Christmas Gift Ideas for Vegetarians

It's easy to make mistakes buying Christmas gifts for vegetarians. Many people don't realize that vegetarians often choose to avoid all animal products in everything, not just in food. You may buy leather shoes, lotion made with beeswax and honey, or natural marshmallows only to discover that your vegetarian recipient is ethically opposed to them. You can avoid a lot of unnecessary commotion if you understand what it means to be a vegetarian.

First of all, make sure you know whether your Christmas gift recipient is a vegetarian or vegan. The difference is that while most vegetarians still use things such as milk, eggs, and honey, vegans avoid everything which does not come from plant sources. Many vegans even choose not to wear wool, so that cashmere sweater you had in mind for your vegan friend or loved one may be a big mistake.

Always check the label to see which ingredients are in foods and other Christmas gifts. Things to look out for in food include gelatin, royal jelly, tallow, rennet, albumin, whey, carmine, casein and oleic acid. In clothing, keep your eyes peeled for alpaca fleece, chinchilla, gabardine, homespun, worsted, angora and mohair. Carefully check shoes for leather on the package label. If in doubt, research the item on the web to see where it came from.

Christmas Shoe Gifts for Vegetarians

There is a wide variety of fashionable styles of vegan shoes now available in stores, including clogs, athletic shoes, sandals and high heels. Quality brands include Birki's, Klogs, Earth, Chako, Keen and Newalk. Vegan shoes are often the same price as leather shoes, and are often even more affordable.

Christmas Apparel Gifts for Vegetarians