| Lately the trend in vogue is going vegetarian | | | | party and celebrate this festival with |
| and sparing thousands of poor souls the | | | | friendly food and resources at their display |
| brutal onslaught at the slaughter houses, to | | | | to choose from. In fact vegetarian |
| serve as delectable dishes for the occasion | | | | Thanksgiving can be a glamorous affair taking |
| and delight the appetite of the guests | | | | into consideration that being vegetarian is |
| invited. PETA along with the fervent efforts | | | | now in rage for the fact that is the best way |
| made by many organizations has raised the | | | | to show your compassion towards the animals |
| awareness of the public and interestingly | | | | as well as living healthy, keeping ailments |
| encouraged them to tread on the path of | | | | such as heart disease, cancer, strokes, |
| trendy vegetarianism or prompted them to go | | | | diabetes as well as food poisoning at bay. In |
| all vegan, despite Thanksgiving being marked | | | | 1998, growing awareness about the unhealthy |
| out in the American calendar as a | | | | conditions in which the turkeys were kept and |
| meat-influenced holiday. However, there is a | | | | the inhuman manner in which these were |
| subtle difference between being vegan and | | | | genetically engineered to grow twice as large |
| vegetarian. Being vegetarian means | | | | and twice as fast as their ancestors to keep |
| compulsorily abstaining from non-vegetarian | | | | in pace with the growing demand, prompted |
| food items like fish, meat, egg, dairy | | | | families across North America to participate |
| products and sometimes even excluding honey | | | | in a tradition where they adopted turkeys |
| from one's diet. While being vegan means one | | | | instead of eating them. In a way the turkeys |
| chooses voluntarily not to consume | | | | were treated as guest of honor. More so, till |
| non-vegetarian food items like the vegetarian | | | | date PETA, the group for animal right |
| mass of population and being content | | | | protection has also been consistent in its |
| experimenting with the substitutes offered in | | | | effort to prevent the slaughter of these |
| the market.Since long turkey has been the | | | | innocent birds by featuring Thanksgiving |
| centerpiece of Thanksgiving feasting, hence | | | | e-cards on its websites that say "Don't Eat |
| most vegetarians tend to feel left out on | | | | the Mascot" and "Happy Tofurky Day" instead |
| that day, but now with this new trend in | | | | of "Happy Turkey Day".In recent times, in |
| vogue one needs not worry at all. Though this | | | | fact since 1995, America's leading turkey |
| idea of going vegetarian is gaining | | | | alternative is "Tofurky" or in other words |
| popularity at a rapid pace yet for most | | | | "Tofu-turkey". It is the best way to satisfy |
| Americans, to celebrate Thanksgiving without | | | | the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian |
| turkey would be similar to having birthday | | | | populace alike by offering this meat |
| bash without a cake, Christmas without tree | | | | substitute which is equally appealing as |
| or Fourth of July celebrations without | | | | their non-veg counterpart. In fact over the |
| fireworks. Over the years, majority of people | | | | years, turkey has been completely bowled over |
| are found gorging on the sumptuous meals | | | | by its substitute, "tofurky'. PETA supports |
| cooked for the special occasion with turkey | | | | this effort by listing out a host of recipes |
| featuring as the main attraction in the menu. | | | | to choose from, including "Tofurky" roast, |
| While vegetarians being the unfortunate lot | | | | dumplings, giblet and mushroom gravy, tofurky |
| nibbling on the leftovers and side dishes. | | | | wild rice stuffing and wishtix, "Unturkey", |
| But off-late, vegetarianism has been on the | | | | "Tofu turkey" are all kind alternatives to |
| rise, with about 6% of the American | | | | real turkeys so that it is not missed at the |
| population saying they never eat meat, the | | | | Thanksgiving table. They are soy-based roast, |
| figure shooting up to 10% among those aged | | | | stuffing and gravy that taste more often than |
| 18-34, according to a recent Vegetarian | | | | not like the real meat. If tofurky is not |
| Resource Group Harris Interactive Survey. | | | | your type, then one has the liberty to stick |
| There may be variegated reasons for people | | | | to the traditional dishes like corn, |
| opting for a vegetarian diet. Whatever the | | | | squashes, apples, nuts, cranberries, as well |
| reason may be: religious, ethical, health | | | | as favorites like pumpkin pie with a tasty |
| considerations or out of serious concern for | | | | crumb topping to appease your appetite. |
| the environment or animal rights, its true | | | | Desserts also come in all kinds of varieties |
| that unknowingly one is likely to receive | | | | wooing the vegetarian and the hard-core |
| health benefits from it. In fact a recent | | | | non-vegetarian mass alike with stuffs such as |
| study indicated that one out of every eight | | | | vegan pies in pumpkin, cherry blackberry and |
| turkeys is infected with salmonella bacteria. | | | | apple- cranberry-currant varieties.This time |
| Thus avoiding the consumption of turkeys may | | | | that you plan a dinner for your vegetarian |
| not be a bad choice. Again "The American | | | | guests, you no more have to spend sleepless |
| Dietetic Association" says that the | | | | nights pondering what would be a good and |
| nutritional benefits of vegetarian diets | | | | viable choice of food items to be cooked. |
| include lower levels of saturated fat, | | | | Your culinary art lies in preparing |
| cholesterol, as well as higher levels of | | | | vegetarian food which will be enjoyed and |
| fiber, folate and anti-oxidants such as | | | | appreciated by both the finicky children as |
| vitamin C and E.This new generation of vegans | | | | well as by adults with more traditional |
| and vegetarians however now has a reason to | | | | tastes. |