The holidays are officially here and with that means parties and celebrations galore. While many consumers will host parties for the arrival of 2018, they may find it stressful to adhere to each individual’s dietary restrictions. The vegan movement is growing, which means people are becoming more open to the idea of eating plant-based foods. Here are a few tips on how to successfully host an all-vegan holiday or New Year’s Eve party that tastes good to any palate!

Cook Crowd-Pleasing Foods

Vegans do not live solely off of leaves and twigs but because this is a common stereotype of the vegan diet, many people are hesitant to try plant-based foods. Here are some foods that will satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike. Some examples include:

• Vegan Mac and Cheese, containing potatoes, carrots, onions, and nutritional yeast
• Vegan Spinach and Artichoke Dip, made from cashews and artichoke hearts
• Soy Chorizo Vegan Nachos, with vegan queso, soy chorizo, and black beans
• Low fat salad dressing, three oil-free varieties
• Crispy Herb French Fries, with just a few simple ingredients

Watch the Decorations

No party is complete without decorations! Veganism is not just a diet, it’s a lifestyle. People go vegan because they care about their own bodies, the environment, and the well-being of animals. Party decorations are often made from products that are harmful to the environment, which in turn affects the animals living in it. Ditch the balloons this year and look for eco-friendly party supplies to spice up your house instead. This website offers green party decorations.

Remember that paper plates and cups create a lot of waste. Go for reusable or biodegradable dining ware instead!

Don’t Forget the Alcohol

Many types of alcohol are processed using animal products, making it unfriendly to those who follow a plant-based diet. Beer and wine are often processed with egg whites, gelatin, or casein. Furthermore, alcohol hardly ever has the ingredients listed on the labels. Despite this, it is not so difficult to find vegan alcohol for guests to enjoy. The host just has to do a little extra research. Here are some popular vegan brands of alcohol:

Beer

• Budweiser (except for the Clamato variety)
• Coors and Coors Light
• Yuengling
• Miller Lite, High-Life, and Genuine Draft

Wine

• Yellowtail (red wines only)
• Frey Vineyards
• The Vegan Vine
• Red Truck Wines

Liquor

• Absolute Vodka
• Grey Goose
• Bacardi Rum
• Skyy Vodka

Consider mixing alcohol with festive holiday drinks like cranberry juice or vegan egg nog. Sodas are vegan as well. Some popular vegan drink ideas include rum and coke, warm pumpkin spice cocktails, and homemade vegan Irish cream.

If you manage to throw a successful party, maybe some meat-eating guests will even make it their New Year’s Resolution to go vegan this year!

 

Gianna Bruzzese is the creator of VeganByGianna, an all-vegan blog and instagram filled with plant-based recipes.