It’s Christmas next week, and one of the biggest parts of the day is the food. But how do you do Christmas lunch when you or one of your guests don’t eat meat?
For many families, it’s a time to bring out the big guns: gammon, turkey and all the delicious sides to pair. Often the meals are centred around a meat dish.
Not eating meat can be a controversial topic for some families, but Christmas lunch can be just as mouth-watering and satisfying without the meat.
1. Eating out
The best part about eating out is the absence of stress and thinking (mostly). There are restaurants all over the city that stay open on Christmas day, so Christmas lunch can be a hassle-free feast.
Also read: 10 places serving Christmas lunch in Cape Town
Cape Town restaurants often have many delicious and high-quality veggie options.
There are even some eateries focused on specifically vegan meals, making veggie options the default and not the alternative.
Also read: Enjoy a vegan Christmas lunch at the Radisson RED V&A Waterfront
2. Eating at home – substitutes
If your main plan is to eat a meat-based meal and fit the vegan eaters in somewhere, there are plenty of food options that can act as a substitute for the main dish.
Most shops sell vegan “burgers”, “hot dogs” and the like, but you can also grab some great ingredients and get creative with your substitutions. Jackfruit, tofu and lentils, for example, make great dishes that serve a similar function as meat in a big meal.
Keep in mind that there are vegans who don’t want to feel like they’re eating meat, so to opt for the latter is easy.
You can buy any of these ingredients or plant-based substitutes from most shops, including Woolworths, Pick n Pay and Checkers.
3. Eating at home – vegan focused
Another way you could approach Christmas lunch, which may feel radical if you are a meat-eater, is to refocus your entire meal, challenge yourself and make everything plant-based!
It seems like a hard commitment, and it may be, but there are many easy recipes that can still give you versatility and mouth watering tastes.
Chefs internationally have experimented with plant-based cooking, and you can too.
Click here for some meatless Christmas dinner ideas and here for 40 vegetarian options.
Also read:
Picture: Unsplash
