From veganfoodandliving.com
Katy Beskow looks at ways to avoid awkward moments this Christmas, for an open-minded approach to the sociable season
Christmas is the season of peace and joy, but it can also be a time of conflict for vegans and their extended families, who may be non-vegan. These handy survival tips for vegans at Christmas will help you get through the holidays unscathed.
1. Serve tradition
If you’re hosting non-vegan friends and family this Christmas, serve familiar flavours and traditional foods that won’t have them noticing it’s animal-free.
Think of roast potatoes, maple-roasted carrots, red cabbage, sage and onion stuffing, lashings of herby gravy, and serve equally familiar flavours for the main part of the meal like a mushroom Wellington, creamy winter pie, or chestnut cassoulet.
With overly critical non-vegan family members, it’s often best to avoid vegan meats that could lead to comparisons, so stick to classic and familiar flavours, the cruelty-free way.
2. Make new traditions
Some non-vegans believe that it isn’t Christmas without animal products, so celebrate veganism by making new traditions. After a long wintery walk, stop for a flask of oat milk hot chocolate; or host a Christmas Eve veggie chilli buffet with slow-cooked bean chilli, baked potatoes, rice and tortilla chips.
Have a vegan gingerbread decorating competition, or host a carmine-free candy cane hunt! Celebrate how easy and mainstream it is to be vegan, and encourage everyone to join in.
3. Where do you get your protein?
The standard question that vegans find themselves answering many times over the year, and it doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas! Embrace this question in a non-judgemental way, it may have been the first time that a family member or friend has ever considered how vegans thrive.
Of course, you can list all of the protein-rich food sources that are easy to buy and eat, or you can use a nutrition calculator website (before your guests arrive) to work out how much protein you’re serving on Christmas Day. Having clear information on hand is an objective approach, which leaves less room for arguments.
4. Teach by example
Be the vegan you wish you had met before you became a vegan. If you’re a guest at a non-vegan house, offer to bring dishes to share to demonstrate your openness and generosity, and who can say no to vegan desserts or cake?
Positive activism approaches veganism head on, and allows people a clear view into an inclusive lifestyle, instead of them thinking it might not be for them. Although you may feel uncomfortable with animal products being served at the table, Christmas Day is not the time to make your host or the other guests feel ashamed.
Focus on how delicious your vegan options are, tell everyone about it, and welcome them in trying some!
If you are asked about ethics or the reasoning for your vegan lifestyle, this invitation will open up a discussion, but you still need to keep an open mind towards those who may not have considered the vegan lifestyle before.
5. Gift them
A homemade, edible gift is special and thoughtful. It is also a great way to gift someone something completely vegan, which they can enjoy into the new year.
Make-ahead gifts, such as jam, marmalade or chutneys, will warm the hearts of friends and family, or try something sweet, such as chocolate bark, cinder toffee, or even a fully decorated vegan Christmas cake.
Present in pretty jars or packaging, with a handwritten label reading ‘suitable for vegans’, if you like.
6. Prepare for awkward questions
Us vegans face many a hypothetical question, especially around being stranded on a desert island. A great way to answer this question is to flip the question back and say “if you were stranded on a desert island with no meat, what would you eat?”.
You may find that after a while you both agree that you could happily live off delicious tropical fruits, nuts and seeds while stranded on said island.
Do remind the guest, though that vegan foods and products are very readily available, in the real world that you both live in, the vegan lifestyle is accessible to everyone.
7. Take a step back
If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of conflict at Christmas, it’s OK to say no. You may find yourself with lots of invitations to dinners, events, pot-lucks, and drinks, but you don’t have to attend everything.
Choose which will add value to your Christmas, and politely decline the others.
Book in time for yourself after the events, to decompress and relax, if needed. If you’re in need of a break when hosting, set boundaries for when people need to leave, or ask a family member to step in for a few minutes while you have a short walk or even have a few minutes alone in the spare room.
8. Don’t forget the wine!
Treat your guests to a little festive cheer, with a glass of vegan wine with dinner, bucks fizz with brunch, or a mulled wine while watching the King’s Speech on TV.
Mentioning that the drinks are vegan will inevitably raise questions, as many people believe that all drinks are vegan, and this is a great way to introduce people to hidden ingredients, such as isinglass and gelatine, in drinks and foods.
Show people how clear labelling makes for easy purchasing decisions, it might inspire them to make their first move into intentionally buying vegan products.
9. Invite them later
Some of your guests may decline the invitation of coming over for a vegan Christmas dinner, and that’s OK.
In the spirit of Christmas, invite them round later for supper, and serve plenty of accidentally vegan snacks like crisps, crackers, nuts, veggie spring rolls and dipping sauces, or for your Boxing Day curry (loaded with leftover roasted vegetables).
They will be having fun and enjoying a vegan supper without even knowing it!
https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/vegan-christmas-ideas/vegan-christmas-survival-tips/
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