Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - not at all trying to create drama. Just trying to come up with a plan that won’t cause anyone else inconvenience. I do usually bring a dish to serve for everyone - I think bringing just one portion of something for myself is even more awkward. Of course I can just eat a roll or whatever and survive, but also then draws attention and makes others feel awkward. I don’t expect them to bend over backwards at all. I’m looking to bring something with few ingredients, that can be cooked quickly, so I can arrive not-empty-handed and be a good guest AND have something decent to eat.

I should have just asked for a vegetarian thanksgiving main dish that could made quickly with few ingredients. But I thought more context would be helpful.

You’re flying in! NO ONE expects to make anything. The way to be an excellent guest is to stay out of the kitchen before the meal and insist on helping with clean up after the meal.

If you like, you can toss some nice chocolates or special teas in your bag as hostess gift. But please drop the notion that a guest who is flying in is expected to cook a dish.

The problem is OP is vegetarian and is eating Thanksgiving at a heavy-meat laden household and Op would have to survive on only rolls (b/c she said upthread even the veggies have bacon mixed in).

If she doesn't have religious restrictions, ahe can just eat around tge bacon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's one meal. OP should have her Thanksgiving at home before she goes. Just go for the company and not focus on the food that much given all the constraints. Pack granola bars and other things that won't spoil during the flight to have as snacks to get through the day.

What kind of a-hole has a guest with a known dietary restriction fly in to visit and expects them to eat granola bars out in their suitcase?!

Where were you people raised?

Unless it is for religious reasons, vegetarian is not a dietary restriction.

It is a lifestyle choice which is completely different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's one meal. OP should have her Thanksgiving at home before she goes. Just go for the company and not focus on the food that much given all the constraints. Pack granola bars and other things that won't spoil during the flight to have as snacks to get through the day.

What kind of a-hole has a guest with a known dietary restriction fly in to visit and expects them to eat granola bars out in their suitcase?!

Where were you people raised?

Unless it is for religious reasons, vegetarian is not a dietary restriction.

It is a lifestyle choice which is completely different.

lol ok troll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's one meal. OP should have her Thanksgiving at home before she goes. Just go for the company and not focus on the food that much given all the constraints. Pack granola bars and other things that won't spoil during the flight to have as snacks to get through the day.

What kind of a-hole has a guest with a known dietary restriction fly in to visit and expects them to eat granola bars out in their suitcase?!

Where were you people raised?

Unless it is for religious reasons, vegetarian is not a dietary restriction.

It is a lifestyle choice which is completely different.

I mean, observing a religion is also a lifestyle choice. It's just one you choose to judge less harshly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's one meal. OP should have her Thanksgiving at home before she goes. Just go for the company and not focus on the food that much given all the constraints. Pack granola bars and other things that won't spoil during the flight to have as snacks to get through the day.

What kind of a-hole has a guest with a known dietary restriction fly in to visit and expects them to eat granola bars out in their suitcase?!

Where were you people raised?

Unless it is for religious reasons, vegetarian is not a dietary restriction.

It is a lifestyle choice which is completely different.

Agree not a restriction, but still an adult who is not eating anything I don't want to, including bacon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - not at all trying to create drama. Just trying to come up with a plan that won’t cause anyone else inconvenience. I do usually bring a dish to serve for everyone - I think bringing just one portion of something for myself is even more awkward. Of course I can just eat a roll or whatever and survive, but also then draws attention and makes others feel awkward. I don’t expect them to bend over backwards at all. I’m looking to bring something with few ingredients, that can be cooked quickly, so I can arrive not-empty-handed and be a good guest AND have something decent to eat.

I should have just asked for a vegetarian thanksgiving main dish that could made quickly with few ingredients. But I thought more context would be helpful.

You’re flying in! NO ONE expects to make anything. The way to be an excellent guest is to stay out of the kitchen before the meal and insist on helping with clean up after the meal.

If you like, you can toss some nice chocolates or special teas in your bag as hostess gift. But please drop the notion that a guest who is flying in is expected to cook a dish.

The problem is OP is vegetarian and is eating Thanksgiving at a heavy-meat laden household and Op would have to survive on only rolls (b/c she said upthread even the veggies have bacon mixed in).

If she doesn't have religious restrictions, ahe can just eat around tge bacon.

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So here’s my suggestion..in advance see if there is a grocery store open on Thanksgiving. If yes and if you have a car or can uber, go there and get ingredients for a filling fancy salad. Add walnuts or pecans, maybe mix your own dressing, add lots of fruit and veggies. My trick for travel salad is to bring gallon sized zip lock bags, fill/add dressing and shake. If you can’t pack a knife, you can buy a cheap one at the grocery store. If you want to share, buy those aluminum foil pans. If the grocery store has an app, download it. I use the apps as a way of seeing what is in stock. If you are vegan, look for some vegan bread , cheese or other tasty stuff.

