First of all it’s a good idea to iron out any misconceptions well in advance.

Chat to each other – Find out if your guest is vegetarian or vegan. Veggies don’t eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish, crustacea or any other product which has been made from slaughtering an animal. They also prefer free-range eggs. Vegans go a bit further by cutting out milk, dairy products, eggs and honey.

Unfamiliar ingredients – Find the ingredients for our recipes in any big supermarket, or try your local wholefood shop or deli.

Read the labels – Not used to shopping for vegetarians? The main things to watch out for are animal fat, gelatine (which turns up in lots of desserts) and animal rennet (which can be in cheese). Look for the Vegetarian Society’s seedling symbol on products, guaranteeing a product is 100% vegetarian. Visit www.vegsocapproved.com for more info.

Make plenty – Whatever you decide to prepare, allow for a couple of extra portions because usually any meat-eaters will want to try ‘just a little’…

Keep it separate – Your veggie guests will probably enjoy sharing the roast potatoes, so cook them in vegetable oil, separately from the meat.

Ready-made options – You shouldn’t have any trouble picking up a ready-made festive option from the supermarket or wholefood store. But shop early as they often all get bought very quickly.

Plonk! – All that socializing is the perfect excuse to stock your cupboards full of the juices of the vine - whatever your poison, red, white, or a drop of bubbly. Vegetarian wine is free from animal finings such as gelatine and isinglass (the swim bladder of tropical fish) frequently used to clarify wine. Look out for the Vegetarian Society’s seedling symbol or ask in your supermarket or off-licence if they have a list of vegetarian wines, beers and spirits.

Roasty heaven – Roast potatoes should be cooked separately from the meat and in vegetable fat or oil.

Stuff your gravy – Vegetarian gravy granules and mixes are readily available in supermarkets. The majority of commercially available stuffing mixes are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Olives – An acquired taste, granted, but the stuffed varieties filled with garlic or sun dried tomatoes can be favourites. Check you haven’t got anchovies in them though, veggies don’t eat fish.

Soft Drinks – Some canned orange drinks use gelatine as a carrier for added Beta Carotene. (This would not appear on the ingredients panel).

Crunchtastic – Crisps often use whey as a flavour carrier so ready salted are the only flavour that is always vegetarian. Check the ingredients.

Chocolate – Watch out for whey and emulsifiers.

Look out for vegetarian labels or contact manufacturers' consumer helpline.

Delicious Dips – Hummus is always a fab dip.

Fish Fury – Avoid Taramasalata though as it has fish roe in it.

Choice 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.

Mince pie magic – Christmas puddings and mince pies are no longer a problem for vegetarians since many brands now use vegetable suet and this doesn’t affect the taste, so meat-eaters will enjoy them too. Some brands will be suitable for vegans too – look out for The Vegan Society symbol on packs.

Trifle-ing matters – You can make jelly for your trifle using vegetarian or vegan jelly crystals.

Rudolph knows – If you buy cocktail cherries check that they do not contain cochineal E120, made from crushed insects.