure you take a second helping of a side dish, and if pressed, just say you are saving room for dessert!
It is all about sharing the meal together and not who ate what.
I have a friend, that in the 12 years I have known him, I only knew he was a vegetarian for the past 2. The reason? He never made a big deal out of it. He could find something on the menu wherever we went. If he didn’t, sometimes he would get a small salad and say that he ate a late breakfast.
Hopefully these tips will help you have a peaceful Thanksgiving!
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