Chances are that your Thanksgiving plans include a big dinner with family and friends, and a big turkey on your table. But that's not the case for local vegetarians and vegans.

The folks we spent the day with say they don't miss meat, but when it comes time for the big holiday dinner, it's all about creativity.

What's a Thanksgiving without turkey? For these folks, it's a reason to celebrate. Dozens turned out to Lane Community College Sunday afternoon for a Thanksgiving potluck -- vegan-style. The annual event serves up both a hearty meal, and food for thought.

"There's no single act that you do during the day that impacts the planet more, than the food choices you make," says Robert Jacobucci. "You can feed 15 vegetarians with what you would feed one meat-eater."

Jacobucci is the co-organizer of "EVEN," the Eugene Veg Education Network. His group aims to offer information for those curious about the vegan lifestyle.

For converts like Nadine Peterson of Eugene, the decision to give up meat is a life-changer.

"Well, it'll be nine years in January that I've been eating like a vegan, which is mainly just a plant-based diet," Peterson says. "No animal products, and it's really good!"

Peterson was a vegetarian for a decade before going vegan. Some take up the lifestyle for health reasons, but for Peterson, it was reading a pamphlet concerning about the rights of animals.

"And when I read that something just went boom!" Peterson recalls. "And it was in my head, and I hadn't been thinking about being a vegetarian or anything, and a couple of weeks later I went to sleep a carnivore and woke up a vegetarian."

Since turkey is out of the question, and the "Tofurky" needs to thaw out -- yes, Tofurky -- Peterson is making lasagna with tofu filling for the Thanksgiving potluck. And since vegans abstain from dairy products, she tops it off with soy cheese.

Bake for an hour at 350 degrees, and it's ready to go. We thought it tasted pretty good, and apparently, given the who quickly the platter emptied back at the potluck, we weren't the only ones.

In case you think vegans don't have any fun, Nadine also offered us vegan cookies, and vegan ice cream, and both of those were pretty good as well.

For more information about EVEN, the Eugene Veg Education Network, you can give them a call at 541-343-8055.