Vegetarian Christmas

[Coldicote]

I'm fascinated by the wide ranging website of the Vegetarian Society at https://www.vegsoc.org/ and wonder how many ABers are aware of it, and are perhaps themselves vegetarians. Many people go veggie these days for all sorts of reasons, not least the environmental implications - see https://www.vegsoc.org/environment. I was brought up from childhood in a veggie household and have been veg most of my life, so perhaps I’m a bit biased. What is your experience, if any, of a vegetarian Christmas and especially the all important Christmas dinner? What do you have instead of meat?

[mikey4444]

Oh dear...Xmas can be miserable enough without having to eat nut cutlets as well !

Mind you, Turkey seems to taste of nothing these days. You could have Cranberry Sauce on cardboard and it would taste the same.

Do veggies have to eat extra sprouts on Xmas Day, in the absence of meat ?

[boxtops]

Personally - if I didn't have meat, I'd have a nut roast with all the usual trimmings. I eat veggie food quite often, I like it.

What I don't understand is veggies flavouring tofu to taste like chicken, or bacon, etc. - that doesn't ring quite right with me!

[mikey4444]

Boxy...I have always understood that the main thing that makes veggies stray from the path of righteousness is the smell of bacon being very gently grilled !

[Coldicote]

Thanks for your replies. It can be difficult to explain vegetarianism. Hunting and killing to eat is a fundamental aspect of life on earth, but I personally feel an affinity with herbivorous peaceable creatures and don't like the thought of killing and eating them. Nut roasts can be delicious and all the better for including herbs, spices and mushrooms, though I must say I'm not impressed by some of today's mass produced mixtures.

[lyall]

im not a veggie but do like some veggie food. last year i had pea and mint risotto cake with all the trimmings as id eaten that much meat in the run up to the big day i was sick of the sight of it. i had been planning on having one again this year as i enjoyed it so much but Asda in their wisdom have stopped stocking them!!

[Maydup]

I'm a vegetarian and long standing member of the veggie society (note to self to check their website more often). We have lovely meals all year round and tend to go to meat eating friends and family at Christmas where we are always happy to eat whatever they are happy to prepare for us. One year it was a delicious chestnut and mushroom bake with roast potatoes and veg; another year it might be nut cutlets or cheesy bake.

We contribute the cheese and biscuits, so take veggie varieties with grapes and celery. I enjoy that course with some port! But avoid christmas pud as i have never been a great fan. Much prefer a light sweet, maybe citrus or vanilla creme.

[woofgang]

Coldicote, I don't think you need to explain it at all. You have made a life choice, your life, your choice.

[BlueToffee]

Couldn't agree more, turkey is like eating cardboard, that's why we usually have rare rib of beef, Yorkshire puddings, onion gravy, and of course, sprouts and roast potatoes. Christmas pudding followed by a quick nap!