Anonymous
09/28/2025 10:11
Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Here's a wild idea: have you TOLD THEM YOU ARE VEGETARIAN and asked if you can help make a dish that is vegeetarian? Have groceries delivered when you arrive or the day before (keep it simple) and ask them to put it away and do your stuff when you arrive. Or if you've rented a car, just go get it yourself.
Being direct helps everyone.
Being direct helps everyone.
Anonymous
09/28/2025 10:09
Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
So, this is not a festive take, but most people go plenty of stretches where they skip meals or eat less traditional meals.
Can you just bring some whole fruit (apples, bananas, grapes in tupperware), PBJ, crackers, nuts, bars, etc... and supplement the meal, and/or focus on the sides that definitely do NOT have bacon, like bread/cheese/the one veggie that doesn't have meat like hopefully mashed potatoes, and dessert?
It's one day.
Can you just bring some whole fruit (apples, bananas, grapes in tupperware), PBJ, crackers, nuts, bars, etc... and supplement the meal, and/or focus on the sides that definitely do NOT have bacon, like bread/cheese/the one veggie that doesn't have meat like hopefully mashed potatoes, and dessert?
It's one day.
Anonymous
09/28/2025 09:53
Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please stop with the drama. All the veggie side dishes will not be strewn with bacon. There will be plenty of sides without meat:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Rolls
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole
Pack a peanut butter sandwich when you fly in on Wednesday. Save it for Thursday if you’re still hungry.
Hahaha. You've obviously never been to the South if you think all the veggie dishes will not be strewn with bacon.
+1. My in-laws are Southern. Everything you listed has meat in it, or was made using bacon fat or lard. Whoever keeps posting that sides won't have meat in it needs to get out more.
So offer to help in the kitchen and put some green beans aside or whatever might have meat thrown in at the last minute. I’m not sure everyone’s definition of vegetarian is the same. Pad thai was suggested but that’s not always vegetarian but OP seemed to jump on the idea. But usually the shrimp or fish sauce would rule it out for vegetarians who don’t eat seafood.
OMG if OP orders Pad Thai from a restaurant you do realize she could order a vegetarian version, right?
You’re reallllllly reaching.
Sorry but if you’re going to someone’s house for Thanksgiving and you order your own special meal to be delivered you should just stay home. Why bother?
Do you realize how stupid you sound? No one’s talking about ordering pad Thai. And in any event you do know Thai restaurants serve vegetarian versions of dishes without fish sauce, don’t you?
By your token if the hosts invite someone to a meal where they won’t be able to eat decently then why even bother asking them to come? Grow a brain.
Did you know all the grocery stores are open Thanksgiving morning? This isn’t a problem solved by ordering your own food and eating it in the corner like some weirdo on a family holiday. And yes, people are suggesting ordering food. I don’t lessons on manners from people who would act so ridiculously as a guest in someone else’s home.
Aha! You’re one of those terrible hosts who does what they want without any consideration for their guests, so your opinion can be safely ignored.
Anonymous
09/28/2025 09:35
Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please stop with the drama. All the veggie side dishes will not be strewn with bacon. There will be plenty of sides without meat:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Rolls
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole
Pack a peanut butter sandwich when you fly in on Wednesday. Save it for Thursday if you’re still hungry.
Hahaha. You've obviously never been to the South if you think all the veggie dishes will not be strewn with bacon.
+1. My in-laws are Southern. Everything you listed has meat in it, or was made using bacon fat or lard. Whoever keeps posting that sides won't have meat in it needs to get out more.
So offer to help in the kitchen and put some green beans aside or whatever might have meat thrown in at the last minute. I’m not sure everyone’s definition of vegetarian is the same. Pad thai was suggested but that’s not always vegetarian but OP seemed to jump on the idea. But usually the shrimp or fish sauce would rule it out for vegetarians who don’t eat seafood.
OMG if OP orders Pad Thai from a restaurant you do realize she could order a vegetarian version, right?
You’re reallllllly reaching.
Sorry but if you’re going to someone’s house for Thanksgiving and you order your own special meal to be delivered you should just stay home. Why bother?
Do you realize how stupid you sound? No one’s talking about ordering pad Thai. And in any event you do know Thai restaurants serve vegetarian versions of dishes without fish sauce, don’t you?
By your token if the hosts invite someone to a meal where they won’t be able to eat decently then why even bother asking them to come? Grow a brain.
