Holidays are one of the main places in our food psyche where re-programming can be really, REALLY difficult. As most cultures do and ours is NO exception-food is usually the centerpiece of celebrating a holiday. And with the 4th of July, classically pulling out the grill and having a good old-fashioned BBQ of burgers, hot dogs, steaks, ribs, corn on the cob, potato salad, chips, coleslaw and watermelon-these are considered the 'staple' foods of the Independence Day party if not Summer itself. It's the foods of the season and ironically while veggies and fruits are at their most abundant in summer-meat is usually the big highlight of most backyard meals and summertime venues.
If you are the one hosting the party-it's easy enough to alter your menu for your palate and your new-found food choices, but if you are serving guest who are still eating the classic American way, it can present some challenges-keeping the meat burgers from the veggies burgers on the grill, as an example. So what do you do, make two versions of dishes? I mean, you could-but that doesn't seem very practical from a time or a money standpoint. In this situation I believe the best thing you can do is either tell your guests upfront that things will be vegan/vegetarian and they are more than welcome to bring their own (I'm thinking your party will be quite small with this approach)- or make the traditional items and then make yourself and others so inclined the vegan version OR-just invite fellow vegan/vegetarians.
Nothing can divide people more than the meat vs meatless argument except maybe politics and religious arguments. People are really, REALLY attached to their meat and dairy-addicted in some ways-so what do you do? You shouldn't have to compromise YOUR beliefs or dietary wants/needs to make guests happy, at the same time, do you impose your diet on others who would prefer the traditional meals at holiday events?
Things can get dicey here, especially if you've sworn off meat and dairy for ethical animal rights and reasons. It's unfair for others to expect for you to grill some cow when it goes against your belief system. Conversely....no one should impose those beliefs on others.
Since I'm not entertaining this year for the 4th this is not an issue for me, but I do deal with this on a somewhat consistent basis having a roommate who is the furthest thing from healthy eating there is. Oftentimes I've made him something to eat that I know he will like and eat, but I feel ethically challenged in doing so, like I am enabling his impeding health problems. It's like bartending to an alcoholic or dealing drugs in a way.
Yet the bottom line, is that when it comes to the adults in your life, family and friends and those you break bread with at holidays-there needs to be respectful 'agree to disagree' approach and yes, BOTH cuisines should be offered imo.
The best way that you can influence people you love (even like) to adopt a healthier eating style, is by example, and letting them see and taste healthy eating. By making those veggie burgers-veggie blend, black bean or portabella, by making that vegan potato salad and coleslaw, and offering yummy appetizers like guacamole (with no peas) and veggie platters and fruit platters and vegetarian dips and chips that are at least somewhat healthier than the standard potato chip-you can actually impress on them (and yourself) that it's not so bad eating healthier.
In Googling "Vegan 4th of July" of course I found 100's of recipes for a backyard feast, but-most were 'high class.' Daunting, intimidating, somewhat exotic, and seemed extremely time-consuming. Holidays are NOT the time to be introducing some weird and strange foods to folks; people are pretty set on their traditional fare and it's not the time that people want to deviate and experiment I am guessing. I think it's a fair guess.
So, what to prepare? The same as you always would, just sub. A burger-make it with veggie burgers as stated above. Use vegan cheese, or go ahead and use real cheese if you are a vegetarian and not for animal purposes and don't already have heart disease. For hotdogs, the brand "Tofurky" is supposedly very good, and can be found in the produce section of most large grocery stores. Here's a link to their products: Vegan Hot Dogs and Chicken and Sausage and Stuff
You can make potato salad the same as always, just subbing the mayo for veganaise and omit the hard boiled egg. (There's a link in one of my posts to that website for the vegan mayo). You could make a German potato salad which is vinegar not mayo based, but if I recall right, that's often made with bacon. Though there is vegan 'bacon' as well. Most meats have a vegan 'mock' to them, it's just a matter of looking it up and then finding a store. I typically try and focus on things that the national food chains will have, because this is low-class vegan. Or I should really say' real-class vegan.' The majority of us do not have a huge food budget to feed our families with in these current economic times.
