In San Francisco, supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals handed out tofu turkey roasts to promote a Thanksgiving free of meat. Photo source: PETA

The timing was perfect – and the event even brought a few smiles to people.

Just about a week before Thanksgiving brings roasted birds, pies, potatoes and all the stuffing to make your belly full, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had their own turkeys on the streets Tuesday in various U.S. cities.

And these birds, actually PETA supporters in faux-feathered costumes, handed out free boxes of tofu turkey roasts, known as the Tofurky.

The group’s message to consumers: Give real birds a break this Thanksgiving.

In a statement, PETA spokesperson Ashley Byrne talked about saving the animal and included an estimate of how many die each year for the November holiday:

Animals on factory farms never get a holiday. The 40 million turkey carcasses that U.S. shoppers buy each Thanksgiving represent only misery.

The United States has a population of about 308 million people.

PETA said that Turtle Island Foods donated the Tofurky roasts to raise awareness.

In downtown San Francisco, supporters also handed out copies of the Vegetarian Starter Kit. On its Web site, PETA has an entire section devoted to a meatless Thanksgiving, including information on faux turkeys. 

PETA uses a catchy phrase to boost awareness of meat and the holidays: “No holiday meal would be complete without a veggie turkey.”

Since I’ve never eaten a Tofurky, this is how PETA describes what supporters handed out:

This roast comes stuffed with a savory herb dressing and is available as just the roast or as part of an entire feast—with gravy, dumplings, wild rice stuffing, and ‘wishstix’ – for a complete holiday meal.

I didn’t realize that people deep fry the Tofurky. But here’s a recipe on how to do so.

I don’t know whether PETA was in touch with the Space Shuttle astronauts who were scheduled to blast off on Monday.

Central Florida News 13 had a report last week that astronaut Charles Hobaugh was looking forward to being in the final frontier during the holidays.

The shuttle is scheduled to return the day after Thanksgiving.

Hobaugh told the Orlando television station:

The season is whatever the season is. It could be Christmas, it could be Thanksgiving – we’re just always pleased to be in space. I don’t care what they give us. It could be beef brisket, it could be tofu. It doesn’t matter to me.

If you need more information about the Tofurky, Turtle Island Foods has a frequently-asked-questions link about the product.

By the way, the product is free of monosodium glutamate and genetically-modified ingredients. It can stay uncooked in a freezer for up to two years.

PETA noted that using a rub can help add spice to the faux bird.

I know that U.S. presidents have been known for their pardons of the bird before Thanksgiving rolls around.

In the arena of staying away from meat, Paul McCartney, the former Beatle, and others are advocating such a thing on each Monday.

And Tuesday’s PETA giveaway brought smiles to some people and a more serious look of contemplation to one woman.

A woman breaks out in a smile at PETA's Tofurky giveaway on Tuesday in San Francisco. Photo source: PETA

In this image, more people smile as PETA's turkey gives away a Tofurky on Tuesday. It was unclear whether the people smiled because of the free tofu turkey or the fact that a person in a giant turkey costume just gave one made out of bean curd away. It could have been a combination of the two. Photo source: PETA

While some people flashed big grins at PETA's Tofurky giveaway on Tuesday, one woman paused to study the contents inside the green box. Photo source: PETA

A bicyclist pauses to watch the handoff of a Tofurky in San Francisco. Photo source: PETA