The festive season is upon us, which for many people, means one very important thing — food! (Togetherness was a given.) And if you’re one of the 8 million Aussies who are eating less meat (or even cutting it out altogether) then you may be planning to incorporate more plant-based dishes into your Christmas spread. Whether you’re here for the animals, your personal health, or simply to put a twist on the old holiday classics, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of our favourite festive plant-based goodies in Australia…

If you’re keen on a roast for the Christmas meal centrepiece, there are plenty of delicious plant-based options available that fit the bill! Try one of these:

Made with Plants Plant-based Meatloaf with Glaze

Vegie Delights Vegie Roast

Gardein Holiday Roast with Cranberry & Wild Rice Stuffing (before purchasing online, check your local health food shop for this one!)

Field Roast Whole Celebration Roast with Bread Stuffing & Mushroom Gravy

Field Roast Hazelnut Cranberry Roast En Croute

Field Roast Half Celebration Roast

AVS Meatless Roast stuffed with Leek, Mushroom, and Cranberry (gluten-free)
AVS Festive Chick’n Roast (gluten-free)

Fry’s Soy & Quinoa Country Roast

Need some extra gravy for your roast, stuffing, or those potatoes that might’ve hung around in the oven a tad too long? Keep one of these on hand to drizzle over anything. Or better yet, everything.

Celebrate Health Vegan Gravy
Massel Supreme Demi-Glace Instant Gravy (also available at select IGA stores!)

Massel Chicken Gravy

Essential Organic Onion Gravy Powder
Orgran Vegetable Gravy Mix
Gravox Traditional Boxed Gravy Mix

Fancy a sea-inspired dish for your holiday menu? No animals required! Check out one of these deliciously easy ingredients:

Fry’s Meat Free Tempura Battered Prawn-style Pieces
Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Smoked Salmon
Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Fish Fillet
Gardein Golden Fishless Filets
Lamyong Prawns (two packet sizes available at the Vegan Grocery store)
Lamyong Whole Fish
Lamyong Vegan Calamari
Lamyong Frozen Chunky Fish

If you’re a cheese board kind of family — we’ve got you covered. Gather ’round to sample a few of these incredible cracker-toppers and cast votes for your favourites.

Artisa plant-based cheese
The Vegan Dairy cheeses
All The Things cheeses (check here for stockists)
Sprout & Kernel cashew-based cheese

Hello Friend specialty cheeses

If you’re only here for the sweets, you’d better come prepared in your comfiest trackies. The only trouble you’ll have this Christmas is choosing just one!

Puddings & Pies

Gold Handmade Dark Chocolate & Davidson Plum Pudding

The Green Lion Sticky Date Pudding

Coles Gluten-free Fruit Mince Pies
Ancient Grains Spelt Fruit Mince Pies

Chocolate

Woolworths Plantitude Vegan Belgian Dark Chocolate Cake
Woolworths Chocolate Rum Balls
Leda Chocolate Rum Balls

Booja Booja Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Truffles

Extra Festive

Coles Peppermint Candy Canes

Gingerbread Folk Cookies and house-making kits

Vergani Vegan Christmas Cake Panettone (an Italian classic)

Finishing Touches

Woolworths Plantitude Egg-free Meringue Nests

Coles Vegan Meringue Kisses, available at select stores

Peter’s Plant-based Vanilla Ice cream :dash: this is one option, but there are heaps of wonderful dairy-free ice creams readily available at the supermarkets now

Nakula Dairy-free products: keep an eye out for the seasonal custards in Vanilla & Brandy flavours!

Soyatoo Whipped Creams in soy, coconut, or rice-based varieties

Coles Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk

Foster Clark’s Custard Powder (for baking :dash: just use soy or almond milk for mixing!)

As Christmas approaches, be sure to check your local Coles and Woolies for their seasonal treats :dash: their festive plant-based range grows every year!

