Peace on Earth. Goodwill to all. Family time.
If we’re honest with ourselves, none of the values that encapsulate the spirit of the season align with carving up a dead animal on Christmas Day. Turkeys, cows, pigs, and all other animals form the same loving family bonds as humans do, and as fellow inhabitants of this Earth, they deserve some of that peace we preach, too. As Peta’s Christmas ad is shown at cinemas across Scotland throughout December – showing a girl strike up a friendship with a cow who listens to her practise “Jingle Bells” on the trumpet – we’re reminded to consider the individual behind the meat we eat and extend goodwill to all, not just those of our own species.
Fear not – all the taste and nostalgia associated with your family traditions can be achieved with vegan foods. Much of what you eat is likely already vegan: oats, barley, tatties, neeps, herbs, spices, and many condiments – and you don’t have to stray far from your usual festive favourites to enjoy a humane meal. Lorne sausage and cold cuts Supermarket shelves are stuffed with vegan Wellingtons, pigs in blankets, and turkey crowns.
Want to buy local? Glasgow-based bottega Sgaia hand-produces a range of plant-based meats, including stuffed roasts, Lorne sausages, and cold cuts. Of course, vegan food doesn’t have to come pre-made. Inexpensive whole foods can be whipped up into stellar Christmas mains: simply swap minced flesh for mushrooms, lentils, or walnuts.
Opt for milk and.