Father's Day Archives - My Plant-Based Family

Father’s Day is almost here. Last year I offered up some Father’s Day Meal Ideas and unsolicited and possibly offensive advice.

We haven’t really determined our Father’s Day plans yet. We don’t live near family so we won’t have a big family gathering. More than likely I’ll encourage my husband to pick a restaurant. For Mother’s Day we got together with some friend’s from church and ordered pizza. It was fun and fairly easy. I’ll call my dad and chat a bit.

Since Father’s Day is about honoring dad I think it is only fair to let them take the lead in the Father’s Day Plans; perhaps that will mean a meal, a hike or trip to the batting cages or driving range. Thankfully, my husband’s idea of a great time is NOT me spending hours in the kitchen.

If you like to spend your holidays around the grill I highly recommend you read my top ideas for a Vegan Barbecue!

Sometimes it’s fun to celebrate Dad’s with gifts. My husband would love me to buy him a giant flat screen TV. He eyes them every time we go into Target but that is not going to happen. We don’t do extravagant purchases without discussing them and we will be waiting until our TV breaks before replacing it.

I never really know what to give my dad for holidays. If he wants something he will get it himself. I just send a card and talk to him on the phone.

The gift ideas below are probably geared more toward husbands but some could be great for your father as well. We try to stick to practical gifts…here are my favorite

Amazon Prime Membership

We enjoy our Amazon Prime Membership all year-long. We enjoy instant streaming movies and TV, fast (2 day) free shipping and lots of kindle books. Considering the amount of items we purchase through Amazon it makes complete sense for us. I buy almost all of my gluten-free flours through Amazon. I also make a point of buying all of our Christmas presents, books, and specialty food products through Amazon. The money I save in shipping definitely pays for the $99 per year charge. Since we don’t have cable television (I’m talking zero channels, not even local) we love streaming movies. You can get a 30 day free trial to test the waters.

Movies

My husband is a movie guy! He loves action movies the most. A great gift for him would be to put the kids to bed early, bring out some of his favorite movie snacks like nachos with Unfried Black Beans and a delicious dessert while starting a movie would be a great gift for him.

Guys Night (or Day)

Maybe purchase a gift certificate to a local golf course and encourage him to go with some friends. If he is more of a camping guy give him a weekend off.

Write Him a Letter

More than any gift your husband or father would much rather hear your love and appreciation for them. Take a few days a write them a letter. Tell him how much he means to you, how thankful you are to have him in your life and recount some of your favorite memories.

What are your Father’s Day Plans?

This post contains affiliate links.

Grilled Portobello Steaks, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, green beans, and mushroom gravy.

Do you have a great man in your life that you are celebrating this weekend? I hope you do! My dad and step-dad live several states away so I wont get to spend time with them but I’m hoping for an afternoon phone call. The card is in the mail Dad! 🙂

I will get to spend time with my husband, he is a wonderful man and father and I’m honored to have him in my life. I have no idea what we will be eating that day, I haven’t asked him yet but if you are wrestling with what to cook I’ll offer a few ideas I’m kicking around (that I know my husband loves).

Grilled Portobello Steaks (using this Mushroom Marinade) are a “manly” meal and loved by Omni’s as well as Herbivores. I like to pair it with Mashed Potatoes, green veggies and mushroom gravy.

If you’ve read this blog for any time at all you know we LOVE Mexican food. Seriously, LOVE is an understatement. Nothing (food related) makes my husband happier than homemade pico de gallo and guacamole. They pair well with Portobello Fajita’s, Easy Mexican Brown Rice and Bean Casserole, or Quinoa-Lentil Tacos. Avocado Grillers is another favorite!

What If?

Maybe your husband isn’t interested in Vegan/Plant-based options, do you want to know what I’d do? Choose to honor him! Maybe you fight about food everyday, maybe it has been a big problem between you two? On Father’s Day put that aside, you don’t have to cook ribs or a big slab of meat to honor him. Maybe you take him to a restaurant of his choice or pick up take out to eat at home.

This next part is very important. Don’t say anything negative about the food, don’t make a big deal about it, if something needs to be said just say, “I love you more that your food choices and I want to honor you today and thank you for all you do for our family and all that you are as a man.” That is it. When tomorrow comes don’t rub it in his face either.

Sorry

I know many ethical vegans read this blog so I do want to apologize if this offended you. I try to stay away from offending anyone, no matter their beliefs but I feel very strongly that relationships are more important. Many families are caught in a huge struggle and eating choices are at the center of it. It is sad; for Father’s Day let’s remove that from the equation and just love each other.

If you just cannot bring yourself to serve or buy meat and the man in your life wants it maybe he would be happy with a faux meat option. If push came to shove I’d make my husband a Father’s Day meal of his choice but he knows I don’t want to cook or buy meat so he won’t ask me to. I know, he’s a keeper!

What are your Father’s Day plans?