'Tis the season of festive indulgence. But if your family is like mine, not everyone's mouth is watering for the same holiday flavours. Vegetarians and vegans are sprouting up everywhere, and the dinnertime landscape can be a confusing place to navigate for all members of the family (Grandma is still muttering curse words over my Tofurkey incident of 2008).
But there is no reason why meat-eaters and vegetarians/vegans cannot dine in harmony gathered 'round a holiday feast. Alison Kent, Special Publications Food Editor and author of Canadian Living: The Vegetarian Collection: Creative Meat-Free Dishes that Nourish and Inspire (Transcontinental, 2010), knows that integrated mealtime can be tricky but there are options to leave us all satisfied. "There are plenty of great recipes that can appeal to both omnivores and vegetarians like the Rustic Spinach Galette with Whipped Sweet Potatoes [from my vegetarian cookbook]." Yum!
So with a little good will and dinner pre-planning anything is possible, right?
How to feed a vegetarian/vegan this holiday season
If your goal is to maintain family tranquility this holiday season, here are a few tips to avoid anyone going hungry.
1. Check the label
Avoid carnivore rookie mistake number one: Just because you didn't get it at the deli counter, doesn't make it vegetarian. It sounds basic enough but you'd be surprised where you'll find meat or animal byproducts once you start looking. "Some products and ingredients you might take for granted as being meat-free are not (Worcestershire sauce comes to mind)," says Kent. Skip awkward moments and empty stomachs by reading labels carefully.
Page 1 of 2 – For more tips and great recipes to help you make it through the holidays check out page 2
