Table of Contents
“Holidays
and family gatherings are the most difficult for vegetarians. Only two out of
ten think it goes smoothly,” Annechen Bahr Bugge says.
She
researches food at OsloMet. Two years ago, she investigated what it means to be
a vegetarian in Norway today. The survey had 800 participants, half of whom
were vegetarians and vegans, while the rest ate fish but not meat.
Most found
it easy to avoid eating meat in everyday life. Cafes and restaurants usually
have suitable alternatives, and it was no problem at work and with friends.
But at
Christmas, they are quite alone. Only three per cent of the Norwegian population
eat vegetarian food on Christmas Eve.
Most are
vegetarian
“Many make
exceptions and choose to eat meat for Christmas dinner out of respect for
tradition and the emotions around Christmas. But it’s also possible to eat the
side dishes and perhaps bring some vegetarian food with you,” Bahr Bugge says.
In the past,
the categories were rigid. Either you were a vegetarian or not. Now, many are
flexitarians, meaning they avoid meat but eat it when it’s easiest or they have
a craving for it.
But this
does not apply to vegetarians and vegans. They eat neither meat nor fish.
Pål W.
Thorbjørnsen, the information officer at the Norwegian Vegetarian Association,
advises vegetarians to come prepared to Christmas gatherings. He agrees with
Bahr Bugge that it’s wise to have ready-made products in your bag.
Still, it
is much easier to have a vegetarian visit than many think. Vegetarian food is
neither expensive nor demanding, according to Thorbjørnsen.
Most are
vegetarian
“Most traditional Norwegian Christmas side dishes are usually vegetarian, such as sour cabbage, red
cabbage, pea stew, desserts, mulled wine, and Christmas cookies. It’s usually just
the main course that’s different,” Thorbjørnsen tells sciencenorway.no.
Nut roast
is the traditional Christmas food for vegetarians.
“It’s been
served at Christmas for close to 150 years, as long as there have been
vegetarians in Norway. In recent years, ‘vegisterkaker’ have also become
popular,” Thorbjørnsen says.
Vegisterkaker are the vegetarian version of ‘medisterkaker’, which are savory, round patties seasoned with herbs and spices. These are popular during Christmas.
“There are
many ready-made products in the store, which make it easy for the host. I
recommend asking the vegetarian guest what they prefer, which simplifies things
for both parties.”
Nut
roast and vegan ‘pinnekjøtt’
At the
Norwegian grocery store chain Meny, they
have ready-made products, but also recipes for vegetarian food.
“Our
experience is that vegetarians and vegans are less likely to buy meat
substitutes, but rather make dishes from scratch, with vegetables, lentils,
beans, mushrooms, and nuts,” says Nina Horn Hynne. She is the communications
manager at Meny.
The most
popular vegetarian recipe on meny.no in December is nut roast. Then comes vegan pinnekjøtt, according to Horn Hynne. Pinnekjøtt is a traditional Norwegian Christmas dish which consists of salted, dried, and in some cases, smoked lamb ribs.
But like
other Christmas foods, vegetarian food can also be bought ready-made. Meny
sells nut roast, Christmas roast, ‘vegisterkaker’, and vegan Christmas sausage
before Christmas.
Every
December, sausage sales increase. This also applies to vegetarian sausages.
“This may
indicate that vegetarians also eat sausages at Christmas,” Horn Hynne believes.
Christmas
parties go smoothly
Christmas parties
with many dishes and Christmas breakfasts are easier for vegetarians.
“There are
so many dishes there that everyone should find something suitable. There’s no
point in making this a bigger problem than it is,” Bahr Bugge says.
In a survey
about eating habits during Christmas, she found that five per cent eat
vegetarian food at Christmas parties. However, there’s a variation based on age
and location. Ten per cent of younger individuals and ten per cent of those living
in Norway’s capital Oslo opt for vegetarian options.
Even the
most traditional Christmas restaurants offer vegetarian food.
Vegetarian
food in a land of meat
Café
Engebret in Oslo has existed for 166 years. In December, they serve pork belly,
pinnekjøtt, smalahove, and lutefisk.
“But we
always have a vegetarian and vegan option,” restaurateur Kay Johnsen at
Engebret says.
In
December, vegetarians get beet tartare with hazelnuts as a starter. The main
course is vegisterkaker made of lentils and chickpeas with root mash and
pickled red cabbage, potatoes, and a butter sauce with Christmas spices.
Every day, about
ten guests order the vegetarian or vegan option, according to Johnsen.
They also have
green options on the menu at the restaurant Gamle Raadhus in Oslo in December.
“It’s
especially at lunch that we notice many choose vegetarian over meat,” Jørn Lie
says.
Strange
Christmas food
For those
who traditionally eat pork belly, the idea of eating cod for Christmas dinner
seems like an ordeal. Everything we’re not accustomed to can seem strange, says
Pål W. Thorbjørnsen.
He explains
that in the past, vegetarian guests were often seen as difficult. Vegetarians
had to tread carefully to not offend others. Now, green food choices have
become much more common, and the trend is growing each decade, according to the
Norwegian Vegetarian Association.
“Attitudes
are changing. I recommend not having discussions about food choices at the
table, but rather later. It creates a more pleasant atmosphere,” Thorbjørnsen
says.
Food
researcher Bahr Bugge points out that dealing with dietary preferences,
allergies, intolerances, and ethical beliefs can often become quite
complicated.
Obsessed
with eating healthy
“Are there
no limits to what you can demand in terms of special diets when visiting
others? I spoke to some chefs who said that men over the age of 50 are the best
guests. The only thing they ask for is more to drink,” Annechen Bahr Bugge
says.
She has
previously written about orthorexia, which is being extremely focused on eating
the right and healthy food.
“There are
people obsessed with eating healthily, but then the list of things they won’t
eat becomes long, making any form of social dining impossible,” she says.
Christmas
food is not particularly healthy.
“It’s less
about health and more about tradition, identity, and belonging. Almost everyone
in Norway is very fond of Christmas rituals and the social community, where
meals play an important role,” Bahr Bugge says.
———
Translated by Alette Bjordal Gjellesvik
Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no
References:
Bugge, A.B. & Henjum, S. Vegetarianisme – en studie av sosiale, praktiske og kroppslige aspekt ved å ha et helt eller delvis vegetarisk spisemønster (Vegetarianism – A study of social, practical, and bodily aspects of having a completely or partially vegetarian diet). SIFO report, OsloMet, 2021.
Bugge et al. Jul – pynt, gaver, klær og mat (Christmas – Decorations, gifts, clothes, and food). SIFO report, OsloMet, 2019.