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    Vegan Thanksgiving Prep Plan

    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!

    Table of Contents

    • Six Weeks Until Thanksgiving
    • Five Weeks Until Thanksgiving
    • Four Weeks Until Thanksgiving
    • Three Weeks Until Thanksgiving
    • Two Weeks Until Thanksgiving
    • One Week Before Thanksgiving
    • The Weekend Before Thanksgiving
    • Two Days Before Thanksgiving
    • The Day Before Thanksgiving
    • The Night Before Thanksgiving
    • 🦃 Thanksgiving Day

    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.

    Skeleton in thinking position.

    Five Weeks Until Thanksgiving

    Don’t think about anything this week. Chill out and relax.

    I SAID RELAX!

    Dog and feet in hammock.

    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.

    Notebook and pencil.

    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!

    Spices on rack in grocery store.

    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.

    Old lady wearing a sombrero.

    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. 

    Chopped vegetable on cutting board.

    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. 

    Woman setting table.

    🦃 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. 

    The word Thankful on a sign.

    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.

    Thanksgiving Prep Plan (download)Give Me My Prep Plan

    Peace & feast,
    shane

    Finally, here is a link on How To Cook Without Oil that will help you keep things on the light side.

    « 7 Easy Delicious Plant-Based Thanksgiving Recipes
    The Best Vegan Pumpkin Bread »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Frances Morey

      September 17, 2021 at 3:05 pm

      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

      Reply
    2. Barb

      November 16, 2020 at 11:58 am

      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!~

      Reply
      • Shane Martin

        November 16, 2020 at 12:17 pm

        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!

        Reply
    3. Suzie

      October 19, 2020 at 1:23 pm

      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 😉

      Reply
    4. Kim

      October 19, 2020 at 11:49 am

      Please, please, please, write a cookbook!!! I want to buy it! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Shane Martin

        October 19, 2020 at 7:30 pm

        Thank you for your support, Kim!!!

        Reply
    5. Denise

      October 18, 2020 at 6:46 pm

      Shane you are really awesome! I truly appreciate your emails your kind way about you and of course most importantly your delicious recipes.

      Reply
      • Shane Martin

        October 19, 2020 at 10:34 am

        Thank you, Denise. And, I’m so glad that comes across. I really want to help and see people succeed with this lifestyle. Blessings.

        Reply
    6. Susan Gail Wright

      October 18, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Shane Martin

        October 19, 2020 at 10:34 am

        Way to go, Susan! I ain’t even close. LOL!!!

        Reply

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