Vegetarianism is growing in popularity for many reasons including weight control, organ health, animal conservation and dental hygiene. There are many different types of non-meat-eaters including those who eat fish and dairy but omit pork, beef and chicken. Due to this expanding range of vegetarians, several people are giving this diet a try because they’re able to tailor their food selection with omitting everything they like.
Lucky for many of us (I myself am a vegetarian), eliminating the meat and poultry from diets has gotten even easier because food companies, supermarkets and farmers are realizing the growing demand to eliminate fat and increase healthier eating habits. Grocery stores now offer a wide array of non-meat products such as veggie burgers and tofu based meals allowing us to find the foods that are nutritious and appetizing to our taste.
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With that said, is it possible to host a holiday dinner such as Christmas without serving any meat as a main course? Is the turkey and roast beef what makes this feast so special or can an all-vegetable menu still satisfy an entire house of guests?
I believe that it can if you take special care in selecting particular dishes that will both compliment one another as well as fill everyone’s bellies. Having platters of only raw celery sticks and carrots as appetizers may encourage a rumbling growl from stomachs and in all honesty, there’s a better way to go about it without having to starve. Over the years, I’ve collected some fabulous additions to my holiday fare that is both filled with vegetables and satisfyingly delicious! Here’s what I’ll be cooking in my kitchen this Christmas for both my meat eating and vegetarian guests.
The holiday season can be a wonderful time for most but for others, there’s a lot of stress and hard work involved. If you’re a local flower shop, you really understand this statement. Florists have to move a ton of product just to pay for the increase in overhead during the month of December due to heating, staff and wholesale product prices. For the larger floral operations, they have competition against supermarkets, truck stops and even buy-in-bulk stores like Cosco. There’s a constant price war and in the end-you’re lucky if you can break even. For the smaller flower shops who are struggling to sell their red amaryllis and rose arrangements, they too battle against lower quality look-a-likes sold by neighboring entities who can shove a few poinsettia plants in the window and call themselves a greenhouse. Plain and simple-it’s a tough time of year for these guys so they need to do everything they can to attract customers.
Thankfully, they’re doing a great job because business proprietors and employees have allowed themselves to think outside the box. With creative ideas that work to relax, enchant and excite potential patrons into choosing their store over the others, floral companies are effectively overcoming the saturation of the market during Christmas and are winning back the prestige of their seasonal décor as they should be. Here’s a few ways that are setting these guys apart from the rest!
Music is the Key
Music is the number #1 stimulator that encourages the emotion of happiness. Plug in those speakers and fire up Nat King Cole, Andy Williams or even “Alvin and the Chipmunks Holiday Sing Along” to alleviate tension and increase the spirit of the season! Both your customers and staff will thank you.
Something’s in the Oven
When you have something cooking in the oven, the scent works its way into our neuro-system releasing anxiety and frustration. When the food baking is something sweet, the effects are quadrupled. Offer a nice plate of Christmas cookies to all those who enter your store and make sure you have both gluten and sugar free options for those who prefer an alternative to sugar or have dietary restrictions.
The Wonder of a Flocking Machine
There’s nothing like watching a flocking machine do its magic on a tree farm! The buzzing sound coupled with the white flakes floating up in the air can make anyone smile so if you’re on the fence about making the investment-go for it!
Light It Up
It doesn’t matter if the lights are rainbow-colored, blue, purple, white, red or silver- bulbs are a must when decorating your business for the season. The effect promotes a sense of ethereal and softness curtailing those moods that might be a bit brittle during the month of December.
Celebrate Like It's Family
Do you realize that the people who choose your shop to do businesses with during this season are also welcoming you into their holiday celebrations? Your entity has become a part of their family’s festivities just buy purchasing the perfect Christmas tree, poinsettia plant or pinecone centerpieces from you!
Where There’s a Santa- There’s a Way…
Grab a person who works for you and put them in a Santa Suit! They don’t have to look the part, but they do have to smile and say “ho, ho, ho!” You wont believe how excited the younger customers will be and what it does for your company’s environment as a whole.
Don’t Forget It’s Called the “Season of Giving”!
They don’t call it the “season of giving” for nothing, you know! Contact your local non-profits and donate a few vases and plants for elder and homeless dinners or even ask your local library if you can participate in a free flower arranging demonstration! You’ll feel great and you might even stir a little interest you way!
