Memorial Day is almost upon us, which means folks across South Florida are breaking out the propane tanks, "Kiss the Cook" aprons and various cuts of meat for their BBQ extravaganzas. It can look pretty lonely for vegans.
But all is not lost. It's not as tough as you might think to whip up a meatless Memorial Day menu with some quick grocery store shopping. Because nibbling on celery sticks gets so old.
See also: An Open Letter to BurgerFi From a Vegan
Drinks
Lemonade is a Memorial Day staple, and luckily, it's vegan (including Mike's Hard version). As far as beer, opt for Corona, Bud Light, Coors Light or Ace ciders. For something a little more sophisticated, try Goose Island Beer Company's American Wheat, Lagunitas' IPA #10 or Cigar City's Jai Alai IPA.
Snacks
Hummus, guacamole or some variation on the two are easy, crowd-pleasing options. Sabre makes a mean pre-packaged guacamole, and various varieties of hummus, too. Or, try Trader Joe's Horseradish Hummus or Reduced Guilt Chunky Guacamole. For chips, opt for Stacey's Pita Chips, TJ's Veggie and Flaxseed Tortilla chips or Mission Foods Tortilla Chips.
Main Dishes
Snag some stuff that'll hold up on the grill. Opt for hearty sliced veggies like onions, eggplant and portobello mushrooms. If you're feeling fancy, buy some bamboo skewers and make an easy kabob with squash, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and tofu. Or for fake meat fans, try the Field Roast Sausage Links in Mexican chipotle or Italian, Amy's Texas Veggie Burger or Gardein's Beefless Burger. Remember to check the ingredients on buns, too. Rudi's Organic Bakery's buns are vegan, as are Arnold's Wheat Sandwich Rolls and Cobblestone Mill Hoagie Rolls.
Desserts
Oreos are always a winner. If you're looking for something less artery-clogging, bananas and pineapple go great on the grill. You could also snag some vegan desserts to-go at Green Bar & Kitchen (they're open till 9 p.m. on Memorial Day). Other vegan-friendly grocery store selections include Tofutti's Mint Chocolate Chip Cuties, Edy's Whole Fruit Bars, Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies in peanut butter or Luigi's Italian Ice.
Have at it y'all!
