Vegetarians Can Enjoy the Flavors of Thanksgiving Too
A Healthier Michigan
| 2 min read
Thanksgiving may be a meat-centric celebration, but the seasonal flavors of this fall holiday lend themselves well to healthy, hearty and wholesome vegetarian –and gluten-free dishes. Ditch the tofurkey and plan a menu with comfort at the core.
For appetizers, try a salad with hearty fall flavors like this shaved brussels sprouts salad with apple, a salad with arugula and roasted butternut squash salad or this apple-centered Honeycrisp fall salad. For a more substantive appetizer that works as a finger food, try these savory sweet potato bites.
When planning a main dish, you don’t have to rely on replacement meat products or plant-based meats. A hearty acorn squash prepared with pesto and bread crumbs is a filling and savory main dish. You can also try lentil stuffed peppers, which use the traditional stuffing concept for a Thanksgiving meal. You could also stuff eggplants, tomatoes or an acorn or butternut squash.
A vegetarian lasagna or casserole with layers of potatoes, eggplant, squash and roasted vegetables can be a vegetarian crowd-pleaser as well. The best part about planning a vegetarian Thanksgiving feast is that out of all the new dishes you might introduce, the side dishes can often go unchanged. Don’t be afraid to steer away from traditional flavors if you want to, like these roasted sweet potatoes with a lemon herb ranch drizzle or these sesame-seared green beans.
For more on making the holiday season healthy, visit AHealthierMichigan.org.
