47 Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Sides That Even Meat-Eaters Will Love
They’ll never believe that sweet potato casserole is butter-free.
Navigating meals as a vegetarian or vegan can be tricky during the best of times, but it gets a lot trickier during the holiday season. Thanksgiving, especially, is associated with an all-out feast of food with meat at the very center. Traditional dishes like mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie typically involves the use of some animal products (hi, heavy cream!). So, it can be challenging to come up with ideas for vegan Thanksgiving sides that are both delicious and appropriate for the occasion.
Vegan dishes gets a bad rep from carnivores because people assume they're bland, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Not only are they a way to make Thanksgiving dinner that much more tasty, but they can also add a healthy boost to the main meal, says Jana Wolff, RD, LDN, the director of nutrition at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
"You can have [everything from] beautiful side salads with quinoa, cranberries, almonds, olive oil, lemon and fresh sage, to a tray of roasted root vegetables with garlic and rosemary, to a roasted acorn squash stuffed with mushrooms, wild rice, and chestnuts," says Wolff. "The options are colorful, healthful and rich with vitamins and minerals."
Consider sharing these vegan Thanksgiving sides with family and friends so everyone at your celebration can enjoy the bounty. Whether you prefer savory, sweet, or something in between, everyone will be asking for seconds after they've tried these vegan recipes. Plus, they're all so good, guests won't even realize they are vegan. (We promise we won’t tell!)
Meet the expert: Jana Wolff, RD, LDN, is the director of nutrition at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Jenna Appel, RD, is a nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist based in South Florida.
Jasmine Gomez is the Commerce Editor at Women’s Health, where she cover the best product recommendations across beauty, health, lifestyle, fitness, and more. When she's not shopping for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Follow her @JazzeGomez.
Ashley Martens is a Wellness Writer based in Chicago, Illinois. With a digital marketing background and her knowledge of general nutrition and a lifelong passion for all things health and wellness, Ashley covers topics that can help people live happier and healthier lives.
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