November 2006

Check Out Our Stocking Fillers!

Two feature articles for your Christmas and New Year Pages

Plus, complimentary ‘Saints and Sinners’ recipe hi-resolution images to all press: www.vegsoc.org/press

Feature article 1
Tried and tested tips from The Vegetarian Society when having veggie guests:

1 CHECK THE MENU WITH YOUR GUEST IN ADVANCE
Let’s face it if you’re going to the trouble of cooking something special for them, it’s well worth a quick chat in advance to make sure that your efforts will be appreciated.
First off, is your guest a vegetarian or a vegan? Vegetarians don’t eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish, crustacea or any other product which has been made by slaughtering an animal. They also tend to use free-range eggs. Vegans go a bit further by also cutting out milk, dairy products, eggs and honey.

2 READ THE LABELS
If you’re 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 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 gelatine, read the ingredients label or look out for products approved by The Vegetarian Society (including veggie jelly 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 which tastes just as good.

3 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’.

4 KEEP IT SEPARATE
If you’re having a traditional Christmas dinner, your veggie guests will probably enjoy sharing the roast potatoes, veg and gravy. It is really easy to keep these vegetarian for everyone by cooking the roast spuds in vegetable oil, separately from the meat. Vegetarian gravy granules and mixes are readily available in supermarkets and many stuffing mixes are suitable for vegetarians and vegans, so look out for one that mentions this on the packet.

6 CHEERS! WASHING IT ALL DOWN
Everyone loves a glass or two of festive drinks jus remember that beers and wines are often fined or clarified with animal products making them unsuitable for vegetarians. This process stops the drink from becoming cloudy but unfortunately, the animal products don’t have to be mentioned on the label. Some supermarkets label either the wines themselves or the price tags on the shelf, while others have a list you can consult at the Customer Services desk. Your local wine merchants or off-licence should also know which of their products are suitable for vegetarians. The Vegetarian Society has a list of suitable wines and beers available on request.

Feature article 2
Top Ten Survival Tips for Veggies:
Don’t panic! A vegetarian Christmas needn’t be a headache.

Our top tips will help your Christmas go off with a bang!

1. Go nuts!
Christmas is a great time to get your nuts out. There are loads of tasty recipes using wholesome nuts and of course the vegetarian classic - the nut roast. Nuts are highly nutritious and can provide you with calcium, zinc and essential fatty acids.

2. Play with your veggies!
Experiment with some seasonal winter veg. Parsnip, turnip, swede, sprouts, leeks, cabbage - slice them, roast ‘em, boil ‘em, fry ‘em, steam ‘em, bake ‘em. Show them who is boss. (Check out our Xmas Saints’n’Sinners Recipes for suggestions).

3. Plonk!
Christmas is the time to stock your cupboards full of the juices of the vine. Whatever your poison - red, white, or a drop of bubbly - the festive period is the perfect occasion to indulge. Vegetarian wine is free from finings such as gelatine and isinglass (the swim bladder of tropical fish), frequently used to clarify wine. Look out for the Vegetarian Society’s ‘V’ symbol, guaranteeing a product is 100% vegetarian or ask in your supermarket or off-licence if they have a list of vegetarian wines.

4. The morning after
You don’t need a bacon butty to sort your hangover out, the best veggie hangover cure is a banana milkshake, made from soya or dairy milk, honey and ground almonds and of course bananas. Throw it in and whisk away. Don’t forget, you CAN get veggie bacon if you wish!

5. Lardy-dah…
You can still eat mince pies at Christmas, just make sure you get the vegetable suet variety. Traditional suet uses animal fat. Thankfully more and more companies are switching to veggie suet. Check the labels before buying. It tastes just the same and is loads better for you!

6. Looking for the perfect vegetarian Christmas present?
What about a vegetarian haggis (MacSweens or Halls) or for your dog some Wafcol vegetarian dog food. Feeling porky? Try a porkless pie (health food stores), a vegetarian hamper, or better still, membership to the Vegetarian Society.

7. Misunderstandings
It’s a sad fact that lots of people still don’t understand that a vegetarian diet not only provides you with all the essential nutrients you get from eating meat but is also much healthier. Suggest they get the lo-down on why being veggie is so great by going to www.vegsoc.org.

8. Clichés
Wherever you go there will always be some joker who thinks veggies are sandal-wearing hippies who live on lentils and scraps of old cabbage. If one of these bizarre individuals corners you over the yule log and starts to make turkey noises or asks pointless questions about whether carrots feel pain - just laugh at them, they are a lost cause!

9. Don’t let
friends or family roast your vegetables next to the Christmas bird. Cooking vegetarian dishes separately from the meat is essential. The same goes for vegetarian stuffing, cook separately and don’t allow it to go anywhere near the anatomy of a turkey.

10. Don’t cry over spilt gravy
Vegetarian gravy is great. If you are living in a mixed meat and veggie household, offer to make up the gravy they won’t be disappointed. Vegetarian gravy granules are readily available or pick up a decent vegetarian recipe book.

For more tips and info on the joys of being a veggie at Christmas and all year through, go to www.vegsoc.org

Or call us on 0161 925 2000.

Leave Santa a veggie mince pie on Christmas Eve, you never know he may be a vegetarian!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from The Vegetarian Society

‘Saints and Sinners’ is available now, see our online version at www.vegsoc.org/christmas.
Readers can order a free copy by calling The Vegetarian Society on 0161 925 2000. Or emailing us on: info@vegsoc.org

Notes for editors

• For information, media enquiries and images contact: Collette Walsh in The Vegetarian Society Press Office on 0161 925 2012
Email: collette@vegsoc.org

• Out of hours: 07973 108 165/7

• The Vegetarian Society defines a vegetarian as a person who eats no meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea. Vegetarians also avoid the by-products of slaughter such as gelatine or animal rennet in cheese. The Society only approves products containing eggs when they are free-range.

Date for your diary:
National Vegetarian Week 2007 will take place from 21st - 27th May.