To tell newly vegan guest to bring their own dish on Christmas Day?

[GunpowderGelatine]

I'm hosting Christmas day at my house this year, not something I've done in ages. There's ten of us, including the kids, which is a great number - my plan, like every year I cook, is to order M&S food and pick it up on Christmas Eve then just bung it all in the oven and make some homemade gravy. I usually get a pork joint as I'm not a turkey fan, but will also be getting a turkey joint for my guests. I'm not usually the type to stress about Christmas dinner (it's only a roast after all!) but I also want it to be as simple as possible. One of my guests has declared they are now vegan. Which is a bit of a PITA for dinner if I'm honest as I'll have to sort a vegan main, gravy, dessert etc. I also have a nut allergy sufferer in the group which excludes quite a lot of vegan options as mains.

WIBU to ask the newly vegan guest to bring their own dish on the day or is that really rude? I've kind of planned the food around the size of my oven/hob and could do without the added stuff having to go in it (don't mind warming something up though)?

Vegan food isn't that scary, I aren't vegan (I'm vegetarian) but I always make sure everything is vegan if I have friends around.

There's lots of quick 'meat' roasts or nut roasts you can just bung in the oven, Asda and Tesco have ones coming out especially for Xmas, bisto gravy is vegan.

And lots of deserts are vegan, there's a lovely chocolate torte in Asda, lots of vegan ice cream.

M&S have a vegan range too, not difficult at all.

If you don't get her something it'll come across like you don't particularly care about her (whether that's true or not), especially if you're buying ready made for everyone already. Why don't you ask her what brand of vegan sausages she likes best and get those? I'd be very happy with a couple of Linda McCartney's. You can just put them on top of the veg, 2 sausages will take up no room at all. Do some instant veggie gravy and you're golden.

Yanu, let them have the veg and just get some vegan ham substitute sliced in a packet.

Only on mumsnet are vegans so bloody entitled! "Oh just feed everyone jucky olive oil roasties and desserts without cream" Hell to the no!
The vegan friend I have doesnt act like this, but if she did she wouldnt be my friend.
Also, what happened to being grateful for what ever you are served? Not if if ONE out of TEN is a vegan apparantly. It really annoys me how some people want to pander to minorities like that. Its such a stupid entitled attitude.

If you need a dessert option oggs mince pies are amazing, serve with alpro custard! So delicious.

YANBU, sorry forgot to add that.

My swert vegan pancake recipe on the other hand is nicer than regular ones. I used to make separate for my multi allergic chikd but the rest of the family now ask for the vegan version too.

Would you be happy to share? Pancakes is something I’ve missed since going vegan.

It really annoys me how some people want to pander to minorities like that

It’s hardly “pandering” (oh, how I hate that word) to respect someone’s moral choices. Particularly when it’s so easy now. It used to be well nigh impossible but you can’t move for vegan foods in most supermarkets these days. Giving someone food they can eat and enjoy is surely what Christmas is all about.

@PurpleDaisies of course. I am staying away from home at the moment but once I am back I will dig out my recipe book and send it to you.

I do not mean not catering for a vegan! What I mean by pandering is making all the non vegans eat vegan food! Thats what pandering to a minority is! And no matter what you say, it is stupid. Just set some vegan food aside, but dont make everyone else eat it! It is NOT as nice, in most cases, no matter how much all you vegans claim to the contrary.
Moral choices...maybe do some proper research to find out how veganism is both unhealthy and bad for the enviornment. I suggest the book "The vegetarian Myth". And now I shall put on earmuffs, because all the vegans will be screaching because I dared to question their moral superiority

It is not pandering to make a guest feel welcome.
Ffs it is good manners to be a good host.

I'm a vegan. M&S do a great vegan range called Plant Kitchen. You can just bung any of it in the oven, no prep or thought needed. I don't think this requires too much effort on your part. Don't bother making a vegan gravy. You could either ask the vegan to bring a dessert, or just provide fruit. At least then you won't look like a complete arse.

Like what Emraldshamrock was saying, veg, gravy and some quorn would do nicely! Also you could just cook all the veg in oil rather than animal fat for example so saving oven space and it will cater to the whole party! I've found quorn sausages (or similar) and vegan gravy for £1/£2 each or less in a lot of supermarkets, have a look in the 'free from' sections for the gravy hope this helps!

The OP is going to cater for her vegan guest!

Lovesgood god you talk some utter rot.
Roast potatoes done in olive oil are just as good as goose fat , same with roasted veg.
I’m not vegan but my son is and if you’ve never had tasty vegan food then you’re going to the wrong place .
It’s not pandering to cut out goose fat or not put meat juices in a gravy ..

@FizzyIce, you beat me to it. I love the assumption we’re all vegans, not just people accustomed to cooking for them.

@Elbowedout thanks so much!

And also cooking roast potatoes in animal fat is not the done thing anymore. Vegetable oil is just as good now.

Yeah, no.

I was a vegan for a few years, but vegan food definitely isn’t as nice as food cooked with animal products. It’s palatable, and some of it is tasty, but it’s not the same. A lot of it tastes really synthetic and has a weird texture.

My guest line up once included - 1 vegan, 1 vegetarian, 1 halal, 1 no cow, 1 nut allergy and 2 very fussy eaters. I catered for everyone, no problem.

@Lovesgood unless I am reading something different the only comment about serving dessert without cream is that the vegans could be served their pudding without cream. Not that everyone else has to do without.
Though actually, it is really very easy to peel the lid off a carton of vegan cream or custard and offer that to those who want it (or who have no choice) whilst doing the same with a pot of dairy cream for those who prefer that.

seriously veggie stuffing (easy if homemade) & veggie gravy & open a tin of butter beans (mix herbs in& bobs your uncle there is her protein)
stuffing can be made from bread (& as long as it isn't fancy bread) & there are some good tasting vegan stuffing all you have you add ithot water. make instant gravy for her (with cooked veg water) & use extra mixed with meat juices. with nice chutney/cranberry its fine as for pudding well do ask her to bring her own although vegan mince pies are available

A lot of it tastes really synthetic and has a weird texture.

That’s vegan food substitutes, not vegan food.

A lot of it tastes really synthetic and has a weird texture.

Only if it’s processed faux meat. Good dishes cooked from scratch without animal derived ingredients can be excellent.

Sorry, that should say ^ some vegan substitutes.