While Thanksgiving is traditionally a meat-heavy meal, Americans are increasingly looking for ways to bring more plant-based options to the table, and some stores in the St. Cloud area are trying to make this transition easier.
Alternative grocery stores like Minnesota Street Market in St. Joseph or Good Earth Food Co-op in St. Cloud are encouraging customers to try plant-based dishes this Thanksgiving. Both stores have noticed an increase in customers looking for plant-based options or asking employees for help brainstorming.
Nationally, 29% of Americans plan to eat plant-based options on Thanksgiving this year, according to a survey by advertising service NC Solutions. People are using dishes like cauliflower wings and lentil shepherd’s pie, and 20% plan to serve vegan fillings. However, the research also shows that 1 in 3 think dietary preferences make it too difficult to organize food events.
Good Earth Food Co-op is located at 2010 Veterans Dr. in St. Cloud
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Minnesota street market
While Minnesota Street Market sells locally sourced turkeys for a traditional meal, it also offers vegetables that can serve as good meat substitutes, such as pumpkin, cauliflower or mushrooms.
Employee Will Laakkonen said the vegetables can help both the store and customers save money because it is cheaper than buying and stocking products like Tofurky, which are meant to mimic the taste of turkey.
“You can get Tofurky products everywhere, and they are also very expensive for us to purchase,” he said. “It’s not sustainable for us to have them after the season is over.”
When customers buy vegetables to cook as meat substitutes, the store also sends them home with recipe cards and cooking instructions, Laakkonen said.
Good Earth Food Co-op in St. Cloud stocks many vegan items, including the Tofurky brand.
Good earth food cooperative
Meanwhile, Good Earth Food Co-op stocks Tofurky, as well as several other tofu and meat substitutes, such as the Field Roast brand. Both stores also sell a variety of non-dairy milk, cream and butter products, which can be useful when preparing dishes like mashed potatoes.
Customers can also make dishes from soy products, such as tofu or tempeh, and all types of beans.
Alice Valentine, who works at Good Earth, is vegan and says she and other employees are always excited to help customers find ways to make their holiday meals less meat-heavy.
“Especially here, we have the community aspect that other places don’t have,” she said.
Good Earth employee Alice Valentine is vegan and enjoys helping customers explore plant-based options.
Some of the common motivations Valentine hears from customers wanting to explore vegan or vegetarian options are that it is perceived as healthier, could improve energy levels or is more humane.
Meat consumption can also have a major impact on the environment, with Thanksgiving meals in Minnesota having a footprint of 41.1 pounds of carbon dioxide, according to a study from Carnegie Mellon University.
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Fresh Thyme Market, Coburn’s Marketplace
Fresh Thyme Market also has vegetarian options, as does Coburn’s Marketplace.
This year, Valentine said she has seen some increased interest in the store’s extensive plant-based Thanksgiving options, which involve “picking” items.
However, many people may still be nervous about trying some of these items or using them in a recipe, but she said this can be a good opportunity to try again.
“If it’s been a while since you tried things like plant-based cheese or dairy or whatever, maybe give it another try and see what you think,” Valentine said. “Try it in a recipe where you would normally use something else, because it improves.”
Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Vegetarian Thanksgiving Ideas: St. Cloud Grocery Stores Offer Options
