Meat-Free Holiday Dinners

It’s that time of the year again where families start to gather for big holiday dinners,  celebrate gift exchanges, and enjoy potluck-style with friends. There always seems to be an overarching theme surrounding the typical American holiday dinner. On Easter lots of people eat lamb, for Thanksgiving we’re consuming turkey, and right around Christmas time, families are cooking up roasts and ham. Spotting a similarity? Americans consume a lot of meat. The average American who is not practicing a vegetarian or vegan diet will consume an average of about 250 pounds of meat every year. That much meat consumption takes a major toll on the environment, but even small changes can have big impacts! That’s why this year, we’re proposing you try dishing up a meat-free holiday dinner.

Did you know that the livestock sector (that’s raising cows, pigs and chickens), generates nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions? That’s as much as all cars, trucks and automobiles combined! On top of that, an estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into producing just one. Single. Pound. Of beef. Staggering, right? Farms and processing facilities also require acres upon acres of land to operate on which leads to mass deforestation and the clearing of land to make room for range, pasture land, and crop fields used to grow livestock feed.

That sure is depressing, but don’t fear – we bring you tidings of great joy! Eating less meat can change those numbers drastically – studies show that adopting “sustainable diets” (i.e. vegetarian diets, vegan diets, and Mediterranean diets, as well as individual changes like replacing beef with chicken, etc.) could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and land use by as much as 70% and reduce water use by 50%! There are also plenty of studies that suggest reducing your meat consumption can have loads of health benefits as well.

Now we’re not saying you need to eliminate all meat from your diet right now, …but perhaps it’s time to increase our “meat consciousness” and decrease the amount of meat we’re consuming on a regular basis. Shifting to more plant-based foods is essential to combating climate change, soil, air and water pollution, ocean dead zones, and a myriad of other problems caused by industrial livestock production. Even if you’re only going meatless once a week, on Meatless Mondays for instance, you’re reducing your carbon footprint and saving precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuels.

Where do you start you ask? Well, it’s almost time to start planning your holiday dinners, and we’ve gathered eighteen delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes ranging from side dish to main course that can be shared with many and don’t contain any meat! Now go out and enjoy a meat-free holiday! Cheers!

1. Pumpkin Pot Pie – No poultry in this pot pie! Just a delicious flaky crust filled with seasonal vegetables and loaded with tons of flavor.

2. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms – Stuffed with eggplant and gorgonzola, these mushrooms make a delicious appetizer at any holiday meal.

3. Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Balsamic-Sage Brown Butter – Here’s a little Italian inspiration to really switch things up this year.

4. Baked Acorn Squash with Walnuts and Cranberries – Does anyone actually bring the cranberries or do they just appear on the table? Jazz things up by pairing them with some delicious acorn squash!

5. Vegetarian Vegetable Stew – Beat the cold with a hearty bowl of soup. This recipe makes for a delicious combination of onion, carrot, celery, portobello mushrooms, white mushrooms, garlic, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, and parsley.

6. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie – This dish uses a lentil and veggie mix instead of ground beef as its base. We promise it’s just as delicious!

7. Pumpkin Chili – Enjoy this mouth-watering twist on a classic winter dish!

8. Sweet Potato Crusted Spinach Quiche – Bonus? This quiche makes for delicious breakfast leftovers.

9. Balsamic Glazed Roasted Cauliflower – Who said cauliflower had to be boring? Skip the ham this year and enjoy this flavorful vegan dish instead.

10. Baked Corn Casserole – You can’t go wrong with this classic staple!

11. Apple Brussel Sprout Salad – You need at least SOME greens on your plate…

12. Wild Mushroom Gravy – What are mashed potatoes without it?

13. Sesame Quinoa and Tofu – Don’t be afraid! It’s about time you gave it a try…

14. Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto – Healthy, delicious, and you’re getting in a side of veggies!

15. Quinoa Stuffing with Apple, Sweet Potato, and Hazelnuts – Who says you can’t have stuffing on Christmas too? Protein rich, and full of good fats and fiber, this dish is filling enough to serve as a main course.

16. Classic Vegetarian Nut Loaf – Lots of veggies, spices, and nuts make this meat-free loaf positively healthful.

17. Curry Grilled Vegetables with Chickpeas and Hearty Polenta – Did you know you can get just as much protein from chickpeas as you would from a normal portion of chicken? It’s true! Dig in!

18. Vegan Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men – Don’t forget dessert!

Now that you’ve got the recipes, start planning your holiday meals! Still don’t think you can give up meat? That’s ok. Watch your portion sizes and consider purchasing your meat from a local farmer or butcher! Bolyard’s Meat and Provisions, Todd Geisert Farms, Benne’s Best Meats, Local Harvest, and Farmer Girl Meats all make wonderful options!