A six-week step-by-step Vegan Thanksgiving Prep Plan that will help you have a happy, healthy, & less stressful Thanksgiving.
If this is your first attempt at a Vegan Thanksgiving you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. Don’t worry. I’m here for you!
Relax, take a deep breath, and let’s get it on!
Six Weeks Until Thanksgiving
Start thinking about “who” and “how many“ you want to show up at your house. And, consider what kind of Thanksgiving you want: fancy, potluck, buffet, etc. Frightening, I know. But, just relax. Everything will be okay.
You’ll also want to get a head start thinking about your overall menu. Don’t finalize anything, just brainstorm a bit.
Five Weeks Until Thanksgiving
Don’t think about anything this week. Chill out and relax.
I SAID RELAX!
Four Weeks Until Thanksgiving
Hopefully, you have an idea who will be coming and the type of Thanksgiving you want.
Now, start preparing a detailed shopping list for your food. And, since you’re doing it up “plant style” you don’t have to worry about picking out a turkey. Winner!
IMPORTANT: Make sure you have all the cooking equipment you need – pots, pans, etc.
You can also check out my 25 Kitchen Essentials Under 25 Dollars and see my recommendations.
Three Weeks Until Thanksgiving
Begin finalizing the menu and stick to it! Don’t let a friend or relative come in and screw up anything. The word “no” is acceptable here.
This is your house. You’re hosting. And, you get to make the decisions. PERIOD! Let them come and help you. Tell them they can bring a favorite dish of their own. But, if they don’t like what you got going on they can go somewhere else.
Two Weeks Until Thanksgiving
The big day is right around the corner. So go and buy any non-perishables you’re going to need. Doing this now will save you the heartache of waiting until the day before or the “morning of” like everyone else.
HINT: COOK ANYTHING YOU CAN FREEZE like soups and casseroles. Major time saver!
One Week Before Thanksgiving
You’re doing great! If you’ve followed the above steps, take a break and use this week to rest up before the weekend.
If any of the aforementioned things are not completed, try and catch up before the weekend.
HINT: DO NOT GO AND BUY MORE GROCERIES! Eat what you got so you can store things in the fridge.
The Weekend Before Thanksgiving
Now’s the time to start getting your house ready for guests by cleaning, washing sheets, etc. All the fun stuff.
You don’t need to worry about cleaning on Thanksgiving Day.
Two Days Before Thanksgiving
Go shopping and buy all your perishables like produce, etc. And, BE SURE TO GET ICE! It’s the one thing that’s always needed but always forgotten until it’s too late.
Honestly, you should encourage your aunt Alice to bring it. She’s always showing up with that terrible jello & marshmallow salad. Let the ice be her contribution.
The Day Before Thanksgiving
Cook a ton! It seems daunting, but you’ll be glad you did. Almost everything except the gravy can be cooked.
The Night Before Thanksgiving
You’ve got everything ready to go and it’s getting late. Now, take a few extra moments before you go to bed and set the table. It’s one less thing to worry about tomorrow morning.
Before you finally turn in for the night, take just a couple of minutes, and focus on the good things. Think about what you are truly thankful for and the blessing of sharing your home and food with those you love.
🦃 Thanksgiving Day
Wake up and have a few moments to yourself. Have a nice hot cup of my Cashew Coffee or tea and a good breakfast. Finish any dishes you weren’t able to cook beforehand. 30 minutes before mealtime, make the gravy.
Congratulations! You did it.
It’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor by having a delicious, awesome, and fun plant-based Thanksgiving!
You can download your very own pdf of my 6-week step-by-step Vegan Thanksgiving Prep Plan by clicking the image or button down below.
Peace & feast,
shane
Finally, here is a link on How To Cook Without Oil that will help you keep things on the light side.
Love the schedule you created. It’s time to start planning. Even down to asking people who are willing to cook, and competent enough at it, to use recipes you print and hand to them. Leave nothing to chance.
It’s the director in me.
Best,
Frances
Love your recipes! Can most Thanksgiving recipes be cooked ahead and frozen, except the gravy? I was wondering about the chocolate and pumpkin pies. Thanks so much for your efforts!~
Thanks, Barb! Yes, absolutely! A couple of things: Pumpkin Pie: Let the pie completely cool and set up in the fridge as normal, cover with a few layers of plastic wrap, then wrap with aluminum foil. You can store this pie in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy simply let it thaw in the fridge overnight. It’s also great to make just a couple of days in advance, let it completely cool, then store in the fridge. It’ll be much fresher.
Concerning the chocolate pie, I would make the night before and store it in the fridge.
Hop this helps and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
these ideas are fantastic, could use them when planning any dinner party, I can’t wait to see how easily things go following your plan 😉
Please, please, please, write a cookbook!!! I want to buy it! Thank you!
Thank you for your support, Kim!!!
Shane you are really awesome! I truly appreciate your emails your kind way about you and of course most importantly your delicious recipes.
Thank you, Denise. And, I’m so glad that comes across. I really want to help and see people succeed with this lifestyle. Blessings.
Thanks so much this is so cute love it but I have already got every thing I need to make it but this so funny
Way to go, Susan! I ain’t even close. LOL!!!