How To Have a Meat-Free Christmas

Better Business
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November 7, 2023
·  1 min read
How To Have a Meat-Free Christmas
How To Have a Meat-Free Christmas
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With ‘Veganuary’ just around the corner, the pandemic has inspired many to get a head start on reducing their carbon footprint by lowering their in-take of meat, and thanks to the flexitarian boom, supermarkets have been increasingly boosting their plant-based ranges. We explore some sustainable ways to consider going meatless this Christmas, which could be kinder on your wallet and the planet.

With ‘Veganuary’ just around the corner, the pandemic has inspired many to get a head start on reducing their carbon footprint by lowering their in-take of meat, and thanks to the flexitarian boom, supermarkets have been increasingly boosting their plant-based ranges. We explore some sustainable ways to consider going meatless this Christmas, which could be kinder on your wallet and the planet.

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While ‘veganism’ comes laden with many modern day connotations, it was actually founded in the 40s. Originally called ‘non-dairy vegetarianism’, it’s definition was amended in the 80s to ‘seek and end to the use of animals by man for food, commodities, work, hunting, vivisection, and all other uses involving exploitation of animal life by man’.

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However a full-time vegan switch can be quite a drastic change for many, and it’s worth considering gentler options and transitions such as vegetarianism which still allows for animal-based produce if not meat (milks and eggs), or flexitarianism which consists of reducing meat consumption as opposed to eliminating it all together.

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Swap Turkey For Nut Roasts

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You can roast almost anything including aubergine, cauliflower, mushroom, pepper or squash and stuff it with basmati rice, tomato, chestnuts, onion and garlic as an impressive baked centre piece. Think root-vegetable fritters, crispy asparagus bundles, or hearty vegetable pies. Not only is this kinder to your wallet given the popularity of turkey during this season, it could also benefit your waist-line and your gut health.

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Swap Gravy For Bouillon

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Most supermarkets now sell vegan gravy like Bouillon, or you can easily make your own using the water from roasted vegetables, with a dash of marmite, tomato puree and vegetable stock. If its bread sauces and brandy butters you can’t do without, the same recipes can still be used, by replacing any butter or cream with dairy alternatives like coconut or soy milk.

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Swap Pigs In Blanket For Soy-Meat Or Tofu Skewers

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Whether it’s sausages wrapped in bacon or devil’s on horse back, you can keep the prunes and ditch the meat by opting for the wide array of soy and pea-based meat alternatives, with popular brands such as This.co being only too ready to accommodate. With the right preparation, it may even be difficult to tell the difference.

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Swap Stuffing For Butternut Bake

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Butternut or pumpkin bakes make a great texture for meat-less fillings, and also come packed full of more bioavailable vitamins, minerals and gut-boosting fibres. Blend with nuts, raisins and potatoes for a heartier finish. Similar to many nut roast recipes, you can use this to stuff vegetarian roasts such as bell peppers or aubergines.

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Swap Christmas Pudding For Avocado Mousse

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Cooking vegan desserts is easier than you think, with most recipes substituting milk and eggs for healthy replacements like mashed avocado, banana, black beans and courgette. The candied orange peel, iced ginger bread and even chocolate fondant can remain a staple.

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This Avocado Chocolate Mousse is not only a healthy choice for chocolate lovers, but it’s also one of the easiest dessert recipes you’ll ever make! It’s so rich, creamy and chocolaty that you’ll forget it has avocados in it. And for those of you on diet restrictions, it’s good to know that this is a vegan, dairy free, paleo, and gluten-free treat!

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Greener Gift-Giving

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When it comes to gift-giving, it can help to be aware of which products contain some of the less obvious animal materials, for example even most types of glue! Read the fine print on labels from clothes, beauty products, and common gifts like chocolate. With clothing, there are a whole host of interesting leather alternatives, from pineapple and apple leather from brands like Luxtra, to mushroom and Hemp. However Faux Fur should generally be avoided, some companies still use real fur and actually mislabel their products, and the plastic used in faux trimmings is not great for the environment as it often separates in the wash.

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Although sheered sheep are often not harmed during the process, woollen products are also generally considered non-vegan. Animal-friendly alternatives include cotton and bamboo, but not silk, which is produced by silk worms.  

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Candles add a festive touch to any room, but most of them contain beeswax or animal-derived stearic-acid (a fatty substance from the stomach of a pig). Opt for soy-based candles, or shea-butter and essential-oil based massage candles from brands like Yūgenial. Alternatively you could try flameless LEDs to maintain that low-lit glow for longer.  

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Veganism is a growing movement and a small part of what constitutes a more conscious way of living. The average family will throw away 10% of their Christmas meal, with an estimated £64 million pounds worth wasted annually in the UK in total. There’s something about the festivities that leads to bulk buying and excess, so why not make a more mindful effort to buy less and use more.  

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Whether it’s your first Christmas as a vegan, or you’re a well seasoned veteran, there’s never been a better time or time of year to explore some alternative and interesting new ideas, recipes and activities for a more consciously curated Christmas.  

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