Christmas is all about quality time with family and friends, and delicious holiday foods of course! But it can be a tricky time to be vegan… especially if you’re the only one in your family! You’ll like face many struggles, like not being able to find anything to eat at a family holiday party. But fear not, we’ve compiled our top tips to help you have the Merriest vegan Christmas!
Tip # 1 - STOCK UP ON VEGAN FOOD
During this holiday season, you’re likely going to be surrounded by all sorts of animal products like chocolates, cheese platters, and meat-based dishes. Because of this, it can be difficult to keep your cravings at bay if you’re new to veganism. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to find vegan alternatives to staple festive foods! Most supermarkets now offer vegan cheese and an array of chocolates and sweets! It’s very important to not deprive yourself of these foods during this time! Instead of just not eating your favorite Christmas treats, replace them with a vegan version! Even when you’re amidst non-vegan foods, you’ll be too busy munching on your own vegan snacks to care!
Tip #2 - PLAN CHRISTMAS DINNER IN ADVANCE
If you’re having Christmas dinner at a family member’s house, make sure to let the host know you’re vegan in advance and help them arrange options for you. As we stated above, there are tons of vegan Christmas dinner options available in most grocery stores, so finding something you like won’t be difficult. You can also bring dishes of your own to show people first-hand that being vegan isn’t as extreme or limiting as they may think, and the food can be just as (if not more) delicious than your traditional feast. Another idea would be to host your own Christmas feast! This way you would have complete control of what’s on the table and could open people’s minds to new and exciting Christmas dishes.
Tip #3 - BE PREPARED FOR QUESTIONS
When you’re new to plant-based living, being the only vegan in your family can be an isolating experience. To some families, especially if you come from a traditional household, ditching turkey and ham at Christmas is nothing short of a criminal offense! You will likely face many people who will be adamant about giving you nutritional advice or telling you that we need meat to survive. The key is to be patient, answer people’s questions, and avoid becoming the “preachy vegan” at all costs. Most of the time, people will take the lead from you. So, if you keep things light-hearted, fun, and relaxed, then it’s likely everyone else will too.
Tip # 4 - CREATE A LIST OF VEGAN CHRISTMAS GIFTS
All vegans have been there – getting a non-vegan gift for Christmas and pretending to be thrilled, so you don’t hurt grandma’s feelings. To avoid this, distribute a list among your family and friends, so they can know what to buy you! Even after giving the list, if you happen to receive a non-vegan gift, you could re-gift it or donate it to charity. Be patient and grateful, and everything will eventually work out!