Veganism is on the rise, as consumers eschew eggs, dairy and meat in favour of ethical dietary substitutes. 

The lifestyle has been named on many of the food trend lists for 2018 and has seen a sharp uptick in those transitioning to it this year. 

As a result, hundreds, if not thousands, of new vegans will be sitting down to Christmas dinner at dining tables all over Ireland come December 25. 

For many, the concept of sitting down with a table full of non-vegans who are about to consume a turkey may be daunting, but there are a number of small changes to the menu that can be made to ensure that everything but the main meat dish is suitable to eat. 

If you cook the dinner yourself, happy days, you can make these changes yourself, but luckily they are so simple that perhaps your host, pal or parent will glady adapt the recipe if you ask nicely. 

First up, lets look at the roasties. Most people use goose fat to coat their roast potatoes to get that divine crispiness, but vegetable oil, coconut oil, or olive oil will do the job just as well. 

Soya or sunflower butter is just as creamy and flavourful as dairy butter, so whack a dollop of that into the mash or over the vegetables. 

If milk is added to bread sauce, white sauce or mash, a non-dairy version like coconut or soya does the job just as well. 

Turkey gravy can be swapped for veggie gravy, and many condiments like cranberry sauce and mustard are already vegan if you check the label. 

If soup is your starter of choice, you're in luck, all the best soups can be made vegan by swapping out dairy milk for soya.

Opt for cream of vegetable (with Alpro cream) or butternut squash for a hearty starter. 

The one thing that cannot be made vegan is the meat dish, obviously, so here's where all those alternative brands come in. 

There are loads of faux turkey roasts on the market from the likes of Tofurkey and Quorn Meatless Turk'y Roast, so if you don't want to miss out, these are great options. 

If you're not into replacement fake meats, Holland & Barrett have a delicious stuffed butternut squash recipe. 

Another tip is to bring or bake a vegan dessert for the entire table to enjoy. 

That way, if someone else is cooking your meal for you, you're not relying on them to source or cook a vegan dessert as well.

You also get to witness people's curiosity about a vegan cake or Christmas cookie turn to delight when they realise that cruelty-free tastes just as good if not better than butter or milk based desserts. 

Navigating the festive season has frankly never been easier thanks to the plethora of new vegan alternatives on the market, and who knows, maybe next year there will be even more vegans around your Christmas table.