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A VEGETARIAN FESTIVE FEAST |
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OK, you need some help with your festive celebrations?
Relax, here it is. The Vegetarian Society's festive feasting guide to everything you need to make this Christmas, your kindest ever.
First of all, there should be something for everyone, old and new veggies alike. To help you with this we have two brand new, scrumptious menus for you to try, as well as shopping tips and advice on how to cope with the season of goodwill.
Always remember that you are not the first to try a veggie Christmas and you certainly won't be the last. The good news is that the range of veggie food available today is enormous. Which means that the most difficult choice you may face is which of these treats you're going to try.
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However, it wasn't always so. Back in 1899 you could easily have been sitting down to a Yuletide feast of macaroni and tomato cutlets, accompanied carrots a la flamande and perhaps a serving or two of lentil cones... mmm tasty! There were of course some more recognisable dishes,
such as plum pudding or mincemeat, all home-made, naturally!
A hundred years on, we have the luxury of vegetarian ready-made meals and prepared dishes so the amount of cooking you do is really up to you. Making the decision to have a veggie Christmas allows you to start a tradition of your own and enjoy a cruelty-free Christmas. Let's get the celebrations underway... Don't panic! If this is your first veggie Christmas, then you may feel daunted by the idea of meat-free festivities. Don't worry. A little planning goes a long way. Tell family and friends that you are serious about having a veggie Christmas. Pass on this guide to them, it will help them in their preparations. Think about what you have eaten in the past. You may well be able to get veggie alternatives to everything. Don't forget to seek out the trimmings and those all-important little extras. If you're unfamiliar with some products, try them out before the big day. It'll save you being disappointed later. If you are unsure about which products are truly vegetarian, the best way, is to look out for the Society's 'V' symbol on foods when you go out shopping. For more information check out our smart shopping tips later in this guide. Many of us will visit friends or relatives over the holiday. If you're going, why not offer to cook a meal and remember to take some veggie substitutes with you. You'll be surprised how popular they are -- even with non-veggies -- so make sure you have enough to share. You have been warned! If you intend to go out to restaurants, it's a wise idea to ring ahead and check out their provision for veggies. Given enough notice, most chefs are happy to prepare something different. Don't forget to check out the Food and Drink Guild listing in 'The Vegetarian' magazine and look out for the 'V' symbol being displayed by cafés and restaurants and on menus. Be prepared for the jokes and some mickey-taking. There are people who will think you mad, or from another planet for simply contemplating not eating turkey! Just smile and feel safe in the knowledge that your food is 100% cruelty-free and they are the ones who will be eating the same, boring and predictable fare. |
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If, on the other hand, you are just catering for yourself this Christmas, then you have a veggie bonus! No huge turkey to eat for weeks afterwards.
What a relief for you. Not to mention the turkey!
We're here to help. You can call us on 0161 925 2000 if you have any questions or check out the rest of our website. Christmas 1999 |