Tis’ the season of giving and if you’re like the rest of the world, you’re probably starting to feel a little anxious about how all of the shopping will get done! The truth is, there’s just not a whole lot of time left to purchase all of the holiday presents written on your list so you’ve got to come up with a realistic plan. Gifts should be thoughtful, accommodating and affordable for your friends and loved ones. Forget the expensive trinkets, useless junk and endless hours spent waiting in long lines and try something new!
Floral gifts are beginning to make a gigantic comeback as 2015’s gift of choice and there’s no doubt why. Flowers are both cost efficient, easily attainable and pleases a wide variety of people, particularly the fussy ones who are hopeless to buy for. Select varieties that are compatible to the giftee (no scent for those who dislike strong odors, plants for those who might be allergic to blooms) and watch them praise you for the heartwarming sentiment!
When selecting the right floral product, you want to keep in mind a few factors. Not every arrangement is appropriate for everyone so you’ll want to do your research first. What colors do they prefer? Do they like Christmas décor or subtle non-denominational pieces? Is the climate chilly or hot and do they prefer sweet aromas as apposed to fruity? It might seem silly but there are many instances where it is of the utmost importance to do your homework before calling or ordering on line. For example, you wouldn’t want to give a poinsettia to someone who has a nippy cat or dog for a pet since this species must be kept inside from the cold weather and are poisonous to ingest. The best gifts during the season are ones appropriate for the entire household’s enjoyment and safety.
Now that we’ve nailed down the basics of gifting with flowers, how about we browse the possibilities and head to our local florist!
I love the holiday season and I appreciate all of the different decorations, lighting, snowfall and foods associated with this time of year. Our brains actually recognize these as triggers, letting us know what we can expect. When we see a pine tree on top of a car, we know that it will be soon be twinkling with ornaments and when we hear the jingle of bells, we know that Santa and his reindeer must be near. We link these characteristics together as “hints” that Christmas time is approaching and we watch for more of these signals to guide us through the traditions and festivities.
For some kids, these “hints” are harder to connect to so they need a little help identifying special traits to let them learn how to react to special occasions. A great way to do this is to find children’s picture books, which teach them about what a holiday means and how we celebrate them. Stories are capable of connecting ideas when associated with indicators illustrated on the pages.
Luckily, families will have a wide variety of new titles to choose from since this has been a very busy year of publishing Christmas themed books. From picking out a wreath and tree to sending grandma a holiday card, you’ll be able to select any aspect you wish! Vivid pictures, poetic phrases, funny storylines and magical adventures all await you so browse this list and find your perfect Christmas read!
There’s only one thing left to buy for decoration and that could only be…The Christmas Tree!
It’s the most important display item of the holidays, the star of the show, the Pièce De Résistance! Selecting the perfect tree is a monumental decision, which can sometimes even decide the whole décor feel for your holidays! Do you like them furry, fragrant or with a particular green hue? With so many varieties to choose from such as the Noble, Balsam and Douglas fir, the selecting process can become a bit overwhelming! There are a multitude offactors that go into deciding what type of tree is right for your familyso you might need advice on where the best places are to go looking…
Lucky for Bostonians, we have many tree lots within our vicinity, which carry several different species along with affordable ornaments and lighting options. Depending on your budget and preference, you’ll surely be able to find the ideal specimen for your home to enjoy throughout the season!
Christmas is rated one of the most likely holidays to be proposed to, following right behind Valentine’s Day. Maybe it’s the glow of the lights or the feeling of cheer but whatever the reason may be, the yuletide season is very popular month to pop the question! When you know the time is right and you’ve finally found that perfect person to share the rest of your life with, it’s important to do things right. Sure, bending down on one knee is sweet and all but why not go the extra mile and come up with a plan that makes your proposal a truly memorable event in his or her life?
photo credit: HuffngtonPost.com
I get it-subtlety is your thing but I assure you that there are several ways to make the experience unique and creative just by using some festive themes that Christmas already brings us! Utilizing décor, color and festive traditions associated with this time of year can not only “wow” your soon-to-be but can also take the pressure off having to come up with something on your own. These are some of the most successful ways to propose to your significant other, each having a high rate of acceptance as apposed to rejection. So once you have the little box in your hand, try one of these romantic and clever strategies to hear an “I do” this Christmas.
