When thinking of Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to mind is the overload of food that will be placed on the table, specifically, the turkey. Although for some people, eating a turkey isn’t normal to them. Being a vegetarian or vegan on Thanksgiving can be difficult because most of the food on the table is inedible to people with that type of diet.

For some, eating everything but the turkey and maybe a few other things, is normal, but for others, Thanksgiving can be a little more extravagant. Finding alternatives for the “normal” Thanksgiving food can be a journey. Trying to decide what tastes good and what flavors are the best is only the beginning of figuring out what to get or make. Different brands known for their fake meat and other vegan versions of food are Gardein, Tofurky, Field Roast, and many more. There is also the option of making a personalized version of the traditional Thanksgiving food. With a simple search on the internet, thousands of recipes can appear, like pumpkin and mushroom pot pie, vegetable stew, vegetarian shepherd’s pie, and more.

“As vegetarianism becomes more mainstream, it’s easier to provide delicious Thanksgiving dishes that can be enjoyed by both vegetarians and meat eaters,” said Rebecca Cardamone, the primary chef among her family on Thanksgiving. During Thanksgiving, seeing a giant turkey in the middle of the table isn’t anything unordinary, but it doesn’t mean that it’s necessary.