Talking no turkey
More and more of us are plumping for a plant- based diet, writes Rory Ford, and they will be well served this Christmas
Whether it’s concerns about personal health, animal husbandry or simply the extra time working from home has afforded us, more Brits than ever are turning to a meat- free diet. According to a survey this year by finder. com, some 13 per cent of us now eschew meat – with 7 per cent being vegetarians, 4 per cent pescatarian, and 2 per cent on a vegan diet.
However, while the estimated number of vegans is relatively small – at roughly 1.1 million – this figure is predicted to double in the next few years. Although the totals for vegetarians and pescatarians have remained steady, the tally of vegans rocketed by 62 per cent over the past year.
And that phenomenal growth is set to continue. Annually, hundreds of thousands of us sign up for the Veganuary campaign – a pledge to follow a plant- based diet for the first month of the year. Last time around, a quarter of a million UK citizens took the plunge and, according to the Vegan Society, more than 400,000 people have signed up for next month already.
This trend is most popular with the younger generations – understandable given the increased availability of information online about where our food comes from. With inevitable post- Brexit delays and talk of chlorinated chickens winging their way from the US, it’s actually not too hard to see the appeal of vegetarianism and veganism – but it can still be awkward catering for veg- minded guests with all the other business of Christmas dinner to deal with.
But help is out there. Lidl is an excellent choice for vegan options, with keenly priced offerings from its excellent Deluxe range. The lowbudget brand’s frozen aisle features a Vegan Nut Roast with Gravy (£ 2.49), as well as a Mushroom Butternut Squash and Cranberry Wellington (£ 2.99).
If you feel like getting even slightly creative, Lidl also stocks Artisan Grains’ range of nut roast mixes. These are handy little kits – ranging from Mediterranean Sun- dried Tomato, Country Vegetable, and Cashew and Cranberry — that you can ‘ make’ yourself ( just add water).
Waitrose is positively awash with vegan alternatives for Christmas – including all the trimmings. Their Vegan Nut Roast (£ 11, serves four) is a blend of mushrooms, pulses, vegetables, seeds and soya protein, topped with pecans, pistachios and walnuts, and finished with a cranberry drizzle.
Try serving with Vegan No Pigs in Blanket (£ 6) or plump for a Plant Kitchen Vegan Festive Wreath (£ 10), a circular sausage fashioned from apples and cranberries, mushrooms and leeks and drizzled with a delicious fruity glaze.
More traditionally, Tesco’s plantbased Wicked Kitchen line offers a No Turkey Roast Crown with a sage and onion stuffing (£ 5).
However, if you really want to push the boat out — and not spend all Christmas in the kitchen there’s a Tesco Finest Vegan Christmas Dinner for Two (£ 35), which includes No Beef Wellington, roast vegetables, stuffing, Christmas pudding and a bottle of Champagne.
Tuck in with no guilt.
“According to a survey, some 13 per cent of us now eschew meat”