As more people choose to go vegetarian or simply reduce the meat in their diets for health and ethical reasons, the question of what to serve at Thanksgiving dinner becomes bigger than ever before. Instead of simply debating between Mom’s recipe versus Aunt Ruth’s for the turkey, the entire staple entrée is tossed aside. If you have vegetarians coming to dinner or just want to take the non-traditional route, here are some must haves for your Thanksgiving table:

• Vegan Pot Pie: Served steaming hot with tons of veggies, a flaky crust, and chewy tempeh or seitan. Mealsmatter.org
• Butternut Squash and Apple Soup: the rich sweetness of butternut squash plus the natural tartness of apples, pureed with cinnamon and nutmeg. Simplyrecipes.com
• Soybeans: they are packed with protein, fiber and omega-3 Fatty Acid. Also rich in bone building calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron and isoflavones. You do want to choose the minimally processed soy for healthy, all-natural and energizing foods.
• Autumn Harvest Casserole: pumpkin seeds, golden potatoes, cracked pepper, and portabello mushroom soup combine to make a savory casserole. Vegcooking.com
• Walnut Apple Stuffing: Baked separately from any bird, this recipe will have your guests asking for more. Vegkitchen.com
• Red Cabbage with Cranberries: Bright in color and full of sweet and sour flavor! Theveggietable.com
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Coconut Milk: A unique take on mashed potatoes and chock full of Vitamin A to boot! Vegetarian.about.com

And of course, what’s Thanksgiving dinner without dessert? The Pumpkin Patch “Cheesecake” is one definitely worth giving thanks over! Find it on vegcooking.com.

Happy Holidays!