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We all have a friend or relative who’s a vegetarian or vegan, and with all the variety available nowadays there’s no need to subject them to a tofu roast or the inevitable mushroom risotto. Here are some tips for catering for your veggie friends at the dinner table this Christmas.

Talk to your guests!
Firstly find out whether your guest is a vegetarian or a vegan. Vegetarians don’t eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish, or any other product which has been made by killing an animal. They also tend to use free-range eggs. Vegans go a bit further by also cutting out milk, dairy products, eggs and honey. It’s also helpful to remember that vegetarians and vegans, like anybody else, may have food allergies or things that they just don’t like.

Read the labels
If you’re not used to shopping for vegetarians, the main things to watch out for are animal fat, gelatine and animal rennet (which can be used in cheese).Most supermarket cheeses now use vegetarian rennet, so just make sure you choose one with a label indicating that it is suitable for vegetarians. To avoid gelatine, read the ingredients label or look out for products approved by the Vegetarian Society (including veggie jelly crystals for your trifle). Christmas pudding and mincemeat traditionally contain suet, which is animal fat, but many brands now use a vegetable version.

Unfamiliar ingredients
You should be able to find the ingredients for our recipes in any large supermarket, but if you have difficulty getting hold of the ingredients you find in other vegetarian recipes, try your local health food shop. They will probably also have a good supply of nuts and dried fruit for everyone to enjoy and can usually be relied upon for good advice.

Make plenty
Whatever you decide to prepare for your veggie guest, allow for a couple of extra portions because the meat-eaters almost always want to try ‘just a little’…
Keep it separate
If you’re having a traditional Christmas dinner, your veggie guests will probably enjoy sharing the roast potatoes, veg and gravy, so cook them in vegetable oil, not with the meat! Vegetarian gravy granules and mixes are readily available in supermarkets and most of the stuffing mixes are suitable for vegetarians and vegans, so don’t forget to check the packet.

Ready-made options
If you don’t want to cook a separate dish, you shouldn’t have any trouble picking up a nut roast or other ready-made festive option from the supermarket or health food store. Just bear in mind that some vegetarians love meat substitutes, but others don’t enjoy food that looks and tastes like meat.

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