At Better Food Company we cater for people wanting meat and dairy alternatives as well as those opting for a vegan diet. Here we take a peak at what products you can pre-order or find in store this year and how they can make for a nutritious, organic and vegan-friendly Christmas.

With the right planning a vegan roast can have just as much protein as a bird with all the trimmings. Tofu, lentils and nuts are among the highest source of non-animal proteins. One portion of nut roast for instance has the equivalent of 31g protein, compared to 27g in turkey. This year you can pre-order our decadent gluten and nut-free Christmas loaf, loaded with puy lentils for a healthy dose of protein (11g per portion). Sunflower seed, pumpkin seed and golden linseed are also part of the mix. Another option for your centrepiece could be the Vegan Society’s chestnut and mushroom pie. Mix in some British grown beans by our supplier hodmedods to give this meal a protein boost.

Brilliant brassicas

The brassicas, which include kale, cauliflower and Brussel sprouts – loved and hated in equal measure – are a great source of nutrients. They contain vitamin A, carotenoids, vitamin C, folic acid, and amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are crucial for cell function. For some tasty accompaniments to your meatless main try wilted kale, cooked in a pan for 1-2 minutes and served with dried cranberries. Steam and then mash cauliflower with vegan spread, and stir fry thinly sliced Brussel sprouts in coconut oil, and serve with roasted hazelnuts. Kale is especially good for us. It has a healthy dose of vitamin K, regulating our inflammatory response and helping to reduce our risk to certain cancers.

Tasty tatties

Along with parsnips, roast spuds are a staple at any vegan Christmas dinner table. To boost your vitamin C why not consider adding roasted sweet potato to the mix, which also has 400% of your daily requirement of vitamin A.

Just desserts

Lastly, why not veganise our mince pie recipe by substituting milk for a non-dairy option and the lard for chilled vegetable spread. Alternatively, look out for our range of vegan desserts and Christmas chocolates. This Christmas don’t forget to put your feet up with a glass of bubbly. Do you know that most of wine is veggie and vegan friendly? Cheers to that.

Happy Vegmas from everyone at Better Food

*Many of the veggies mentioned in this post can be found in your winter veg box from the Community Farm, or available to in store throughout December.