As Thanksgiving approaches each year, vegetarians and vegans can be accused of “breaking tradition” for not eating turkeys. And yet, if we hold historical accuracy as the standard for being true to “tradition,” then all of us who eat mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, sweet cranberry sauce, and flour biscuits are breaking tradition since none of these things were eaten at “The First Thanksgiving” in 1621.

The strong response people have to vegans not eating turkeys on Thanksgiving belies the unfortunate fact that we place more emphasis on tradition than on our values of health and compassion. And yet, they need not be mutually exclusive. We can most certainly eat in such a way that reflects our values and honors tradition at the same time.

In my Vegan Thanksgiving video, I offer up hope that we’ll remember the true meaning of this holiday – gratitude, community, seasonal abundance, and generosity – and I provide practical tips for reflecting these values in the foods we choose. Check out my recommendations for creating a beautiful main dish, delicious side dishes, and scrumptious desserts that contain all the flavor and texture of our familiar favorites without the harm.