Matt Heroman plans to spend his holidays with friends and family, but he won’t be enjoying the traditional Thanksgiving feast. The psychology senior has been a vegetarian for a little more than a year. He said there is never a lack of food choices at his family’s Thanksgiving dinner. Turtle Island Foods provides several turkey alternatives including its line of Tofurky products, including wild rice stuffing, dumplings, gravy and tofu roast made from organic soybeans. Turtle Island Tofurky roasts have less calories, fat and saturated fat than a traditional roasted turkey, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Data Laboratory, but it has less protein and no cholesterol. Whole Foods sells veggie burgers, Tofurky products and celebration field roasts with stuffing consisting of butternut squash, apples and mushrooms. Nicole Whatley, Student Health Center registered dietician, said vegetarians have many options for Thanksgiving. She said some vegetarians depend on beans, legumes, potatoes and dairy products for protein and other nutrients. Whatley said there are several benefits to subscribing to a vegetarian diet for the holidays. “You can get a decrease in fat, sodium and calories by eating vegetarian,” she said. Whatley said vitamin B-12 is only found in animal products such as eggs, milk and cheese, but vegetarians have other options of getting their proper nutrition. “Sweet potatoes are the second-healthiest to milk in terms of nutrition,” she said. “Soy is also an excellent protein source.” There are several types of vegetarians. Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat eggs and dairy products but refrain from eating meat. Vegans do not eat meat, eggs or dairy products. Meg Williamson, conservation biology junior, said she has been a vegetarian for about 12 years. Williamson became a vegan last year after she was diagnosed lactose intolerant. She said she eats tofu, meatless stuffing cooked with vegetable broth and other side dishes for her Thanksgiving meal. “There are a lot of meatless foods, but if you want to be more traditional, you can eat a Tofurky or veggie burger,” she said. Pescatarians refrain from eating all meat except seafood. Julie Goudeau, economics senior, said she is a pesca lacto-ovo vegetarian. She said she eats seafood, eggs and dairy products but abstains from eating meat. Goudeau said she became a vegetarian about 10 years ago after seeing pictures of cruel animal treatment on the Internet. “I couldn’t eat anything with meat without thinking about those pictures,” she said. Goudeau said her family will cook meatless portions of Thanksgiving dinner for her. “Just because the tradition is turkey doesn’t mean you can’t start your own tradition with your family,” she said.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]