For most of us, Christmas is synonymous with food, family, and festive fun. Unfortunately, tables laden with meats, cheeses, and buttery puddings can dominate the season, presenting a bit of a challenge if you follow a vegan lifestyle or plant-based diet.
But, fear not. With a little preparation and a sprinkle of creativity, it’s entirely feasible to enjoy a delicious, festive feast without compromising your lifestyle.
Whether you’re attending or hosting, we have some tips, ideas and recipes to help you thrive through the festive season, as well as showcase just how incredible Christmas food made from plants can really be.
Communicate with the Host
If you’re heading to a Christmas dinner as a guest, consider politely letting them know your dietary preferences in advance. A helpful option is to offer to bring a vegan dish or two to share, as this will not only ensure you’ll have something to enjoy, but also introduces others to others to the world of plant-based foods. Most hosts will appreciate the support (and the extra food!) too. Read on for some show stopping vegan Christmas recipe ideas to bring with you.
Navigating the Christmas Table
If you find yourself with no time to prepare, or you just simply want to put your feet up and leave the cooking to others (we don’t blame you), then not to worry – there are often many Christmas dishes that are naturally vegan or can be easily modified.
Prime examples of naturally vegan food at the Christmas dinner table include the potatoes and vegetables (think of the colourful array of carrots, parsnips, Brussel sprouts, red cabbage and cauliflower). Whilst these food are often made with butter, they can easily be made with an olive oil or plant-based margarine instead. Ask your host if this is something they could do for you, or if they can set some aside to be cooked without animal fat.
When it comes to gravy, this can easily be made with vegetable stock instead of meat drippings. If you are having store-bought gravy, then many brands now-a-days are accidentally vegan – just check the label.
Luckily for vegans, the festive favourite and ruby jewel of the Christmas dinner: cranberry sauce, is almost always vegan. As are many breads and rolls to snack on and soak up that vegan gravy!
If you’re hosting, then you have the perfect opportunity to showcase how varied and delicious vegan Christmas dishes can be, so you’ll no doubt want to create a memorable meal that will delight vegans and non-vegans alike.
If you are hosting non-vegans, then it is up to you how you wish to handle this; it may be a case of cooking something non-vegan for them, asking them to bring their own non-vegan dishes, or confirming you will have no animal products in the house; it is totally up to you to do what feels most comfortable.
But, let’s give them a reason not to want the animal foods, shall we? Take a peak below for a collection of delicious vegan Christmas-themed recipes from a variety of chefs.
Another thing to consider when attending or hosting a vegan Christmas gathering is alcohol. Some wines, beers, and spirits are not vegan due to their use of animal-derived flavourings or products used in filtration processes. Scout out drinks with vegan-certified labels before pouring yourself a glass, or bring your own bottle along to gatherings.
If you are aiming to cut down on alcohol this season, then consider trying some of the 0% ranges, for example beers, gins or even ‘nosecco’ so you can enjoy the (similar) taste and still wake up refreshed.
Now it’s important to say here that Christmas isn’t always a joy. If you are struggling with your mental health, relationships, isolation, loss, or there are simply too many stressors and strains this year to be cooking everything from scratch, then don’t worry. We see you… and we’ve got you.
Year after year, supermarkets are expanding their range of animal-free festive foods that you can purchase straight off the shelf. Why not give yourself a break and take full advantage of their hard work… after all, it’s Christmas right?
Here are some new vegan products available in the UK that perhaps you’ll wish to try (please note these were put together for Christmas 2024 and may not be available to purchase if reading at another time).
Navigating Christmas dinner as a vegan can be challenging both practically and emotionally, especially if you’re attending a gathering where the host is not well-versed in what it means to follow a vegan lifestyle. However, with a bit of planning and communication, you can enjoy a merry and bright (and delicious) vegan Christmas! Plus, your plant-based presence alone helps to normalise eating a vegan diet and you never know, you might just inspire others to give it a try (… and why not slip Veganuary into your Christmas chit-chat?!)
If you need some helpful tips on how to handle being around non-vegans at Christmas, then head on over to my blog here. I also have some festive smoothies so you can keep up your healthy habits, and a blog on staying nourished through the season.
Finally I wish you all a beautiful Christmas, whatever that means for you. And a heartfelt thank you for keeping kindness on your plate this year.
Written by Rosemary Martin RD and Amber Woodhouse RD
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