The holidays are a special time of the year, but for many of us, they can be a wee bit stressful (hint: rum-spiked coconut nog helps). But bringing vegans and meat-eaters to the table doesn’t have to be a recipe for stress. Survive—and thrive—during holiday gatherings with these easy tips:
Be a good guest. If you’ll be attending dinner at someone else’s house, don’t show up empty-handed. Take along a fabulous vegan dish or two that everyone can try. There can never be too many side dishes, and this is a perfect opportunity to show friends and family members that no one needs meat when you can whip up delicious fare such as Maple-Sriracha Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Wild Rice, Cider-Mashed Sweet Potatoes, or Rosemary-“Cheese” Biscuits.
BYOB. Many people don’t even think about beverages when planning for their vegan guests. Help out your host by bringing along cartons of almond nog, coconut creamer for after-dinner coffee, or, if you want to get fancy, a bottle or two of vegan wine.
Be a fabulous host. If you’re not content with cooking side dishes, host dinner at your house—and you’ll have total control over the menu. You can make vegan versions of traditional family favorites with a few simple substitutions, such as using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth or coconut oil in place of butter. Try a ready-made vegan roast for the main dish, or let the veggies shine with an entrée such as Hazelnut-Crusted Portobello Mushrooms or Vegetable-Stuffed Baked Eggplant. Not a cook? Not a problem. Find a local vegan (or vegan-friendly) restaurant to cater the meal for you. Either way, decking yourself out in a whimsical holiday apron can’t hurt.
Above all else, remain gracious. There will always be that one relative who thinks it’s funny to make jokes about the “bunny hugger” at the table. But remember that you’re at dinner, not a debate club. If people ask why you’re vegan, by all means tell them, but save the long explanations about factory farming and the way that meat production contributes to climate change for after dinner. If a rude relative persists, simply smile and say that you’d love to have a lively discussion at a later time, but right now, you just want to enjoy the company of family and friends. No one can argue with that. (And when you’re ready to debate, we’ve got answers to some of the most common questions about being vegan.)
The holidays are a wonderful time to be an advocate for animals—and showing how easy (and tasty!) it is to be vegan is a great way to do it. We’d love to hear about your holiday experiences—or your suggestions for coping with meat-eating relatives! Visit our Facebook page to share your ideas and holiday survival tips.
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