Anonymous
Post 10/04/2025 20:04     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
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
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2025 20:02     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
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!


Most vehetarians are lifestyle choices, not religious or health/allergy choices.

For one meal, they can go with the flow.
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2025 20:01     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:We are flying for Thanksgiving for the first time to be with family we usually aren’t with. I’m vegetarian.

Usually where we go most things are veg friendly except the turkey, and I make a substantial additional main dish to be shared.

The house we are going to will be very meat heavy (sausage in the stuffing, bacon in the veggies…) I’m generally happy to cook but we are flying in late Wednesday and will have limited use of a kitchen on Thursday morning.

What can I make quickly in limited space??


If your vegetarianism is just a lifestyle choice as opposed to a religiius choice, can't you just pick the bacon out of the greenbeans and fill up on bread, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes?
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2025 15:39     Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
OP, how long is your flight?

I like the idea of a frozen vegetable quiche in a good cooler. There's always a chance of plane delays, but even so in a good cooler it should stay temperature safe for many hours. That's if you think your hostess will have room to cook it.

Otherwise, what about something that will cook in a crockpot? Here's a butternut squash/sweet potato/apple dish: all things you can pack on the plane without needing refrigeration. Then just cut up and assemble the next day. Seems pretty seasonal.

https://www.reddit.com/r/slowcooking/comments/1gfa3tz/hi_i_am_looking_for_a_crockpot_veggie_side_for/

I would also bring some mixed nuts in the shell and a nice bowl/nutcracker for after dinner. That can be your dessert if there's lard in all the pies.

I got this one as a hostess gift last Thanksgiving - it was a big hit with the children.
https://www.amazon.com/Wooden-Bowl-Nutcracker-Set/dp/B01NBDV2A1








Anonymous
Post 10/04/2025 07:33     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
You can make a Brussels sprout salad — you could pack the shredded Brussels sprouts and other ingredients into plastic bags and assemble when you get there. You can make the dressing when you arrive, or pack it in a sealed container in your bag.

America’s Test Kitchen has a great recipe.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 15:07     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
What about a cheese and spinach casserole. It's one of my favorite sides at Thanksgiving and we are not a vegetarian family. Super easy to make, filling and most people will enjoy it.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 14:46     Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do you think the hosts won’t ensure there are vegetarian friendly options? Do they know you are vegetarian and just not care/are they poor goats?


Hosts not goats

Well, adding goats to this situation would make for a much more interesting Thanksgiving
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 13:14     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure OP made arrangements with the host to use the kitchen because they acknowledge they can't accommodate her. Not everything needs to be spelled out in such detail. Obviously it would be very silly for OP to show up with groceries demanding to use the kitchen, without ever having told them she doesn't eat meat.


I’d assume this too but I would be very wary of the host either changing their mind or getting grumpy about OP being in the kitchen despite the offer.


+1
Things are going to get frantic. They're going to resent the OP stepping in with her carrot mushroom moussaka or whatever. OP let us know how it goes. (Team Pad Thai)
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 11:39     Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
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.


This is what i would do. And add chick peas, other beans, dried cranberries, or roasted sweet potatoes or squash if I could to round it out.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 11:37     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure OP made arrangements with the host to use the kitchen because they acknowledge they can't accommodate her. Not everything needs to be spelled out in such detail. Obviously it would be very silly for OP to show up with groceries demanding to use the kitchen, without ever having told them she doesn't eat meat.


I’d assume this too but I would be very wary of the host either changing their mind or getting grumpy about OP being in the kitchen despite the offer.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 11:35     Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
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.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 10:28     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Just buy something. I’ve been the only vegetarian for decades at my family’s and then at my deep-south IL’s. Not a big deal unless you make it one. People can be weird about hosting vegetarians, but you can’t control others.

Partake in appetizers. Eat a salad and a roll or two with dinner. Pack snacks.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 10:10     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
OP says "limited use of a kitchen" so no, she can't hog the oven with a nut loaf that needs to be roasted at the same time a turkey is in the oven, but sounds like she can prep something early to be served later. This isn't that hard.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 08:22     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
I'm pretty sure OP made arrangements with the host to use the kitchen because they acknowledge they can't accommodate her. Not everything needs to be spelled out in such detail. Obviously it would be very silly for OP to show up with groceries demanding to use the kitchen, without ever having told them she doesn't eat meat.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 07:43     Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:
I would hate it, OP, if you were to arrive and ask to use my kitchen.



+1000. I'd rather you give me a reminder that you are a vegetarian in advance than show up Weds night with GROCERIES and a plan to cook something.

I would never expect guests flying in on Weds night to provide food. They could be helpful other ways on Thursday, but that's about it.

Also, if this is your family SPEAK UP. If it's in-laws, tell your partner to SPEAK UP.