Greens, and especially dressing, are parts of the centerpiece of any Thanksgiving meal. However, as a child, I found my Thanksgiving plate filled with the Thanksgiving staples without the staple: turkey. Before I was born, my parents decided they would no longer eat meat, even though my whole family ate it before. They did it to encourage healthy eating for themselves and my brothers, but it created a conundrum when it became time for holidays. What would we cook instead of turkey?

Most people’s brains might instinctively go to tofu or impossible meat, and that is the choice for a lot of vegans and vegetarians out there. But instead, my family opted for all the normal Thanksgiving dishes like mac and cheese, cornbread, etc. The only real difference being the lack of meat.

It may not seem like much, but growing up with such a key difference in my diet was a struggle. Though it was not something easily perceived by others, having to advocate for myself as a child in a society not as tolerant as today was hard. Being constantly peer pressured to change because what I did wasn’t “normal” was hard, but it was absolutely necessary for my growth.

What might be strange to some is a regular occurrence to others. Instead of judging others and making preconceived notions, try to understand customs and traditions that you may not participate in.