Other recipes could be a corn salad. I love corn, mayo, traders joes everything but the elote seasoning-lots of it, cilantro and lime juice. Vegan mayo would well here. If no grocery store is open, pack cans of corn, vegan mayo, a lime, and the seasoning.

I would not go anywhere near the oven on Thanksgiving. An alternative if you really want something cooked would be to use the outdoor grill. Grilled sweet potatoes are amazing. Coat with olive oil, sea salt and honey. Grill. Asparagus and zucchini with olive oil, salt and pepper. Carrots with honey.

Fancy salad…just no.

If you love salad a vegetarian fancy salad is a great meal! I love baby spinach, greens, chopped apples, candied pecans, shredded carrots with a champagne vinaigrette or baby spinach, strawberry, red onions, walnuts and honey vinaigrette, or beets, arugula, greens, feta cheese and olive oil/ balsamic or a salad with quinoa, greens, grilled veggies etc.

Not for thanksgiving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will you have access to an oven? Air fryer? Pressure cooker?
I’d say lentil loaf, get canned lentils and you just chop veg and crumble tofu and grind walnuts. But it needs oven for an hour.
Could roast baby or fingerling potatoes in the air fryer,
Steam haricot vert in the pressure cooker (or steam potatoes and mash if preferred to roasted)

On Thanksgiving you're going to monopolize the oven to make something only one person will eat? You cannot be serious.

OP, bring something you can eat and eat it without comment. You're a guest. You won't starve if all you eat on Thanksgiving is a granola bar, rolls, and pumpkin pie.

+1
This is the classic argument that "it's one day" you'll live.
We tell it to the babies that are sad they won't get their oyster stuffing/creamed onions/pecan pie too.

Why are vegetarians so difficult.

We have serious deadly allergies in our family, and have never made the kind of showy demands vegans and vegetarians like to make

There is no food for them to eat if the host puts meat biproducts or meat in all dishes. How hard is it to have something vegetarian or don’t host.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So here’s my suggestion..in advance see if there is a grocery store open on Thanksgiving. If yes and if you have a car or can uber, go there and get ingredients for a filling fancy salad. Add walnuts or pecans, maybe mix your own dressing, add lots of fruit and veggies. My trick for travel salad is to bring gallon sized zip lock bags, fill/add dressing and shake. If you can’t pack a knife, you can buy a cheap one at the grocery store. If you want to share, buy those aluminum foil pans. If the grocery store has an app, download it. I use the apps as a way of seeing what is in stock. If you are vegan, look for some vegan bread , cheese or other tasty stuff.

Other recipes could be a corn salad. I love corn, mayo, traders joes everything but the elote seasoning-lots of it, cilantro and lime juice. Vegan mayo would well here. If no grocery store is open, pack cans of corn, vegan mayo, a lime, and the seasoning.

I would not go anywhere near the oven on Thanksgiving. An alternative if you really want something cooked would be to use the outdoor grill. Grilled sweet potatoes are amazing. Coat with olive oil, sea salt and honey. Grill. Asparagus and zucchini with olive oil, salt and pepper. Carrots with honey.

Fancy salad…just no.

If you love salad a vegetarian fancy salad is a great meal! I love baby spinach, greens, chopped apples, candied pecans, shredded carrots with a champagne vinaigrette or baby spinach, strawberry, red onions, walnuts and honey vinaigrette, or beets, arugula, greens, feta cheese and olive oil/ balsamic or a salad with quinoa, greens, grilled veggies etc.

Not for thanksgiving.

You’d be surprised! Beet/arugula salad has been a popular addition to our Thanksgiving table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m vegetarian and I would speak up during prep and save some mashed potatoes and green beans from the bacon 🤢

I think if the hosts can’t even leave meat off a few sides, I would feel very unwelcome and reconsider visiting again. This is rude, it’s not like you’re asking for them to skip the turkey.

The only other option if your hosts are going to be super rude is to match their energy: Uber eats or door dash something you can eat and enjoy it at the Thanksgiving table. You can say you’re grateful there’s a Thai restaurant nearby!

