‘I refuse to cook meat for my family at Christmas – I’d rather not invite them’

A vegan mum has said she won’t be serving turkey for her meat-eating family members this Christmas – and they can have their dinner elsewhere if they don’t like it

With Christmas right around the corner, most of us will have everything planned and ready to go for the big day, whether you’re hosting it yourself or heading to a family member’s house for the day.

But one mum has told her family not to bother coming if they’re going to complain about the food on offer, as she’s said she won’t be cooking a turkey.

The mum, who has been “completely vegan” for several years, plans to cook a nut roast for her guests on Christmas Day, and has said that she knows some of her family will be unimpressed at the lack of meat on offer.

However, the woman won’t budge on her position and refuses to cook a separate meal for her meat-eating loved ones, as she insisted she “could not stomach” sitting next to people who are scoffing down turkey.

In a post on Mumsnet, she said: “I am thinking of hosting Christmas this year. We are a completely vegan family and have been for a number of years. I am an amazing cook, so am planning a nut roast but with all the usual Christmas dinner trimmings and Christmas pudding.

“The thing is, I feel the lack of meat might ruffle a few feathers, excuse the pun. Some members of the family are staunch meat-eaters who think we’re going to die from malnutrition and make their views known at every opportunity.”

The mum also said she had previously invited her family to dinner and many of them had complained about the ban on meat, so she’s now unsure whether to invite them at all – as she’d rather they stay at home than keep moaning about the food.

She added: “We invited them to dinner a few years ago and they were put out that they couldn’t bring their own meat.

“But I just could not stomach sitting there eating with other people eating dead animals. They might as well be eating a dead dog, it repulses me that much. I find meat absolutely disgusting. My husband is the same.”

Commenters on the post were largely on the mum’s side, but many of them encouraged her to at least extend an invite to her family while making it clear that meat is off the menu.

One person said: “Definitely invite them, but don’t offer meat. I’m a meat eater but would be delighted to eat a lovingly made vegan meal and wouldn’t dream of commenting.”

While another wrote: “If I were eating with vegetarians or vegans I’d not expect them to serve meat and I’d be excited to try whatever they offered me.”

And someone else added: “Invite them, explain the ground rules and don’t be offended if they decline.”

However, others said they believe Christmas isn’t the best time to serve vegan food to meat-eaters, as many will be looking forward to turkey.

One commenter explained: “I’m a meat eater and while I would totally respect your beliefs, and would in no way expect to be served meat in your house, I’m afraid I would decline to eat my main meal and just visit after dinner.

“It’s nothing personal, I wouldn’t mind for another meal, but I love Christmas dinner and I wouldn’t be prepared to sacrifice the traditional offerings.”

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