How to Prepare for a Vegetarian Dinner Guest During the Holidays

This holiday season will you have a vegetarian at your dinner table? You just never know what you might learn about a new family member, child or distant relative that has decided to make your home their holiday destination.

Preparing for a vegetarian during dinner doesn't need to be difficult, or really require any special dishes. Simply having a variety of side dish style items will make the vegetarian more than comfortable. They simply don't expect every family to have tofurkey (yes, a tofu turkey) on the table. Leave the tofu and protein substitute meals for them to prepare at their home.

Dinner Options
Be sure to have a green salad at the dinner. Traditional salad toppings such as tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and other veggies are a great option. To add some protein to the salad, offer sunflower seeds, almond slivers or garbanzo beans.

Bean salads offer color at the table, and another side dish option. Three bean medleys are a protein rich side dish that many guests may enjoy.Traditional holiday foods such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry salads and casseroles are welcomed by a vegetarian, as long as they don't contain any meat products. Avoid making the mashed potatoes with chicken stock. Use milk instead. Use vegetable broth when preparing the stuffing. Use cream of mushroom soup, or cheddar cheese soup when making casseroles that traditionally require cream of chicken soup.

Be sure to include side dishes high in nutrients. Include vegetable casseroles with broccoli and spinach. Serve sweet potatoes in addition to white potatoes.

Snacks and Appetizers
Often before a holiday meal, snacks and appetizers are available. A trail mix of nuts, dried fruits and carob chips will be appreciated by any vegetarian dinner guest.

Trays of veggies with dips, fruit kabobs and cheese trays are also a welcome sight for a vegetarian. Homemade tortilla roll-ups with cream cheese and veggie filling is another easy vegetarian friendly appetizer.

Desserts
Home baked cookies and fruit pies are welcomed by a vegetarian. However, if they are made with lard or gelatin, don't be surprised if your dinner guest passes on these desserts.

Cakes, muffins and sweet breads are a safe option for vegetarians. Homemade candies including peanut brittle and pretzels covered in almond bark are good dessert options.

Do's and Don'ts with a Vegetarian Dinner Guest
Do allow the vegetarian seconds. Often vegetable side dishes aren't as filling as protein rich meats. If the vegetarian at your dinner table goes for a second round of salad, don't be surprised.

Don't offer a vegetarian meat gravy for their mashed potatoes. Cream based gravies, butter and other traditional potato toppings such as sour cream, salt and pepper are fine for the vegetarian.

Don't make a big deal about the dinner guest being a vegetarian. Asking a question or two is fine, but as you pass each dish don't say, "Is this ok for you to eat?" They will know what they can, and choose to eat.