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Vegans Give Thanks On 'Tofurkey' Day

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By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2007

TAMPA - The aroma of stuffing, gravy and potatoes filled a banquet hall decked out in the browns and oranges of the holiday, but Thanksgiving's most well-known symbol and main course was absent from the gathering.

No turkey, no worries, said the majority of people who attended the second Vegan Thanksgiving Day Feast on Thursday afternoon at Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa on Morris Bridge Road.

More than 130 vegans and vegetarians celebrated the holiday by bringing their favorite nonmeat dishes to the potluck feast. In lieu of turkey, they served vegetable casseroles, quiches and other side dishes. There was also a hearty helping of "Tofurkey"- tofu turkey - and a roast made with sausage-style stuffing, mushrooms, sage and butternut squash.

"It's make-believe meats," said Charles Pape, 75, of Zephyrhills, who went vegan for health reasons 11 years ago with his wife, Kathleen. "But it tastes good."

Michelle LaFleur, whose group Tampa Vegan Meet-Up organized the annual event with five other local vegetarian and animal cruelty awareness groups, said the meatless feast allows people to count their blessings and give thanks with others who share the vegan lifestyle.

Vegans do not eat animals or animal products such as eggs, and do not use materials made from animals, such as leather and furs.

LaFleur said the dinner shatters stereotypes about vegans. People imagined that a vegetarian Thanksgiving would be "folks just sharing a big salad. Or a carrot," LaFleur said.

Jennifer Egelfeld, 12, was surprised at the more than 50 dishes she could choose from.

"I never really liked meat that much," said Jennifer as she eyed rutabaga stew, a variety of pasta, and pies made from organically grown sweet potatoes and pumpkins.

Her 9-year-old sister, Jacqueline, is following her older sibling's lead and trying to give up meat. "It's hard. I'm trying to quit because I love animals," she said.

People become vegan for a variety of reasons, most notably for a healthier diet or because they feel strongly about animals being raised for food, said Joan Zacharias of the New Tampa Vegans.

"For me, it was finding out about the suffering of animals on farms," Zacharias said. "I was shocked and horrified. I lost my appetite for meat forever."

For vegans and vegetarians who disdain animal products of any kind, Thanksgiving Day without turkey is "amazing," LaFleur said. "It's plentiful. Satisfying. Cruelty-free."

"It's fine with me," said Jennifer Egelfeld.

"It's tasty anyway," said Spring Smith of Sarasota.

It is not about the turkey, said Charles Pape. "It's the camaraderie of everybody around the table."

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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