7 Reasons To Go Veggie This Christmas!

Image Source: Trey Ratcliff (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

‘Tis the season to be jolly! The season to celebrate family, friends and… turkey? Not if we have anything to do with it! Whether you’re a full-time vegetarian, or a traditionalist, there’s no reason to miss out on any of the festivities if you choose to forego meat for the holidays. In fact, it might just be the best decision you’ve made! Here are some great reasons to consider a ‘Grassy Perspective^TM’ this Christmas:

1. It’s better for your health: Let’s face it, the food coma that ensues after a typically heavy, tryptophan-fuelled turkey Christmas dinner isn’t pleasant. A vegetarian meal will inevitably be lighter, and by default, healthier. There is an abundance of research pointing to how a vegetarian diet is linked to lower cholesterol levels, less fat and reduced risk of chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Studies also show that cutting out meat usually leads to increased intakes of dietary fiber and essential minerals and vitamins, and that plant-based foods lead to faster calorie burning. There’s also the matter of not knowing where your turkey has come from, therefore not knowing what sort of antibiotics, hormonal supplements or contaminations you are unwittingly consuming. Ergo, skipping the meat fest on Christmas will leave you feeling healthier and fitter. And that means you can continue the festive partying after Christmas dinner too, instead of curling up in recovery mode!

Image Source: Nathan Adams (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

1. It is much more cost effective: Holiday feasts tend to make a sizeable dent on the budget, especially when shopping for seasonally popular items such as turkey during Christmas. Vegetarian ingredients are invariably cheaper, and it makes a difference when cooking for a large group of people. By going vegetarian, you can serve up a show-stopping meal using high quality, delicious produce at almost half the price.
2. It’s better for the planet: The meat industry is widely considered one of the biggest environmental hazards today. Animal agriculture contributes to as much as 51 percent* of greenhouse gas emissions. While poultry still fares better than cattle on the eco-damage scales, a purely plant-based meal is undoubtedly a greener choice.
   

   Image Source: Terry Grealey (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

3. You can get creative: There isn’t much you can innovate with the standard turkey roast, sides and sauce formula, is there? Going vegetarian, on the other hand, will open up a whole new world of possibilities – and no, we’re not just talking about a traditional nut roast here! From baked cauliflower to braised leeks, roasted and stuffed butternut squash, broccoli casserole, lentil gratin, mushroom stuffing... the list is long. With a little imagination, any seasonal vegetable can be turned into hearty soups, pies or tarts, to delicious effect. We don’t recommend vegetarian alternatives to meat, however (such as tofurkey). They tend to be too big on the GMOs and processing, so celebrate vegetables and fruits in their natural form instead.

Image Source: Victor Bayon (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

5. It’s faster and easier to cook: The typical Christmas dinner prep, and all the stress associated with it, is infamous. With the cook slaving over a hot oven all day, and the very real possibility of the cooking of the bird turning into a disaster, it’s not a lot of fun for the host. Vegetables generally cook faster and there’s less risk of burning them (unless you do something really wrong). With just a bit of planning, you can have your vegetarian spread ready to go, with plenty of time to spare – and enjoy the festivities yourself!

6. It’s kinder to fellow creatures: Isn’t Christmas all about joy, peace, and kindness towards fellow beings? Given that, it can be hard to reconcile the spirit of the season with mass animal killings. On average, there are 22 million turkeys eaten in the US on Christmas Day, and 10 million in the UK. That’s a scary statistic when you consider that, according to poultry scientists, turkeys in their natural environment are intelligent birds with a lot of personality and demonstrated emotional capabilities. So why not truly embrace the Christmas spirit this year and spread the love in the animal kingdom too by having a cruelty-free #VeggieBuzzing Christmas?

   Image Source: RickyNJ (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

7. You can stand out from the crowd: Imagine how unique your Instagram pictures will be when you show off your impressive vegetarian main course amidst everyone’s bog standard turkey dinners? You can really set the bar here!

Have yourselves a #VEGGIEBUZZING Christmas!