TIPS AND TRAPS Here are a few tips to help you prepare a traditional Christmas feast. They should also help to keep things harmonious if you are going to stay with non-vegetarians over the festive period. Virtually all of the ingredients for the recipes in this booklet can be found in any good supermarket, but don't forget to check out your local health food store for more unusual products. For the main course, the vegetarians, apart from avoiding the turkey and meaty trimmings, need simply make sure that their roast potatoes are cooked with a vegetable fat, and that a vegetarian gravy is available. Again, most supermarkets now stock vegetarian gravy granules. For many years, the traditional veggie centrepiece has been a nut roast, which is easy to make or available, ready-made, from many outlets. However, one of the great things about going veggie is that you can dump old traditions and have what ever you want. There are many 'meat analogues' available now such as chicken-style vegetarian fillets. You could even try a side dish of vegetarian sausages wrapped up in vegetarian bacon! Christmas dinner wouldn't be Christmas dinner without stuffing. The good news is that the majority of commercially available stuffing mixes are suitable for vegetarians. For afters, Christmas puddings and mince pies are no longer a problem as many manufactured brands now use vegetable suet -- the meat-eaters will be equally happy with them. You can make jelly for your trifle using vegetarian jelly crystals, and check when you buy your glacé cherries that they don't contain cochineal, which is made from crushed insects. Most of us will enjoy a drink or two over the holiday, and the thing you need to look out for here are beers and wines that have been fined, that is clarified, with isinglass (fish gelatine) or any other nasties. Be particularly careful with Port -- only crusted Port has not been fined with gelatine. The Society can provide lists of suitable drinks -- just give us a call on 0161 925 2000. For the perfect finale, why not round off the day with a wedge of vegetarian, or even vegan, Stilton, and a plateful of vegetarian sausage rolls? There you have it. A traditional Christmas all sewn up. GET THE MOST OUT OF BEING VEGETARIAN, JOIN THE VEGETARIAN SOCIETY TODAY The Vegetarian Society is a registered charity committed to promoting the benefits of a vegetarian diet. By joining the Society you will be investing in an organisation dedicated to reducing animal suffering, safeguarding the environment and improving public health. WORKING HARDER THAN EVER Raising awareness and campaigning on vegetarian issues. Providing information to the media, health professionals and individuals. Working closely with schools to inform and educate. Working with the food industry and improving catering standards through our Cordon Vert Cookery School. Convincing people that going veggie is the best decision they will ever make. YOURS FREE AS A MEMBER A quarterly magazine, packed full of news, features, recipes and campaign updates. A membership card, offering hundreds of discounts when eating or shopping. A Members' Hotline, our experts are waiting to answer your questions. Access to information on everything from baby nutrition to travel information. The chance to make contact with a local campaigning group. A welcome pack when you join. How to Join