A Vegan’s Guide to Socialising at Christmas

Christmas is a time for gathering with friends, family, and of course, sharing in the joy of festive food. However, if you follow a vegan lifestyle, navigating holiday meals can be tricky – especially when everyone around you seems obsessed with turkey!

But don’t worry, with a little planning and a lot of holiday spirit, you can enjoy a wonderful vegan Christmas dinner alongside everyone else. Plus, for non-vegans, hosting a vegan at Christmas can seem daunting. But there’s no need to panic – we’ve got you covered.

1. Plan Ahead for a Delicious Vegan Feast

It’s fantastic if your family is on board with a vegan Christmas, but let’s be honest, that’s not always the case. Whether you’re dining with devoted meat lovers or not, it’s always wise to plan ahead. There are so many incredible vegan options these days that you’re sure to find something that satisfies everyone at the table, (especially if you’re using our Xmas guide!), and who knows? the vegan dish might just steal the show.

If your host isn’t sure what to make (and you don’t want to leave them Googling “what do vegans eat?”), you can always offer to bring a dish. Not a fan of cooking? No problem, as these days we are spoilt for choice with plenty of delicious, ready-made vegan options available. Or, did we mention you could easily share a simple, festive recipe from our Christmas guide to make life easier?

2. Read the Room Before Talking About Veganism

Certain topics are famously off-limits at the holiday dinner table: politics, religion, and, yes, sometimes even veganism. Though vegans often get a reputation for bringing it up, it’s not uncommon for non-vegans to lead the charge, either out of curiosity or, let’s face it, to stir things up.

If the ‘v’ word comes up, staying calm is key. If the vibe is friendly and open, feel free to share your personal journey, talking about why you went vegan often goes over better than throwing facts around. But if tensions are high, it’s perfectly okay to deflect and suggest chatting about it another time. After all, no one wants their Christmas pudding with a side of debate.

3. Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Remember, you don’t have to convert anyone at the dinner table. Just by enjoying your plant-based meal and staying true to your values, you’re already making a statement.

It’s Christmas, so keeping the peace might be the best gift of all. If in doubt, be more Jesus – after all this is your holiday period!

4. Be a Good Listener

If a conversation about veganism does come up, the best way to engage is by listening to others.

Everyone has a story, and giving them space to share their thoughts can lead to more open and respectful discussions. There’s no need to overload them with information, instead, a little empathy goes a long way, so calm down and focus on understanding their perspective. You might just find they’re more interested in your journey if they feel heard.

5. Plan a Post-Christmas vegan meal

If you have vegan friends, plan a Christmas meal together. This way you can relax, enjoy the food and share your festive experiences.

This also takes some pressure off your family meal, giving you something else to look forward to.