But wait, there’s more! These products could be just what you need to bring your Christmas spread to life:

Praise Vegan Aioli

Coles Vegan Garlic Aioli

Chris’ Plant Based Spicy Capsicum Dip

Chris’ Sweet Potato & Cashew Dip

Obela Roasted Pine Nut Hommus

Obela Zesty Jalapeno Hommus

Obela Caramelised Onion Hommus

Woolworths Free from Gluten Bake at Home Rolls

Massel Stock Powders (pro tip: even the chicken & beef flavours are animal-free!)

Finally, if you’re keen to bring a little extra Christmas magic into the kitchen, here are a few of our favourite holiday recipes that are sure to impress your friends and family.

Spiced Chilli Maple Nuts — excellent for pre-dinner snacking
Christmas Peppermint Slice, a lovely gift if you can manage to part with it!
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies (Santa-approved)

Keep it up!

If all this talk about animal-friendly feasts has you feeling inspired to eat more plant-based foods in the new year, check out VegKit.com for even more ideas! You’ll find over 100 delicious recipes, plus all the support you need: the latest products, best places for eating out, nutrition tips, lifestyle advice and more. And while you’re at it, grab a copy of our FREE Veg Starter Kit — a handy resource no matter where you are in your journey with plant-based food.

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The post I’m dreaming of a kind Christmas: food tips for a delicious and animal-friendly feast. appeared first on Animals Australia.

An estimated 1 billion native animals and millions of hectares of land have been destroyed by fires across Australia, making some species, including koalas, even more vulnerable to extinction. But while fires have understandably captured the media headlines, the biggest ongoing threat to the survival of Australia’s beloved ‘koala bear’ is something that happens every single day… land clearing.

And when a bulldozer tore through precious koala habitat in Victoria in the midst of the bushfire crisis — killing trees and animals — it catapulted this critical issue into the national spotlight.

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An animal welfare disaster

What unfolded on the private property in South-West Victoria in early February can only be described as an animal welfare disaster. To make way for sheep grazing, a habitat that was home to hundreds of koalas was bulldozed… and as the trees fell, so did countless animals.

Some were killed instantly, their bodies found trapped under heavy branches or strewn amongst piles of felled trees. Some suffered traumatic injuries and broken bones. Some were orphaned and others were found huddled together in the few remaining trees left on the property — hungry, thirsty and utterly helpless.

When Animals Australia was alerted to this emergency situation, we immediately flew in expert wildlife vets to assist the locals who had discovered the tragedy. We also supplied an expert tree climber who was able to safely access and retrieve surviving koalas who were clinging on for life in difficult-to-reach places.

More than 200 koalas needed rescuing, with around 40 found in such poor condition that the kindest option was for them to be euthanised. The rescue and rehabilitation efforts of volunteer vets and wildlife carers was extraordinary and undoubtedly saved many lives.

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Initially there was some speculation about this being a bluegum plantation, and, while that was once true, it appears that the land was handed back to a farmer who then made the decision to cut down the trees so that he could use the property to graze sheep or cattle.

To make matters worse, in addition to clearing the trees, the landowner had already installed a tall fence around the property, which prevented surviving animals from escaping to seek alternative shelter and food.

Victoria’s environment Minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, called what happened a ‘crime’ and has promised a thorough investigation. Animals Australia has lodged a legal complaint for what we believe are clear breaches of wildlife and animal protection laws.

But while this specific situation is incredibly distressing, it has highlighted the very real and ongoing threat to species like koalas whose habitats are becoming increasingly scarce every day.

Habitat loss through land clearing for livestock production and paper remains the key threat to these vulnerable animals. Continued threat of logging and bushfires not only poses a tremendous challenge to their welfare, but to their existence as a species.

Unless governments step in to protect wildlife and their homes, soon there simply will be no safe place left for native animals to go.

Discover more

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The post Koalas shouldn’t be collateral damage appeared first on Animals Australia.