Did you know all the grocery stores are open Thanksgiving morning? This isn’t a problem solved by ordering your own food and eating it in the corner like some weirdo on a family holiday. And yes, people are suggesting ordering food. I don’t lessons on manners from people who would act so ridiculously as a guest in someone else’s home.
Anonymous
09/28/2025 09:16
Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please stop with the drama. All the veggie side dishes will not be strewn with bacon. There will be plenty of sides without meat:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Rolls
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole
Pack a peanut butter sandwich when you fly in on Wednesday. Save it for Thursday if you’re still hungry.
Hahaha. You've obviously never been to the South if you think all the veggie dishes will not be strewn with bacon.
+1. My in-laws are Southern. Everything you listed has meat in it, or was made using bacon fat or lard. Whoever keeps posting that sides won't have meat in it needs to get out more.
So offer to help in the kitchen and put some green beans aside or whatever might have meat thrown in at the last minute. I’m not sure everyone’s definition of vegetarian is the same. Pad thai was suggested but that’s not always vegetarian but OP seemed to jump on the idea. But usually the shrimp or fish sauce would rule it out for vegetarians who don’t eat seafood.
OMG if OP orders Pad Thai from a restaurant you do realize she could order a vegetarian version, right?
You’re reallllllly reaching.
Sorry but if you’re going to someone’s house for Thanksgiving and you order your own special meal to be delivered you should just stay home. Why bother?
Do you realize how stupid you sound? No one’s talking about ordering pad Thai. And in any event you do know Thai restaurants serve vegetarian versions of dishes without fish sauce, don’t you?
By your token if the hosts invite someone to a meal where they won’t be able to eat decently then why even bother asking them to come? Grow a brain.
Anonymous
09/28/2025 08:25
Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please stop with the drama. All the veggie side dishes will not be strewn with bacon. There will be plenty of sides without meat:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Rolls
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole
Pack a peanut butter sandwich when you fly in on Wednesday. Save it for Thursday if you’re still hungry.
Hahaha. You've obviously never been to the South if you think all the veggie dishes will not be strewn with bacon.
+1. My in-laws are Southern. Everything you listed has meat in it, or was made using bacon fat or lard. Whoever keeps posting that sides won't have meat in it needs to get out more.
So offer to help in the kitchen and put some green beans aside or whatever might have meat thrown in at the last minute. I’m not sure everyone’s definition of vegetarian is the same. Pad thai was suggested but that’s not always vegetarian but OP seemed to jump on the idea. But usually the shrimp or fish sauce would rule it out for vegetarians who don’t eat seafood.
OMG if OP orders Pad Thai from a restaurant you do realize she could order a vegetarian version, right?
You’re reallllllly reaching.
Sorry but if you’re going to someone’s house for Thanksgiving and you order your own special meal to be delivered you should just stay home. Why bother?
Anonymous
09/28/2025 03:51
Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Op here - thank you to those with helpful ideas! I’ll look into some local stores for prepared foods that might work and I’ll keep looking at recipes. (I was not the one who said I would bring pad Thai.)
Anonymous
09/27/2025 23:29
Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Hey OP. Ignore the negativity. For years I was a vegetarian before kids so I get it. Fortunately, I was able to eat around the meat 99% of the time. My ILs are huge meat eaters but usually I could find at least one side dish and a roll. Often there was an appetizer like cheese and crackers or veggies with dip as well. If I suspected a problem, I ate beforehand. I’d ask your host what’s on the menu so you can determine if this will really be an issue. I’d pick up a pie at the store to bring as my contribution. As for something you can eat during the meal if you’ve confirmed there will be no vegetarian options provided, I’d eat before arriving or bring a salad made from the salad bar at WFs.
Anonymous
09/27/2025 21:05
Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please stop with the drama. All the veggie side dishes will not be strewn with bacon. There will be plenty of sides without meat:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Rolls
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole
Pack a peanut butter sandwich when you fly in on Wednesday. Save it for Thursday if you’re still hungry.
Hahaha. You've obviously never been to the South if you think all the veggie dishes will not be strewn with bacon.
+1. My in-laws are Southern. Everything you listed has meat in it, or was made using bacon fat or lard. Whoever keeps posting that sides won't have meat in it needs to get out more.