Coleslaw-same thing, sub the mayo. Offer up a big greens salad, and of course veggie kabobs on the grill are to live for.
Now, what if like me, you are the one invited to a party and the hosts are not at all veggieheads? Well you can do what I do, and eat beforehand. Then when I do arrive-I focus on what is offered that I am able or willing to eat. Typically there is a veggie dip platter that often times remains pretty full since people really don't eat much of that I've noticed-the broccolli/carrot/celery/cucumber tray, and corn on the cob is abundant-just don't use butter. 3 bean salad is a big holiday staple and that is fine to eat, though if you are watching or avoiding sugars, it is traditionally made with some sugar and does have some oil in it as well. It's negligible imo but still, for those purist just an FYI. And yes load up on the watermelon.
Holidays are very tempting and this is where many people will 'cheat.' I don't see it as 'cheating' and I think that is the wrong psychological angle to take. It seems as if there is a deprivation mentality and that you are somehow 'missing out' so you must 'cheat.'
For me, it's not that foods like cheese or mayonnaise or butter are evil and taboo or so bad for me that I have to give up and avoid, like cigarettes or an abusive partner. They are bad if used all the time on the regular. They are bad when they are used excessively, in everything, at each meal. It's a cumulative effect. Do I think they are bad on the rare occasions? No, I do not. Do I think you should gobble down a cheeseburger and fries because it's the 4th of July? No I don't advocate that. I also don't think you should go hungry either at a bbq because the healthy food choices are limited.
Be mindful that food you might think is safe to eat for you, like baked beans because it's beans-I would caution that most people make their beans starting from a can, and that can of baked beans may have animal fat in it, as they stick that weird piece of bacon/pork in each can. So I can't promise that it's totally vegetarian even though it's beans. And baked beans is made with a lot of sugar/molasses.
And of course, you can bring a vegetarian/vegan dish of your own to the party, that way, you get to eat what you want AND give other's the opportunity to try something healthy. So here's my contribution to what I think would be a great take-along salad to that BBQ.
Happy 4th of July and Independence Day, stay safe and God Bless America!!
Cucumber Tomato Salad
(Depending on how big you want this salad, depends on how many cucumbers/tomatoes/onion you will use-if you're feeding 4 or 40 so figure it out ;)
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Red Onion
Curly Parsley
Rice Vinegar
Oil of choice-olive, coconut, flax, canola (don't recommend canola, it's GMO but lots of people like for salads)
pink salt or kosher sea salt
black pepper
white sugar
lime
As usual, you can be creative with this. The dressing is simple: Oil, vinegar, salt/pepper and sugar. Not a lot of sugar, about a teaspoon for 4oz of dressing. You can use whatever oil (I use olive) and you can also make with apple cider vinegar though that will significantly change the taste. It's a dash of sugar and a small squeeze of the lime, coating the chopped veggies with it. Also if you use Olive Oil then refridgerate the salad, remember that Olive Oil hardens in the fridge so this salad will have to 'thaw' out before serving.
(Yes this goes against the SOS diet of no salt, oil or sugar as this salad has all 3. So, to make it SOS, you can use a balsamic vinegar or other flavored vinegar, omitting the sugar and the salt and using a salt-substitute or herbal blend instead.)
The interwebs are full of different vegan salad ideas for summer, the possibilities are endless. There are tomato/corn/avocado salads in abundance. Vegan websites also offer a plethora of ideas. But for those of us on limited budgets/time and living in areas with mostly meat/junk food eaters-being realistic at the holidays will make it easier to cope with the dietary challenges I believe. Because you will get a lot of "Wha??? You don't want no BBQ chicken? What's up with that?" kind of inquisition from at least one person at your BBQ.
Happy Grilling!!
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