I’m dreaming of a kind Christmas: handy hacks for an animal-friendly holiday meal.

The festive season is upon us, which for many people, means one very important thing – food! (Togetherness was a given.) If you’re one of the millions of Aussies who are eating less animal products, or even cutting them out altogether, there are countless options for delicious plant-based dishes to enjoy this Christmas.

Choosing to eat more kindly is one of the key ways you can spare animals from cruelty. And filling your plate with more plants isn’t just great for the animals – it can also do wonders for your personal health, have a lighter footprint on the planet, and liven up your festive spread with a twist on the old holiday classics.

Here are some of our favourite festive plant-based goodies in Australia:

• Roasts
• Gravy
• ‘Seafood’
• Cheese
• Dessert
• Dips, sides and extras
• Recipes

Roasts

If you’re keen on a roast for the Christmas meal centrepiece, there are plenty of delicious animal-friendly options available that fit the bill! Try one of these:

• Made with Plants Plant-based Meatloaf with Glaze
• Vegie Delights Vegie Roast
• Gardein Holiday Roast with Cranberry & Wild Rice Stuffing (before purchasing online, check your local health food shop for this one!)
• Field Roast Whole Celebration Roast with Bread Stuffing & Mushroom Gravy
• Field Roast Hazelnut Cranberry Roast En Croute
• Field Roast Half Celebration Roast
• AVS Meatless Roast stuffed with Leek, Mushroom, and Cranberry (gluten-free)
• AVS Festive Chick’n Roast (gluten-free)
• Fry’s Soy & Quinoa Country Roast

Gravy

Need some extra gravy for your roast, stuffing, or those potatoes that might’ve hung around in the oven a tad too long? Keep one of these on hand to drizzle over anything. Or better yet, everything.

• Celebrate Health Vegan Gravy
• Massel Supreme Demi-Glace Instant Gravy (also available at select IGA stores!)
• Massel Chicken Gravy
• Essential Organic Onion Gravy Powder
• Orgran Vegetable Gravy Mix
• Gravox Traditional Boxed Gravy Mix

‘Seafood’

Fancy a sea-inspired dish for your holiday menu? No animals required! Check out one of these deliciously easy ingredients:

• Fry’s Meat Free Tempura Battered Prawn-style Pieces
• Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Smoked Salmon
• Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Fish Fillet
• Gardein Golden Fishless Filets
• Lamyong Prawns (two packet sizes available at the Vegan Grocery store)
• Lamyong Whole Fish
• Lamyong Vegan Calamari
• Lamyong Frozen Chunky Fish

Cheese

If you’re a cheese board kind of family — we’ve got you covered. Gather ’round to sample a few of these incredible cracker-toppers and cast votes for your favourites.

• Artisa plant-based cheese
• The Vegan Dairy cheeses
• All The Things cheeses (check here for stockists)
• Sprout & Kernel cashew-based cheese
• Hello Friend specialty cheeses

Dessert

If you’re only here for the sweets, you’d better come prepared in your comfiest trackies. The only trouble you’ll have this Christmas is choosing just one!

Puddings & Pies

• Gold Handmade Dark Chocolate & Davidson Plum Pudding
• The Green Lion Sticky Date Pudding
• Coles Gluten-free Fruit Mince Pies
• Ancient Grains Spelt Fruit Mince Pies

Chocolate

• Woolworths Plantitude Vegan Belgian Dark Chocolate Cake
• Woolworths Chocolate Rum Balls
• Leda Chocolate Rum Balls
• Booja Booja Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Truffles

Extra Festive

• Coles Peppermint Candy Canes
• Gingerbread Folk Cookies and house-making kits
• Vergani Vegan Christmas Cake Panettone (an Italian classic)

Finishing Touches

• Woolworths Plantitude Egg-free Meringue Nests
• Coles Vegan Meringue Kisses, available at select stores
• Peter’s Plant-based Vanilla Ice cream :dash: this is one option, but there are heaps of wonderful dairy-free ice creams readily available at the supermarkets now 🙂
• Nakula Dairy-free products: keep an eye out for the seasonal custards in Vanilla & Brandy flavours!
• Soyatoo Whipped Creams in soy, coconut, or rice-based varieties
• Coles Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk
• Foster Clark’s Custard Powder (for baking :dash: just use soy or almond milk for mixing!)

As Christmas approaches, be sure to check your local Coles and Woolies for their seasonal treats – their festive plant-based range grows every year!

Dips, sides and extras

But wait, there’s more! These products could be just what you need to bring your Christmas spread to life:

• Praise Vegan Aioli
• Coles Vegan Garlic Aioli
• Chris’ Plant Based Spicy Capsicum Dip
• Chris’ Sweet Potato & Cashew Dip
• Obela Roasted Pine Nut Hommus
• Obela Zesty Jalapeno Hommus
• Obela Caramelised Onion Hommus
• Woolworths Free from Gluten Bake at Home Rolls
• Massel Stock Powders (pro tip: even the chicken & beef flavours are animal-free!)

Recipes

Finally, if you’re keen to bring a little extra Christmas magic into the kitchen, here are a few of our favourite holiday recipes that are sure to impress your friends and family.

• Spiced Chilli Maple Nuts — excellent for pre-dinner snacking
• Christmas Peppermint Slice, a lovely gift if you can manage to part with it!
• Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies (Santa-approved)

Keep it up!

If all this talk about animal-friendly feasts has you feeling inspired to eat more plant-based foods in the new year, check out VegKit.com for even more ideas!

You’ll find over 100 delicious recipes, plus all the support you need: the latest products, best places for eating out, nutrition tips, lifestyle advice and more. And while you’re at it, grab a copy of our FREE Veg Starter Kit – a handy resource no matter where you are in your journey with plant-based food.