I feel like I've stumbled into an alternate reality with this entire ordeal, so I'm reaching out for some perspective from you, internet dwellers.

Here's the situation: My brother, Jake, and I have always had a rocky relationship. When he was younger, he watched a documentary on the impacts of industrial farming and decided to become a vegetarian. That alone wasn't an issue, but he soon started pushing everyone in the family to adopt his dietary choices which quickly became irritating. Thankfully, our dad intervened before it went too far. Later on, Jake went off to university where he got involved with a new crowd and adopted a strict vegan lifestyle, which seemed to consume his whole identity. Our relationship really hit a low point when he made a huge scene over my choice to have a birthday dinner at a steakhouse, flooding my phone and social media with disturbing images of farm animals.

Our parents tried to mend things, and for a while, it looked like Jake was easing up, so I started to let him back into my circle gradually. Then he began seeing Jenna, a vegan influencer. I'm not too familiar with her work, but she seems to have a following online. Jake's behavior changed again, possibly to impress her. Last Thanksgiving, he demanded that our mom prepare a completely vegetarian meal or he and Jenna wouldn't attend, citing 'ethical reasons.' Wanting to keep the peace on her favorite holiday, my mom agreed, but the celebration was far from enjoyable.

This year, my parents moved to a smaller home for their retirement and my mom has been dealing with some health issues. I purchased their old home, and mom asked me to host Thanksgiving to keep the tradition alive. I announced the plans in our family group chat so Jake and Jenna could arrange their travel plans, but Jenna immediately began proposing various vegan alternatives for our traditional recipes. I agreed to try out a main vegan dish they preferred, but I clarified that I intended to prepare the conventional meal as well, ensuring there would still be plenty of options for them. However, Jake and Jenna protested this decision for days, culminating in Jake threatening to skip Thanksgiving if I included meat dishes. This deeply upset my mom, to the point where she asked me to simply replicate last year's menu. I refused, telling her Jake needed to be more accommodating, but it's causing a rift. My dad is on my side, yet he's concerned about the stress this is causing mom, especially considering her health and that these could be some of our last holidays with her. Now, I'm wondering if I'm prioritizing turkey over my family's harmony.

If this were a reality show, I can only imagine the dramatic music and close-ups as everyone waits for me to respond to Jake's ultimatum. Would the audience side with me or see me as the villain for sticking to tradition?

Am I prioritizing turkey over family?

Should I cave to vegan demands for family peace?