Dress Up as Santa Claus
I know, I know this has been done before but dressing up as Santa Claus is a solid way to go and has extremely promising outcomes. All you need is a red suit, beard, hat and sack and voila- you’ve made the perfect outfit! Don’t forget to say “Ho Ho Ho” and bring along a little mistletoe!
An Ornamental Ring
This is a sweet gesture for those who love to decorate and we all know-a little added glitz for our Christmas trees is what its all about! Find some delicate twine or string and simply hoop through the ring, tying a knot on the end. Make sure the area you want to hang the ring isn’t cluttered with other ornaments that could be distracting and watch her become awed over your gesture!
Okay, this is for the fiancé/fiancée who likes a little adventure mixed in with their romance. Wrap different sized presents, all containing items that can be associated with getting married. Try to place them in a line so the hunter is being led to the really big gift-the ring!
“Future Mrs.” T-shirt
If you think she’ll think it’s funny and she has a great sense of humor, try buying her a “Future Mrs.” t-shirt that you can either buy off the internet or have made at any local printing shop. The benefit of this approach is that you’ll know right away what her answer is by whether she tries it on or not!
Light It Up
Mr. Griswold would love this fun idea of stringing Christmas lights on your roof or lawn that say, “Will You Marry Me?” Wait until it becomes dark outside, tell her you want to show her a treat and flick on the switch to watch her heart melt at this sentimental display.
An “Advent” Calendar
For those who enjoy the countdown to Christmas, you might want to think about using this method of placing a ring inside an advent calendar! She’ll have fun opening up each day of December and get an extra special surprise on the 24th!
Pretty soon, we will be entering the season of poinsettias and this year you will be pleasantly surprised by the incredible varieties that will be available! The plant otherwise known as the “Christmas Flower” has long been a true symbol of the yuletide holiday and is still ranked as one of the top items bought for gifts. If you’re not familiar with the poinsettia, here are a few facts that you’ll enjoy learning, which make this plant so special.
Photo credit: flower factor
* A poinsettia’s leaves are bright in color and can be white, red, pink, red or peach. New species are cultivated yearly so be sure to check with your florist about any new shades that may be soon available.
* The leaves are called “bracts” because they are tinted instead of simply being green. The reason why the bracts are colored is to attract pollinators to the plant’s flower.
* Although the poinsettia looks like only a plant, there is a small bloom located in the middle of the plant bracts. The bloom has a special name called “cyathia” which is where bees and other insects produce pollen.
* The poinsettia actually dislikes the cold weather even though it is primarily popular during the icier months of the year. Originally, the plant was found in Mexico by a botanist named Joel Roberts Poinsett in the 1820’s. With the specimen, he returned to his home in South Carolina and began to cultivate the plant.
* and no the plant is not toxic to cats or people.
The holiday season can be a wonderful time but for some people like me, it can also by a tad bit overwhelming. There just never seems to be enough time to get all my errands done including planning dinner menus, sending out cards, decorating and the most anxiety driven task- gift buying for all of my relatives and friends. Really, how are we supposed to accomplish this unrealistic whirlwind of activity in only a few weeks? It’s almost impossible if you plan on keeping your sanity throughout the month. After all, aren’t the holidays actually supposed to be…FUN? For millions of us, this is a laughable concept so this year I’m planning on using a few tips to relieve tension and possibly enjoy the month of December! Seem like a bizarre concept? Skim through these ideas and see if any of them might help increase your health and happiness this season!
Eat Well
There are thousands upon thousands on studies documenting the importance of a well balanced diet, particularly in times where stress is at a high. By adding more fruits and vegetables and eliminating starches and fats, your body will actually run at an improved rate while also upping your serotonin levels. Why is this important? Serotonin is what makes those happy little bubbles float around inside you, making your attitude and emotional state positive rather than negative. Of course we’ll need a few of those Christmas cookies to get us through but swapping your meal intake with an improved group of foods will do magic for holiday disposition.
Sleep
I know that sending out those pesky postcards of you and the family are detrimental to saving face with the neighbors but at the end of an exhausting day, it’s not really that important. Give yourself a break and hit the hay so that you can rebuild the strength needed to stay on top of your game! Eight hours of sleep is the recommended daily amount of time needed to adequately repair and revive the body. When we are feeling symptoms of uneasiness or nervousness, it becomes even more important to add as much time as possible to your nighttime clock. There’s always the next day to finish projects so stretch these tasks out and make the effort to rest.
