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From Krish Kandiah, founding director of a national charity:

It was on our long drive home from university for the holidays that he dropped the bombshell. For environmental reasons my eldest son had become an ethical vegan. I couldn’t have been more shocked if he had tattooed his forehead or taken up the bagpipes!  I didn’t react well: Christmas dinner was going to be complicated enough already. There were 28 to cater for as our family was being joined by people who would otherwise be alone at Christmas. The last thing we needed was to be rustling up last-minute Vegan-friendly alternatives. 

It wasn’t the first time I’d had to rethink a menu. I think of the four foster children who arrived at our house in the middle of the night with strict instructions about Halal food. I think of the emergency baby placement whose medical condition meant his swallow reflex wasn’t working. Or the teenager who came to us after years of going to bed hungry – he would literally grab all the sausages out of the dish before anyone else had a chance to even take one. Making food work for people has been an opportunity to show them that they matter to us. That their needs will be met. That they are welcome.

I find inspiration for this from my Christian faith. Jesus was always stretching expectations when it came to hospitality. Sometimes he ate with people that no-one else would. Sometimes he provided food when no-one else could. One of Jesus’ last instructions to his followers was to regularly celebrate a simple meal together – breaking bread to remember Jesus’ body broken on the cross and drinking wine remembering the shedding of his blood. Holy Communion is supposed to remind us that each of us matters and we can all find welcome into God’s family.

We managed to accommodate my son’s conscience at Christmas dinner with some oil-roasted potatoes and stuffed peppers - locally-sourced and delicious. As I watched him serve elderly guests, and entertain fostered children I decided it was worth the hassle. In fact his case for environmental veganism had rubbed off on me. This year I am trying to eat just one sixth of my previous meat intake as a step towards a more sustainable diet. Sometimes I think making room for others doesn’t just do them good - it does us good too.