7 Tips For Hosting An Inclusive Thanksgiving
Plan a Thanksgiving menu that’s welcoming to all at your table. If your guest list includes folks who follow a plant-based lifestyle (or anyone with any kind of dietary restriction), making sure they have something to eat is how to make them feel welcome in your home. With a little extra planning for an inclusive Thanksgiving, all your guests will be able to fully enjoy the day.
1. Ask about dietary preferences and needs
Open, honest communication is where an inclusive Thanksgiving starts. When you send out invitations, make sure to ask about any special dietary needs right away. This makes it easier to plan your menu from the start, and guests will appreciate that you’re already being such a thoughtful host. All you have to do is include the question in your initial invite and keep a list of responses. If you’re organizing invites via a party planning app or platform, see if there are special forms you can use to ask this question when guests submit their RSVP.
2. Label ingredients in each dish
When you plate up your beautifully presented Thanksgiving sides and mains, add a label card to each dish and write down all of the ingredients. If any guest forgot to answer your initial dietary inquiry, they can still see what is safe for them to eat before adding it to their plate. As an added bonus, labels make your Thanksgiving table look even more professional. If you don’t want to hand write food labels, simply type them up for a clean, polished look that everyone can easily read.
3. Make multiple plant-based dishes
No one wants a Thanksgiving plate that only has one dish on it. Make at least a few vegan-friendly Thanksgiving recipes, so your plant-based guests have more than one option. You can also delegate and ask other guests to bring food, so you’re not the only one handling all the cooking. Plus, it’s always fun when friends share their favorite recipes with the group. You just might find a new plant-based favorite that you wouldn’t have thought to make on your own!
4. Offer at least one plant-based alternative to a popular side dish
You don’t have to make plant-based versions of everything on your Thanksgiving menu, but it’s nice to have at least one alternative so vegan guests don’t miss out on the full spread. It can be as simple as including both turkey gravy and vegan mushroom gravy on the table.
5. Cook with flavors everyone will love
Preparing a dish for just one person can feel like a lot of work when you’ve already got a long guest list to think about. But if you make a plant-based dish that everyone can enjoy, there’s no need to worry about having too much left over. Adding a vegan mashed potato side is a great way to keep everyone happy.
6. Be mindful of cross contamination
If you’re cooking for a mix of diets, it’s important to make sure those with restrictions aren’t eating anything that they didn’t intend to, especially if anyone has allergies or food sensitivities. If possible, prepare dishes intended for special dietary needs in separate areas and thoroughly clean any dishes or utensils before using them. Remember that for those with conditions such as celiac disease, even just a little bit of gluten can cause very big problems that can ruin their Thanksgiving.
7. Let guests with dietary needs fill their plate first
Making dishes that everyone can enjoy is a great approach, but you don’t want anything to run out before guests that can only eat those dishes get a serving. When it’s time to dish up all those delicious Thanksgiving recipes, give your guests with dietary restrictions first pick. Once they’ve gotten a plate, everyone else can dig in.
How to plan an inclusive Thanksgiving with Purple Carrot
When you’re cooking for a variety of diets, it can be hard to know which are the best substitutions or how to measure replacement ratios when converting a recipe. But when you get help from a meal delivery service such as Purple Carrot, all that prep work is taken care of for you. Our meals are 100% plant-based, with additional options available for dietary needs, including low sodium and gluten-free recipes.
If you’re struggling to plan your Thanksgiving menu, take a look at what Purple Carrot has to offer and see if anything might be a good fit for your gathering. We’ve got recipes from a dozen different international cuisines to choose from, so you can bring something truly unique to the table.
And if you sign up today, you can enjoy $100 off your first month of deliveries. With recipes that are great for Thanksgiving, and any other day of the year, you’ll have everything you need to host the perfect inclusive dinner.
