Suitable for Vegetarians For most of us Christmas dinner automatically conjures thoughts of roast turkey with chestnut stuffing and mini sausages wrapped in bacon but for the growing number of the population who are vegetarians this time of year can mean a plateful of sprouts but not much else.  If you have a "veggie" coming to your Christmas dinner this year we have a few suggestions to make sure that you all enjoy your big day.

1. Talk to your guest in advance
   First, find out whether your guest is a vegetarian or a vegan. Vegetarians don't eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish, crustacea or any other product which has been made from slaughtering an animal. They also tend to use free-range eggs. Vegans go a bit further by also cutting out animal produce including milk, other dairy products, eggs and honey.
   Also remember that vegetarians and vegans, like anybody else, may have food allergies or things that they just don't like so check first before spending 8 hours cooking something special that they just won’t/can’t eat.
2. Read the labels
   If you're not used to shopping for vegetarians, the main things to watch out for are animal fat, gelatine (which turns up in lots of desserts) and animal rennet (which can be used in cheese). Make sure you choose the one with a label indicating that it is suitable for vegetarians. Christmas pudding and mincemeat traditionally contain suet, which is a form of animal fat, but many brands now use a vegetable version which tastes just as good.
3. Make plenty
   Whatever you decide to prepare for your veggie guest, allow for a couple of extra portions because the meat-eaters almost always want to try 'just a little'…
4. Unfamiliar ingredients
   If you have difficulty getting hold of the ingredients you find in your chosen veggie recipes, try your local health food shop. They will probably also have a good supply of nuts and dried fruit for everyone to enjoy and can usually be relied upon for extra advice.
5. Keep it separate
   If you're having a traditional Christmas dinner, your veggie guests will probably enjoy sharing the roast potatoes, veg and gravy, so cook them in vegetable oil (not lard), separately from the meat. Vegetarian gravy granules and mixes are readily available in supermarkets and the majority of stuffing mixes are suitable for vegetarians and vegans, so look out for one that mentions this on the packet.
6. Ready-made options
   If you don't want to cook a separate dish, you shouldn't have any trouble picking up a nut roast or other ready-made festive option from the supermarket or health food store. Just bear in mind that some vegetarians love meat substitutes, but others don't enjoy food that looks or tastes like meat - again, check first to avoid an unhappy guest.
7. Washing it all down
   Beers and wines are often refined or clarified with animal products. This process stops the drink from becoming cloudy and because the animal products are not an actual ingredient, they don't have to be mentioned on the label.
   Your local wine merchant or off-licence should also know which of their products are suitable for vegetarians