- One vegetarian shares the bond she developed with turkeys
after finding alternatives to this traditional Thanksgiving comfort food.
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- Humans are funny birds. We get so wrapped up in habits,
comfort zones, and traditions that sometimes we forget who we are, what
we care about, and why we even do what we do. Thanksgiving is one such
instance, sadly exemplified by its alternative name: "Turkey Day."
Thanksgiving is meant to be a day when we celebrate the bounty of the harvest,
pause in gratitude for the abundance most of us experience, and share what
we have with others. Most people don't stop to think about the nearly 300
million birds that are killed each year in the United States, just to satisfy
our taste buds. Of this number, 45 million are killed for Thanksgiving
alone.
- As someone who teaches vegetarian cooking classes, I've
seen many people turn away from meat, dairy and eggs and embrace the array
of delicious, nutritious plant-based foods available to us. I've also seen
them change the lens through which they view the world, which I think is
critical for shedding the comfort zones of the past and creating new ones.
Some people have a real fear that they will no longer have satisfying,
filling meals -- especially on Thanksgiving. I can say with confidence
that they can put their fears to rest.
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- Our Thanksgiving feast every year is full of comfort
foods galore, prepared with organic ingredients from local farms: mashed
potatoes with mushroom gravy, bread & nut stuffing, mashed rutabagas,
cranberries with pecans, stuffed acorn squash, corn bread, Brussels sprouts,
corn, peas, pumpkin pie with cashew cream, and apple pie. This was our
menu last year, and I'm sure I've left something out. Indeed, there is
no dearth of food on our table on this special day, as we share it with
our closest friends and family.
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- For those who have never met them, turkeys are magnificent
animals, full of spunk and spark and affection, with individual personalities
and charms. These animals, who have been abused and discarded by human
beings, whose beaks and toes have been mutilated, and whose genetically
overgrown bodies are susceptible to heart disease and leg deformities,
still display immense affection towards humans. They are incredibly curious
and follow you wherever you go, and their wonderful vocalizations include
an array of clucks, purrs, coos, and cackles.
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- Turkeys love to be caressed, and people often remark
that they respond just like their own dogs and cats. Turkeys even make
a purring sound when they are content, and not until you've had a hen fall
asleep under your arm have you lived. She will literally melt under your
touch, relax her body, and begin to close her eyes, softly clucking all
the while. It's a sight to see, and I'm moved every time I have the privilege
to witness it.
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- Some turkeys are more affectionate than others, climbing
into your lap and making themselves as comfortable as can be. At an animal
sanctuary I frequent, a particularly friendly turkey became known for her
propensity to hug. As soon as you crouched down, she would run over to
you, press her body against yours, and crane her head over your shoulders,
clucking all the while. It's amazing how so generous a hug can be given
by something with no arms.
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- They're not all saints, but some are heroes. One turkey
became my personal protector when I was trying to clean a barn and was
continually accosted by a particularly rude and aggressive bird. Each time
the aggressor would begin to close in on me, my hero would waddle over
and get between me and his barn-mate. It was remarkable, and it happened
over and over (turkeys are very persistent). What made this scene even
more touching was the fact that these toms suffered from bumble foot, abscesses
on the footpads that resemble corns, a common occurrence in domesticated
turkeys. Between their grotesquely large breasts and inflamed feet, turkeys
walk very awkwardly and with a lot of effort. I was very touched that such
an effort was made on my behalf.
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- I grew up eating turkey breasts, turkey legs, and turkey
wings, and I'm still making amends to these extraordinary animals. I believe
we're able to mutilate certain animals for our gustatory pleasure because
we don't have relationships with them. We've never meet them face to face.
Once I met a turkey, I was never the same again. Once I began to celebrate
Thanksgiving as turkey-free holiday, I learned for the first time what
"Happy Turkey Day" really means.
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- Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is a recognized expert in plant-based
cuisine, a food columnist for VegNews Magazine and a contributing writer
to Satya Magazine.
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