Vegan Holiday Survival Tips

As the holidays approach, many vegans, especially those new to the lifestyle, tremble at the thought of visiting their omnivorous relatives and friends. “What do you mean you don’t eat meat? What do you eat? How do you get enough protein?” are just some of the inevitable questions we confront at holiday parties.

To answer the protein question, please see our recent blog The Protein Myth. Please read on for 3 survival strategies for vegans during the holiday season.

Vegan Holiday Tips

1. Avoid proselytizing. Holiday parties are usually not the place to break out your photos of factory farms. If others are curious about your new lifestyle, answer questions to the best of your ability. Remember, even if you are outnumbered (you may find yourself the only vegan in the room), there are millions of other healthy and happy people who embrace a vegan diet.

2. Be prepared. When invited to parties where you think the vegan food will be in short supply, you can politely let the host or hostess know of your vegan lifestyle and ask if there will be anything you can eat. If appropriate, offer to bring a dish to share. This has the added benefit of introducing others to delicious plant based cuisine. Desserts are an especially effective way to introduce folks to the pleasures of the vegan table. When in doubt, you can always eat your fill before you go to the party, pack a couple of energy bars or trail mix, and content yourself on a salad or whatever other vegan foods happen to be available.

3. Smile like you mean it. Demonstrate through your demeanor that your choice in lifestyle is working for you. Being positive and compassionate – Its contagious!

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Pumpkin Pie with Dairy-free Maple Whip – Vegan Thanksgiving Feast

From appetizer to dessert follow the trail each day to a scrumptious, compassionate Vegan Thanksgiving Feast!  Each day this week we’ll offer you another recipe or two to add to your holiday menu plan.  Make this a Thanksgiving to remember with recipes from  Vegan Fusion World Cuisine …recipes that will tantalize your taste buds, stimulate your senses and just plain make you feel good!

Vegan Holiday Menu

( click the links for the entire feast )

Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms ( Monday )
Organic Mixed Green Salad with Toasted Pecan Vinaigrette ( Tuesday )
Blue Corn Crusted Tempeh with Shiitake Mushroom Gravy ( Wednesday )
Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pilaf ( Thursday )
Cranberry Sauce ( Thursday )
Pumpkin Pie with Dairy-free Maple Whip ( Friday )

Pumpkin Pie with Dairy-free Maple Whip

20 min prep / 1 hour cooking + pumpkin cooking time / 9” pie

1 pre-made 9” Pie Crust
1 medium Pumpkin (1 ¾ C cooked)
¾ C Almond butter
¼ C Soy milk
¼ C Maple syrup
¼ C Sucanat or organic sugar
3 Tbl Molasses
2 Tbl Arrowroot powder
½ tsp Vanilla extract
¼ tsp Cardamom powder
¼ tsp Allspice powder
¼ tsp Nutmeg, ground
1/8 tsp Clove powder

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cut pumpkin in half and remove the seeds. Place face down on a well oiled or parchment paper lined baking pan. Bake until a knife easily goes through the skin and the flesh of the pumpkin, approximately 45 minutes.
2. Scoop out 1 ¾ C pumpkin, place in food processor or blender with remaining ingredients and process or blend until smooth.
3. Pour mixture into pie crust and bake until top is firm to touch, approximately 1 hour. Filling may puff up and rise above crust line as it bakes. It will fall back down as it cools.

Dairy-free Maple Whip

12.3 oz Silken tofu
3 Tbl Maple syrup or agave nectar, or to taste
2 tsp Lemon juice, fresh squeezed
½ tsp Vanilla extract
Pinch Cardamom powder
Pinch Cinnamon powder

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth.

This concludes of Vegan Thanksgiving Feast series.  Enjoy creating your healthy, happy Thanksgiving meal.

Here are the links to all the recipes:

Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms ( Monday )
Organic Mixed Green Salad with Toasted Pecan Vinaigrette ( Tuesday )
Blue Corn Crusted Tempeh with Shiitake Mushroom Gravy ( Wednesday )
Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pilaf ( Thursday )
Cranberry Sauce ( Thursday )