Have yourself a merry free-from Christmas
Free-from diets don't have to mean missing out on festivities. Real Foods has all the goodies you need to see you through to the new year, in-store and online at www.realfoods.co.uk/shop/christmas. You can filter products online by ticking 'vegan', 'gluten-free, or both, to see only the products you want.
Advent
Plamil Foods' organic, vegan and fair trade 'milk' chocolate advent calendars will keep dairy-free kids happy from day one of the festive season. Grown ups can join in the fun with what is possibly the weightiest calendar around: Montezuma's organic, vegan advent calendar, packed with deliciously dark chocolate treats that will make you want to open all the doors at once.
Party season
Real Foods' online wine shop is well-stocked with vegan options such as Chateau Coursou Organic Claret, with hints of fig, oak and blackcurrant. Serve steaming hot with Steenbergs Fair Trade mulling spices and fresh organic clementine. Rochester Mulled Berry Punch, with elderberry, apple and mixed spice, is a non-alcoholic alternative suitable for vegans.
Accompany with gluten-free cherry, orange and cinnamon mince pies by Feel Free, with a splash of Oatly vegan oat cream on the side.
Gifts
Vegans are well catered for too in the area of chocolate-y gifts. With vegan Booja Booja organic chocolate espresso truffles in a traditional hand-painted Indian box, Moo Free pralines and Siesta lemon, orange and strawberry carob fondants, dairy-free friends are no longer the tricky ones to buy for.
We also have a range of books on cooking and nutrition including Easy Gluten-free Cooking, with over 60 recipes for pasta, bread, pastry and cake alternatives.
Just in case Father Christmas has gone vegan too, don't forget to leave him a glass of organic rich amber Sierra Morena Dorado Seco sherry on Christmas Eve - a delicious vegan treat with hints of hazelnut, almond, apricot and raisin. And, of course, an organic carrot for Rudolph to nibble on.
Christmas Day
It's Christmas! Hopefully you will find a festive D & D dairy free chocolate Father Christmas in your stocking.
As long as you haven't been woken up as soon as dawn breaks, why not start the day with some special bucks fizz using organic orange juice and vegan Jose Ardinat Organic Champagne.
At dinner time, there won't be any coeliacs sulking, because Real Foods stocks Mrs Crimble's gluten-free and vegan Sage & Onion Stuffing, with Feel Free iced Christmas cake, Everfresh organic plum pudding and Cole's nut-free, alcohol-free and gluten-free Christmas pudding for dessert.
Phew, after all that, it's definitely time to sit down on the sofa for some Christmas TV, probably Narnia-related, and nibble on some all-natural Koska rose Turkish delight, which is suitable for vegans.