Vegan Christmas

[MaNeOi]

Myself my husband and our four kids 10-5 are all vegan. My husband and I have been together for 20 years and have been vegan for 26 and 22 years. Our opinion is that it isn't a decision for everybody however that being said its the decision for us and our kids unless they decide to make the switch. We have hosted Christmas for the past 9 years, we make everything vegan and someone brings a joint of meat and cooks it for the people who want it. However this year my sister in law is attending for the first time ever. She's asked to make her own potatoes, veg and gravy- however there isn't the capacity and there is no need. I have said she can eat non-vegan but I see no reason to cook 2 of numerous things, especially given it is in my house. Finally she is quite outspoken against having vegan kids - and has said she wants them to try bacon on Christmas morning, what is the best way to address this and is this unreasonable? She's staying for a week and I can now only see tension.

And I would call vegan sausage rolls shit processed junk food. Not saying salem is right btw. Most vegans I know eat more healthily than the meat eaters I know. Then there are the junk food vegans. Still vegan but probably very unhealthy. Being vegan for them is not about human health.

Linda McCartney sausage rolls are vegan.

Her saying she's going to offer my kids meat would get her uninvited. How uncomfortable for the kids who will most probably awkwardly decline or politely accept from feeling like they have to? I couldn't have a relaxing Christmas with her round acting like a total dick.

I have to admit, I am strongly against raising children as vegans, and would advise anybody against it. In some countries you can be prosecuted for it, as it is can be detrimental to the health of the children, and cause long term health issues. Your sister has no right to give your kids things against your wishes, but maybe she fears for their long-term health, and trying to give them bacon is a way of helping them (in her opinion...)

Yes they are vegan iirc purple. Vegan processed shit junk food (imo). Like Oreos, jus rol, jammy dodgers, potato waffles, baked beans, soy products like ice cream, custard, milkshakes, McDonalds veggie burger (no cheese or mayo) and fries with a tonne of ketchup etc etc. All vegan. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely don’t think that there’s anything terrible about these foods and most people eat junk food like this occasionally, meat eaters and vegans alike. But something being vegan does not make it suddenly a health food. That’s all I’m saying. For many people the choice to be vegan is to do with the animals and nothing to do with their own health. I’m always surprised by how many people assume vegans are vegan for their own health. I’m sure some are, but they’d be steering clear of the Jus Rol I imagine!

Yes they are vegan iirc purple. Vegan processed shit junk food (imo).. They definitely are vegan. I was stating it as a fact. Definitely junk food as well.

Yeah, Salem has this huge bee in her bonnet about dairy. It's weird, you'd think she was a rep for the industry . She is being a total beeotch and I say that as a meat eater (can't eat dairy myself). I'd actually uninvite her or just continue telling her NO.

Ah sorry purple, I thought you were responding to my post above yours! As you were .

Your house, your rules. Personally I think you're already being really generous to allow meat into your kitchen - my vegan son would say he'd really rather not have meat in his house.

No worries belinda

Growing up vegan does not have inherent long term health issues. Growing up with poor nutrition can; but that can and does apply to omni and veggie children as much as vegan.

I'm not wildly patient with veganism when it comes hand in hand with tedious virtue-signalling, but you sound fairly reasonable, OP - and this SIL sounds like she's determined to spoil your Christmas with attention-seeking, disruptive behaviour. I agree with PP who suggest you phone her, tell her what the arrangements are going to be in your house, and that if she doesn't like them, she doesn't need to attend.

@chrisinthesun where is it illegal to raise children vegan 😂 you can actually get all nutrients you need from meat and dairy from other sources so why on earth would it be illegal? For example, broccoli is very high in calcium, avocado has a high fat content, beans and pulses are high in protein, dark greens are high in iron.

Also, if you want to wind up an annoying vegan (ie one who is lecturing you about your diet when you didn't initiate any discussion) you can always point out that being vegan in the UK is a privileged position - and not all that environmentally friendly, because for a UK vegan to have adequate nutritious food all year round, some fruits and veg have to be imported from quite a long way away, and most vegans will need to take supplements to make sure they get enough iron and b12. And a healthy vegan diet needs a fair bit of disposable income, cooking skills, energy and time... And you could also remind them that there are some people who couldn't go vegan for health reasons - those who are allergic to nuts and/or soya would really struggle to stay healthy without some meat/dairy.

If the SiL was genuine worried about the OP's kids being malnourished I don't think bacon would be the way to remedy that. I don't see a problem with her bringing gravy with her to reheat if she wants but having two different lots of roast potatoes being cooked on christmas day is obviously ridiculous. I'm a meat eater but at least in my experience I've met more obnoxious anti-vegans than I have vegans. SiL sounds like one of the former.

I am strongly against raising children as vegans... it is can be detrimental to the health of the children, and cause long term health issues. What a load of misinformed bollocks.

To the posters saying they don't agree with veganism, do your views really need airing here? Any reason why you think you know better than the OP? Live and let live, which ironically is what vegans do best. OP, I think you're being very generous in allowing masses of oven space to be taken up with a big bit of meat. I'm veggie and have allowed that in the past and it takes up so much room as well as stinking to high heaven. Tell her to wind her neck in...

I am yet to meet a preachy vegan. Ok, maybe in the olden days, when I was still on FB, there would be the odd slightly overzealous (usually new) vegan liking every post by the fat gay vegan or whatserface... the American one who did dairy is scary. But not once irl did anyone really talk much to me about veganism, before, during or after I was vegan. And I’ve been veggie and vegan on and off since I was I think 8yo. I am now 34 and do eat meat and dairy at the moment, I just try not to be a dick about it. I know a fair few vegans and not one has ever preached to me. Tbf I’ve only ever had one person be a bit judgy to me / weird with me about veganism and that was a meat eater, who I think disagreed with me being vegan. Even that wasn’t terrible. I think forums bring out the worst in people and everyone feels obliged to defend their own way of eating, whether it’s eating meat or being veggie, pesce, vegan, whatever.

Damn it, I'm in hospital awaiting surgery and nil by mouth and this thread has made me salivate for a Christmas dinner!

Re your sil, I wonder if this insistence on her own veg is to do with her feeling insecure and a bit lost?
I like traditions, like my favourite foods cooked in my favourite ways. Normally of course I can accommodate changing these for the sake of others. But you mention your sil is recently divorced and hasn't been to yours for Christmas before - I'm imagining that's possibly because she used to celebrate in her own house with her husband and so they had their way of doing things. Her wanting to do veg 'her' way this year may be her reaching for some continuity when everything else has changed.

Idk, maybe I'm projecting but I can imagine feeling like that. Not that I think it means you need to let her do all her sides, but it might make me inclined to bend a little, or at least be sympathetic and kind in the way I told her no.

Hey, my return button's working!!!

Her wanting to do veg 'her' way this year may be her reaching for some continuity when everything else has changed.

Oh look the enter button is working again! Woo!

Anywho, yes, I thought maybe this^^. Or maybe she’s celebrating being newly single and able to do Christmas dinner “her” way..? I can imagine feeling a bit like that too. I wouldn’t do it at someone else’s inconvenience though...

Ha! Sorry, you already said that tot!

We loooooooooooooove us some paragraphs.

Another one begging for good vegan Yorkshire pud and sausage roll recipes please!

I think you're very nice letting her even cook bacon in your house!

She's staying for a week? How far away does she live?

Is there no option to just invite her for Christmas dinner so she isn't there for breakfast and to limit the time spent with her?