Christmas time... everyone talking about food, most of which unethical meat and eggs covered in cream or cheese. But there is hope and we don't even need obi wan kenobi to rescue us ;) Christmas can be compassionate full of food for vegans too! Rejoice and eat to your heart's content.
If you are invited to a family gathering start by:
- asking your host to kindly cook side dished with no butter or cream. Suggest for them to replace this with olive oil or soya cream (healthier and everyone can eat from this)
Same goes for your mash potatoes.
- Suggest having at least one vegan dessert or ice cream and help them by choosing an easy recipe of a cake or sweets that is easy to prepare.
- as starter soup remind them not to add butter or cream (or parmesan cheese). Soups are naturally vegan and very tasty even without all the saturated fats and cholesterol.
You can bring:
- your own nut roast (see recipe here)
- buy a ready made nut roast or tofurkey roast
- bring an assortment of dairy free cheeses for people to taste
- buy or make Hummus and cut fresh carrots/celery and get breadstick to dip into the Hummus
- Prepare a nice Olive Tapenade for starter (see recipe here)
- Bake a dessert (such as a spiced banana bread)
- Bring loads of fresh fruit and make a Fruit Salad for everyone (you can top this with a little bit of brandy or port wine for an extra touch of sweetness)
- Bring your own garlic Butter (blend fresh or dry garlic, salt, black pepper and herbs into dairy free butter)
- You can prepare in advance and bring along cold mini-Falafels (Baked falafel recipe here)
At any big dinner the main course is usually centered on a big main centerpiece, such as a turkey for non-vegans at Christmas or Thanksgiving. You can easily replace this by:
- nut roast
- tofurkey roast
- VegDucken (see recipe here)
- Make individual portions of food (such as lasanha, gratins, etc) such as this
Have plenty of sides!
Remember: protein doesn't make you feel full, it's the carbs that do that.
Get a load of sides such as: roasted squash and carrots with cinnamon, sauteed greens with pine-nuts, stuffed peppers, roasted pepper salad, mash potatoes, sauteed Brussels-sprouts, cooked shredded cabbage...
Have a Merry Compassionate Christmas!
