Are you looking forward to the holidays this year? Or are you afraid you'll end up with a plate full of side dishes again? Well, this year, treat yourself or your family members who are vegetarian to their own tasty entree. Who knows, Meat Loaves in Puff Pastry might just become a holiday tradition!

Over at the Good Karma Cafe, we realized that many people may want to eat or serve meatless meals, but they don't know where to begin, aside from fixing a bunch of vegetables and salads. To help guide you in the care and feeding of your vegetarian loved ones this holiday season, we've compiled the following helpful tips:

TIPS FOR FEEDING VEGETARIANS

BE FLEXIBLE WITH SIDES
Many side dishes you make can be easily made vegetarian, with little difference in taste. For example, you can substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth, or simply leave the meat or meat drippings out of vegetables and soups. This will also cut down on the fat content.

MAKE SPECIAL VERSIONS
It's usually not too much trouble to divide portions of some dishes, making one of them meatless. My father used to make me special baked beans, cornbread dressing, hush puppies, beans, and lots of other stuff without onions, so I guess I'm used to this way of thinking. (Much to my friends chagrin!)

ASK WHAT YOUR LOVED ONES EAT
Don't assume that a vegetarian will eat eggs, fowl, fish, or even dairy. Your best bet is to ask people what they do eat. Vegetarianism means something different to everyone, and if you ask, your loved one will know you care enough to make sure that they enjoy the holiday, too.

BUT DON'T ASSUME THEY DON'T EAT GOOD STUFF
Some people err on the side of being too cautious when it comes to preparing dishes for vegetarians. For example, my husband doesn't eat eggs, but he does eat dairy, sugar, regular flour, etc. Sometimes people feel as if they have to give him a sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-less cake when all he doesn't eat is eggs! And here's a tip: most flavors of Blue Bell Ice Cream do not contain eggs. (Read the label.)

DON'T BE JUDGEMENTAL
The holidays are a special time of year when forgiveness and understanding should rule the day, don't you think? With this in mind, please try not to be judgemental of what people you love choose to eat. (This goes for vegetarians, too!) Many a holiday meal has been ruined unnecessarily by debating lifestyle choices. It means nothing about you if your family member or friend eats differently than you.

GET HELP WITH THE COOKING
If preparing something vegetarian is just beyond you, enlist the vegetarian guest to prepare something special and to make enough so that others can have a bite. Who says Thanksgiving means turkey and Christmas means ham EVERY year? Let people experiment and bring something new for a change. After all, this time is for people, not food!

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, love and merriment ...Kristi

Return to the Holiday Pod
for more delicious treats!

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