Prioritize
It might seem that every chore on your list is of the utmost importance but realistically, the only thing that matters during the holidays is spending time with your loved ones. Not everything that you have planned is going to be perfect so instead of creating ridiculous work for yourself, only complete tasks that are needed! Choose the things that you truly want to accomplish and stick to that. Let go of the Martha Stewart arts and crafts projects that are time consuming when you really don’t have the extra space in your calendar. If stringing up the house with lights is number one for your family, get that done and forget about baking the gingerbread house. Whatever is left behind just remember that there’s always next year!
The season of merriment, the season of joy, the season when our pants feel a size too small. Yes the holiday season has arrived, luring us in with decadent dishes and rich cuisine. I mean who can resist the pumpkin pies, the mashed potatoes or the highlight- the beloved turkey? There’s food everywhere and most of us (including myself) find it difficult to resist taste testing a few sugar cookies here and there. Oh, and don’t forget the “stress” issue that comes into play when our relatives are literally driving us towards that extra glass of wine or slab of cake. Yes, according to research, the average Bostonian packs on an extra five to ten pounds during the months of November and December, hence the popular New Year’s resolution promise to get “in shape”.
But here’s my question to you…
Why must we continuously get back on the hamster wheel of holiday diets when there are perfectly good ways to steer clear of your scale’s needle bouncing back and forth? Is it viable that by introducing techniques that are successful in curbing our appetites might we miss that rush to join any gym we can find on January 2nd? I dare to think we have a shot if we follow these tips that will keep us on track without eliminating the holiday season’s tasty treats all together!
Smaller Plates Mean Smaller Consumption
This works particularly well if you’re the one who is hosting the feasts this year because that gives you control of selecting dinnerware. Studies reveal that by serving meals on smaller plates, it gives the illusion that you are eating the same amount of food you would be on regular dishes. It is also documented that people feel more “filled up” when emptying their plate no matter what the size of the dinnerware may be. That means that you can feel equally satisfied while cutting back on unnecessary indulging calories. Portion sizes will be cut in half and you’ll be pleased to know that this compromise will allow you the room you need for a regular sized dessert!
Don’t Forget to Move
Looking back on my favorite holidays that I’ve celebrated, I can’t help but to remember that I was always moving! Talking with Aunt Kay about her summer gardening plans and then offering to help clean the kitchen with grandma, I realized that I was constantly walking from one room to another. What does this mean for our waistlines? It means that I was exercising! Moving about the room is important because it burns calories and helps to digest your food better. You’ll be the hit of the holiday party for your impressive social skills and be able to slip back into those skinny jeans without any problems at all!
There’s been a lot of hubbub lately surrounding the issue of whether it is too early to be stocking up on Christmas fare when it’s only November. Starbucks is the latest culprit who recently launched their “red cup” marketing ploy, which interestingly enough has attracted a large amount of controversial press. Is it wrong to change all accessorized décor color to red and green? Is it pushing things to be lighting up the trees with holiday bulbs? Or how about this one- buying floral centerpieces designed to reflect the Yule Tide season? Is it offensive or simply a show of our adoration for the merriest time of the year?
photo credit: Flower Factor
Personally, my holiday spread is put up a couple of weeks into December and taken down one week after Christmas but that’s just me. I understand that there are many people out there who want to grab every second they can out of the season and I admire you, I really do. But you have to admit, there’s no doubt the ugly head of commercialism does play a part in the mass movement to put Santa Clauses in storefronts even before we’ve celebrated Thanksgiving. Do we actually spend more when influenced by the merchandising of Frasier Firs standing in doorways and twinkling lights dangled across glass display cases? Most advertising business experts agree that inarguable, we do.
photo credit: Flower Factor
So what does that mean for Boston florists who are beginning to bring in shipments of poinsettias, Christmas trees and wreaths? I’d say it’s a pretty good prediction that there will be a solid sales base for the early bird shoppers who can't wait to stock up on seasonal festivities. If customers are eager for holiday pieces but are torn by the issue of the timing possibly being premature, offer them arrangements that include some identifiable props but still can be categorized as appropriate for fall. By not overwhelming clientele with a complete switch to silver bells and frosted greenery, we can make the most of November and December by easing ourselves gently into the holiday season.
