MEATS like turkey, beef and bacon don't tempt everyone at Christmas time.

In fact Karin Ridgers' house will be a strictly meat-free zone. Vegan Karin used to run a vegetarian club in Essex, and now manages Veggie Vision TV – an online TV channel.

Karin's husband Glyn, son, dad and sisters are all vegans or vegetarians, and they can promise that no living thing will have been harmed for their festive feast.

Vegans don't eat meat or anything which comes from animals, including dairy, eggs and honey.

"It's a shame because people think vegans miss out at Christmas, but we absolutely love our food," said Karin, 40, from Billericay. "In fact, I think meat eaters miss out because they often have the same old stuff every year, whereas there are so many different foods out there just waiting to be enjoyed."

Karin and her family will be tucking into mountains of 'mock meat' like veggie turkey and veggie beef and tasty chestnut bake made with roast onions, garlic and stuffing. They have cranberry sauce and dairy-free mayonnaise and veg.

"They make Yorkshire puddings without eggs which are a bit flatter and harder, but they love them," Karin said.

Christmas desserts can be a pain, Karin admitted, so they often make their own including home-made Christmas pudding and mince pies made with vegan-friendly pastry.

"I feel really happy at Christmas time because nothing has had to suffer to be on my plate," Karin said.

Contact Karin at www.veggievision.tv