I agree that it's rude. We have a meat heavy Thanksgiving AND family members who spend every other Thanksgiving with us. The years they are there, all the sides are made to accommodate vegetarians. No one feels bad and if they do, they make a second version of the dish to have with bacon. This isn't a wedding or something. If you've invited people to your home (and presumably close enough to invite to Thanksgiving), you should consider their dietary restrictions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So here’s my suggestion..in advance see if there is a grocery store open on Thanksgiving. If yes and if you have a car or can uber, go there and get ingredients for a filling fancy salad. Add walnuts or pecans, maybe mix your own dressing, add lots of fruit and veggies. My trick for travel salad is to bring gallon sized zip lock bags, fill/add dressing and shake. If you can’t pack a knife, you can buy a cheap one at the grocery store. If you want to share, buy those aluminum foil pans. If the grocery store has an app, download it. I use the apps as a way of seeing what is in stock. If you are vegan, look for some vegan bread , cheese or other tasty stuff.

Other recipes could be a corn salad. I love corn, mayo, traders joes everything but the elote seasoning-lots of it, cilantro and lime juice. Vegan mayo would well here. If no grocery store is open, pack cans of corn, vegan mayo, a lime, and the seasoning.

I would not go anywhere near the oven on Thanksgiving. An alternative if you really want something cooked would be to use the outdoor grill. Grilled sweet potatoes are amazing. Coat with olive oil, sea salt and honey. Grill. Asparagus and zucchini with olive oil, salt and pepper. Carrots with honey.

Fancy salad…just no.

If you love salad a vegetarian fancy salad is a great meal! I love baby spinach, greens, chopped apples, candied pecans, shredded carrots with a champagne vinaigrette or baby spinach, strawberry, red onions, walnuts and honey vinaigrette, or beets, arugula, greens, feta cheese and olive oil/ balsamic or a salad with quinoa, greens, grilled veggies etc.

Not for thanksgiving.

I’ve taken and served that exact salad to a Thanksgiving meal. Delicious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So here’s my suggestion..in advance see if there is a grocery store open on Thanksgiving. If yes and if you have a car or can uber, go there and get ingredients for a filling fancy salad. Add walnuts or pecans, maybe mix your own dressing, add lots of fruit and veggies. My trick for travel salad is to bring gallon sized zip lock bags, fill/add dressing and shake. If you can’t pack a knife, you can buy a cheap one at the grocery store. If you want to share, buy those aluminum foil pans. If the grocery store has an app, download it. I use the apps as a way of seeing what is in stock. If you are vegan, look for some vegan bread , cheese or other tasty stuff.

Other recipes could be a corn salad. I love corn, mayo, traders joes everything but the elote seasoning-lots of it, cilantro and lime juice. Vegan mayo would well here. If no grocery store is open, pack cans of corn, vegan mayo, a lime, and the seasoning.

I would not go anywhere near the oven on Thanksgiving. An alternative if you really want something cooked would be to use the outdoor grill. Grilled sweet potatoes are amazing. Coat with olive oil, sea salt and honey. Grill. Asparagus and zucchini with olive oil, salt and pepper. Carrots with honey.

Fancy salad…just no.

If you love salad a vegetarian fancy salad is a great meal! I love baby spinach, greens, chopped apples, candied pecans, shredded carrots with a champagne vinaigrette or baby spinach, strawberry, red onions, walnuts and honey vinaigrette, or beets, arugula, greens, feta cheese and olive oil/ balsamic or a salad with quinoa, greens, grilled veggies etc.

Not for thanksgiving.

I’ve taken and served that exact salad to a Thanksgiving meal. Delicious!

Not as the only food they can eat. As a side, yes.

[Anonymous]

My historical go to has been Field Roast Apple & Sage veggie sausage. It's carried at many Walmarts, Target, and Whole Foods so I've been able to source it locally. I've ordered it for grocery delivery in a pinch, sear it in a pan the night before or morning of and reheat in the microwave. It's not exactly a dish to share, but it is a nice Fall-flavored festive main.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Presumably, theres a grocery store between the airport and destination that you'll be stopping at, right?

Can you pick up fresh green beans, rolls, fruit/veggie platter?

Polenta? Corn bread?

These are easy items that don't require much prep or take up refrigerator space .

Those. Make sure you communicate what you're contributing to your family

[Anonymous]

See if you can preorder a few things from a grocery store near where you’ll be. This is seriously going to be your best bet. Easiest, no trying to grapple for space in a crowded hectic kitchen.

You can make a quick quiche that morning and stick it in whatever oven is going, or else make a quick stovetop frittata. You could also make either of those things the night before or early in the day before the host gets going full steam in the kitchen. You could also make your own mashed potatoes and mashed yams using the microwave, and steam some quick veggies like green beans in the microwave to toss with some olive oil and seasoning.

I agree with the suggestion to ask the host to put aside portions of X and Y before the bacon or whatever gets mixed in.