So offer to help in the kitchen and put some green beans aside or whatever might have meat thrown in at the last minute. I’m not sure everyone’s definition of vegetarian is the same. Pad thai was suggested but that’s not always vegetarian but OP seemed to jump on the idea. But usually the shrimp or fish sauce would rule it out for vegetarians who don’t eat seafood.
OMG if OP orders Pad Thai from a restaurant you do realize she could order a vegetarian version, right?
You’re reallllllly reaching.
This PP is so utterly clueless it's a wonder they know how to get out of the bed in the morning.
Anonymous
09/27/2025 20:51
Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please stop with the drama. All the veggie side dishes will not be strewn with bacon. There will be plenty of sides without meat:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Rolls
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole
Pack a peanut butter sandwich when you fly in on Wednesday. Save it for Thursday if you’re still hungry.
Hahaha. You've obviously never been to the South if you think all the veggie dishes will not be strewn with bacon.
+1. My in-laws are Southern. Everything you listed has meat in it, or was made using bacon fat or lard. Whoever keeps posting that sides won't have meat in it needs to get out more.
So offer to help in the kitchen and put some green beans aside or whatever might have meat thrown in at the last minute. I’m not sure everyone’s definition of vegetarian is the same. Pad thai was suggested but that’s not always vegetarian but OP seemed to jump on the idea. But usually the shrimp or fish sauce would rule it out for vegetarians who don’t eat seafood.
OMG if OP orders Pad Thai from a restaurant you do realize she could order a vegetarian version, right?
You’re reallllllly reaching.
Anonymous
09/27/2025 19:55
Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please stop with the drama. All the veggie side dishes will not be strewn with bacon. There will be plenty of sides without meat:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Rolls
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole
Pack a peanut butter sandwich when you fly in on Wednesday. Save it for Thursday if you’re still hungry.
Hahaha. You've obviously never been to the South if you think all the veggie dishes will not be strewn with bacon.
+1. My in-laws are Southern. Everything you listed has meat in it, or was made using bacon fat or lard. Whoever keeps posting that sides won't have meat in it needs to get out more.
So offer to help in the kitchen and put some green beans aside or whatever might have meat thrown in at the last minute. I’m not sure everyone’s definition of vegetarian is the same. Pad thai was suggested but that’s not always vegetarian but OP seemed to jump on the idea. But usually the shrimp or fish sauce would rule it out for vegetarians who don’t eat seafood.
Anonymous
09/27/2025 19:14
Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please stop with the drama. All the veggie side dishes will not be strewn with bacon. There will be plenty of sides without meat:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Rolls
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole
Pack a peanut butter sandwich when you fly in on Wednesday. Save it for Thursday if you’re still hungry.
Hahaha. You've obviously never been to the South if you think all the veggie dishes will not be strewn with bacon.
+1. My in-laws are Southern. Everything you listed has meat in it, or was made using bacon fat or lard. Whoever keeps posting that sides won't have meat in it needs to get out more.
Anonymous
09/27/2025 19:12
Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
I'd make a grain bowl/salad of some kind. Wild rice/brown rice combo with baked sweet potatoes, chickpeas, salad greens, beets, etc. Maybe a tahini dressing. Something that once made, can be refrigerated and then served at room temp when it's time to eat.
Anonymous
09/27/2025 19:11
Subject: Re:Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Please stop with the drama. All the veggie side dishes will not be strewn with bacon. There will be plenty of sides without meat:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Rolls
Mac & cheese
Green bean casserole
Pack a peanut butter sandwich when you fly in on Wednesday. Save it for Thursday if you’re still hungry.
Hahaha. You've obviously never been to the South if you think all the veggie dishes will not be strewn with bacon.
Anonymous
09/27/2025 19:07
Subject: Vegetarian Thanksgiving dish when traveling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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).
Could you please come back to reality. Every side dish is not going to have bacon mixed in. You and I and OP know that.
My sweet summer child. I’ve had friends in the Midwest who would put meat in everything. The cornbread, the green beans, the mashed potatoes, even the salad was mixed with bacon!
These people exist, and pretending otherwise sets up everyone for disappointment.
OP, you should just get pad Thai delivered.
That sounds lovely. I’ll just eat the pad Thai and nothing else!
Are you ordering enough for everyone? This would be a bad look to order your own separate meal and just eat that in front of everyone.
I think it’s a worse look to invite someone to your house and only offer food they can’t eat. OP would be matching their energy by ordering one serving of restaurant food for herself.