I come from a small extended family, and when I became a vegetarian, the
irritation reached critical mass. Fortunately, the 3 veg members of the
family managed to design a potluck style holiday meal that ended up
pleasing everyone. Having several dishes brought by relatives tremendously
relieves the stress on the host, and gives you a nice oblique way to handle
the vegetarian options. A main dish veg pilaf will also serve nicely as a
side dish for the SAD eaters, and if someone else brings a vegetable dish
and a ff salad dressing as an option, the Thanksgiving Day table will both
look "normal" and offer a vegetarian meal. Check out the Thanksgiving
issues of Vegetarian Times (or Bon Appetit and Gourmet, if you are secure
in adapting recipes) to find dishes that coordinate well, and exchange them
with the other people bring food. Our Thanksgivings are more relaxed now
than they ever used to be, and we actually get to see the host before
dinner!
Also, if you can locate one traditional family recipe that meets the vlf
requirements, even if it's just a special cranberry sauce, make a point of
bringing it every year. If relatives realize that you are just eating
differently and not divorcing yourself from the family, they will relax.
Anne Cox
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