Don’t
Have a Christmas Crisis!
Taking Care of Veggie Guests
By Wendy Turner Webster
Like most people, I love getting together with friends and family
for festive food at Christmas. In the past, there have been a
few awkward occasions where people haven't quite understood what
veggie food is and have served me a plate of fish or Christmas
pudding made with animal suet.
To help those catering for veggies this Christmas, I joined
forces with The Vegetarian Society and put together some top
tips to help make everybody's Christmas a happy one.
• Talk to your guest in advance. First
off, find out whether your guest is a vegetarian or a vegan.
Vegetarians don't eat
meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish, crustacea or any other
product which has been made from a slaughtered animal. They also
tend to use free-range eggs. Vegans go a bit further by also
cutting out milk, dairy products, eggs and honey.
It's
helpful to remember that vegetarians and vegans, like anybody
else, may
have food allergies or things that they just don't like. If
you're going to cook something special for them, it's well
worth a quick
chat in advance to make sure that your efforts will be appreciated.
• Read the labels. If you're not used
to shopping for vegetarians, the main things to
watch out for are animal fat, gelatin (which turns up in some
desserts) and animal rennet (which can be used in cheese). Most
supermarket cheeses now use vegetarian rennet, so just make sure
you choose one with a label indicating that it is suitable for
vegetarians.
To
avoid gelatin, read the ingredients label or look out for products
approved by The Vegetarian Society (including
veggie jello crystals for your trifle). Christmas pudding
and mincemeat traditionally contain suet, which is a form of
animal
fat, but many brands now use a vegetable version that tastes
just as good.
• Make plenty. Whatever you decide to prepare for your veggie
guest, allow for a
couple of extra portions — because the meat-eaters almost
always want to try “just a little”...
• Find unfamiliar ingredients. If you have difficulty getting hold
of the ingredients you find in veggie recipes, try your local
health food shop. They will probably also have a good supply
of nuts and dried fruit for everyone to enjoy and can usually
be relied upon for a bit of advice.
• Keep it separate. If you're having
a traditional Christmas dinner, your veggie guests
will probably enjoy sharing the roast potatoes, veg and gravy,
so cook
them in vegetable oil, separately from the meat. Vegetarian gravy
granules and mixes are readily available in supermarkets and
the majority of stuffing mixes are suitable for vegetarians and
vegans, so look out for ones that mention this on the packet.
•
Find ready-made options. If you don't want to cook a separate
dish, you shouldn't have any trouble picking up a nut roast or
other ready-made festive option from the supermarket or health
food shop. Just bear in mind that some vegetarians enjoy food
that looks and tastes like meat, but others don't — check
first to avoid an unhappy guest.
• Wash it all down. Beers and wines are often fined or clarified
with animal products, but labeling laws don't demand that this is mentioned on the
bottle. Some supermarkets and wine retailers, however, do
take the
trouble to share this information
with consumers.
•
Make life extra simple. E-mail The Vegetarian Society at resources@vegsoc.org
for a free copy of their festive recipe booklet "New Traditions: Recipes
for a Meat-Free Christmas."
Follow these three simple tips if you're vegetarian and lucky
enough to be invited round for Christmas dinner but your host
isn't used to cooking for veggies.
• Talk to your host well in advance. Tactfully
explain the ins and outs of vegetarianism, or send your host
a copy of
The Vegetarian Society's Christmas recipe booklet. It outlines
everything he needs to know about catering for veggies. Make
it clear that you are happy to bring your own main course and
help with vegetable preparation if it makes life easier.
•
Be patient. Not everyone understands about byproducts — and
for some reason, meat eaters who know nothing about their own
nutritional requirements have a habit of questioning vegetarians
about their protein, iron and calcium intake. You may find
it useful to visit www.vegsoc.org and arm yourself with lots
of
information about a healthy, balanced, cruelty-free diet.
• Share and share alike. Be prepared to pass round samples of
your veggie specialities. They're probably a lot more interesting
than the turkey on everyone else's plate!
© Wendy Turner Webster
Wendy Turner Webster is a patron of The Vegetarian Society and
a TV presenter. The Vegetarian
Society is an educational charity promoting understanding and respect
for vegetarian lifestyles.
