The festive table is set. Is this a good time to mention that I'm vegan?
The festive table is set. The family reunited. In the kitchen, the final touch is brought to the traditional celebration which marks the occasion of Christmas. A radiant cook creates the signature turkey, the centerpiece of the meal. Is this a good time to mention that I've recently committed to veganism?
Time is running out and I still haven't given specific directions to my wonderful beauty -family of my new dietary requirements. I've been a vegetarian the whole time I've known them, and they always go out of their way to accommodate me. But it was easier when I could savor the cauliflower cheese, enjoy the buttery potatoes, and fill up on the pavlova afterwards.
As much as I enjoy my 95% vegan lifestyle (my mum struggles too, so I concede to her Indian inability to avoid ghee when she cooks for me), I don't want to stress the chef. And I don't want to have to explain or justify my choices either.
After mulling over this conundrum for weeks and remaining undecided, I have decided that it was time to call the experts.
The Vegan CompanionMost vegans I know somewhat fit the stereotype of being militant in their views. I'm an exception in making concessions for the benefit of my family or friends (although I'll admit it's not a huge sacrifice to eat mum's ghee-soaked curries).
So I was a little nervous to ask Kate Luke, co-founder of Little Oak Sanctuary, a farm animal sanctuary and vegan advocacy organization, if Christmas is a good time to talk of veganism.
Luke didn't do anything about the fate of the animals on the Christmas table.
"Traditionally, pigs and turkeys are highlighted on the Christmas menu, and these two animals are treated very badly in modern agriculture. There is a lot of hidden cruelty that people may not know about no. We use Christmas as an opportunity for advocacy, showing people the issues and promoting alternative vegan options. spacefinder-type="model.dotc omrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class="dcr-173mewl">
Not everything has to be an argument either, emphasizes Luke. "When we go vegan, we've had time to process it," she says - our families, meanwhile, only hear about the decision, not how we got here, so "they don't have time to adapt".
She recommends sticking to my commitment to veganism, but approaching it from the perspective of educate others and avoid arguments at the dinner table.
It's a good idea to avoid using blaming language: "You are eating an animal that has suffered."I'm going to focus on the positives instead: "Did you know you can coconut milk eggnog? That way I can support the welfare of laying hens while enjoying my favorite party drink!"
The festive table is set. The family reunited. In the kitchen, the final touch is brought to the traditional celebration which marks the occasion of Christmas. A radiant cook creates the signature turkey, the centerpiece of the meal. Is this a good time to mention that I've recently committed to veganism?
Time is running out and I still haven't given specific directions to my wonderful beauty -family of my new dietary requirements. I've been a vegetarian the whole time I've known them, and they always go out of their way to accommodate me. But it was easier when I could savor the cauliflower cheese, enjoy the buttery potatoes, and fill up on the pavlova afterwards.
As much as I enjoy my 95% vegan lifestyle (my mum struggles too, so I concede to her Indian inability to avoid ghee when she cooks for me), I don't want to stress the chef. And I don't want to have to explain or justify my choices either.
After mulling over this conundrum for weeks and remaining undecided, I have decided that it was time to call the experts.
The Vegan CompanionMost vegans I know somewhat fit the stereotype of being militant in their views. I'm an exception in making concessions for the benefit of my family or friends (although I'll admit it's not a huge sacrifice to eat mum's ghee-soaked curries).
So I was a little nervous to ask Kate Luke, co-founder of Little Oak Sanctuary, a farm animal sanctuary and vegan advocacy organization, if Christmas is a good time to talk of veganism.
Luke didn't do anything about the fate of the animals on the Christmas table.
"Traditionally, pigs and turkeys are highlighted on the Christmas menu, and these two animals are treated very badly in modern agriculture. There is a lot of hidden cruelty that people may not know about no. We use Christmas as an opportunity for advocacy, showing people the issues and promoting alternative vegan options. spacefinder-type="model.dotc omrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class="dcr-173mewl">
Not everything has to be an argument either, emphasizes Luke. "When we go vegan, we've had time to process it," she says - our families, meanwhile, only hear about the decision, not how we got here, so "they don't have time to adapt".
She recommends sticking to my commitment to veganism, but approaching it from the perspective of educate others and avoid arguments at the dinner table.
It's a good idea to avoid using blaming language: "You are eating an animal that has suffered."I'm going to focus on the positives instead: "Did you know you can coconut milk eggnog? That way I can support the welfare of laying hens while enjoying my favorite party drink!"
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