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Taking the
Stress out of Meat-Free Holiday Meals
By Brittany Jones
The Truth Contributor
With the passing of Halloween, the holiday season is in full
effect as our daily surroundings beginning to transform with
lights, fall colors, Christmas decorations, and of course,
holiday commercials. The three F’s of the holiday: Family,
Food and Fun, are prioritized as families begin to plan the
festivities, with a huge emphasis on “what are we going to
eat?”
Turkey, ham, greens, potatoes in every style imaginable,
dressing and gravy, casserole—the list goes on and on as
these have become a staple in most households. However, with
the growing number of those practicing plant-based
lifestyles, these classics are often substituted or
revamped.
Overall, meal planning can be a hassle, especially if you
are the lone veggie soul in the family. Whether this is your
first holiday season as a freshly-minted vegetarian/vegan,
or you have been in the game for several years, holiday
meals are a chance to show that you can be plant-based and
cook satisfying meals for all to enjoy.
As some may know, I have almost 10 years of this lifestyle
under my belt and have prepped my fair share of meals for
gatherings. Over that time, I have learned some tips that
can relieve anxiety and leave everyone basking in the
holiday spirit.
Research dishes on various vegetarian/vegan websites
Unless you are America’s Best Chef and have the time to
create a whole dish from your mind, the internet is your
best friend when it comes to searching for ideas. Just
Googling “vegetarian holiday meals” produces thousands of
websites with recipes galore for whatever cuisine your taste
buds desire. Although there are many widely known sites like
Martha Stewart and The Food Network, I prefer personal blogs
and other small scale sites that lay out the author’s
experience before, during and after making the dish-- it
just seems more personal.
Some sites that I have come across over the years are the
VegetarianTimes.com, Ohsheglows.com (this was
where I learned to make tofu “ricotta” stuffed shells—still
need to master it), Vegkitchen.com, and
Theveggietable.com (my first encounter with making
lentil “meat” loaf). The easiest meal I have prepared was a
veggie lasagna. It’s well-known and you can just load up on
the vegetables, cheese (or veggie cheese (Daiya brand or
nutritional yeast)), and noodles—now you can add veggie
crumbles to resemble ground beef. Do not be overwhelmed, but
know that there is lots to explore and be adventurous with
the drinks, desserts, appetizers, salads, soups, and
entrees!
Be prepared to answer questions, especially if you are just
beginning the lifestyle
When I first started this venture, I usually ate only side
dishes or whipped up something simple like a salad, green
beans or greens without the meat. Tofu was, and still is, a
feat I have yet to conquer, but over time, I began adding
this ingredient to more meals—the key was seasoning of the
tofu.
The more complex the dish, the more questions I had to
answer about ingredients, what benefits they give the body,
and how it was prepared. I did not mind this, and,
coincidentally, heightened the curiosity to learn more about
certain ingredients, spices, and international dishes. I’ve
even loaded my personal library with vegetarian cookbooks
and reference books that expand on the use of particular
vegetables and seasonings. Become an expert on not just
cooking, but also the lifestyle overall.
You cannot please everyone
I was my biggest critic of my dishes when I had to share
with anyone besides my husband. I want people to enjoy what
I prepare and especially since it’s already expected for it
be unappetizing due to the lack of meat, there was extra
pressure to make sure it’s just right. You may have the
highest appreciation for your meal, but differing opinions
exist, and depending on the relationship, it can be harsh.
Luckily, I have not experienced this type of judgment, but
the angst still remains. What is learned is that taste buds
differ. Keep in mind that if a person has not tried a
particular ingredient, it may not be a pleasant experience,
but that should not stop you from attempting other dishes,
which leads to the next point of advice….
Try to challenge your cooking skills
The tofu “ricotta” stuffed shells and lentil “meat” loaf
were challenging dishes to make, not to mention
time-consuming. Finding the ingredients alone was a hassle,
fortunately Kroger’s and Bassett’s Health Foods had majority
of them, but once it was all done, there was pride of
stepping out of my cooking comfort zone.
Focus on one dish, maybe something as simple as a stir-fry
or the lasagna mentioned earlier would be a good start, and
then move up the difficulty as the holidays pass. Be
creative and try new cuisines like Asian or Greek food, but
add your signature touch. If you want to stay within the
soul food category, I would suggest Afro Vegan by
Bryant Terry. This book goes in-depth about Caribbean,
African, and Southern ingredients that holds on to the
traditional family recipes, but with a veggie twist. Cooking
brings joy and if your heart is truly into making people
happy through food, then have faith and reach your culinary
potential!
Most importantly, Have fun!
There is always something new to explore when it comes to
the food landscape. The holidays are meant to bring families
together and celebrate this crazy thing called life. Cooking
is a staple in these affairs. With that in mind, also look
at the holidays as a way to drop some knowledge about begin
plant-based and your experiences thus far (just don’t let it
grow into a holiday clapback session. It’s not that
serious). For the new veg-heads this holiday season, it’s
just one step at a time. Again, have fun and relax! There is
always next year to make your food statement.
Brittany Jones is a local foodie extraordinaire and founder
of Growing Back to Your Roots whose mission is to create an
environment of conscious consumers, where individuals
understand their right to a racially and economically
equitable food system, while also practicing healthier
lifestyle habits. She can be reached at
gb2yr419@gmail.com.
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