YOU have heard of alternative facts and fake news. Now there is alternative meat and fake chicken.

While most Australians will chomp down on turkey and ham this Christmas, a growing number of people will sit down to a meat-free meal.

It is estimated that 2.1 million Australians describe themselves as being non-meat eaters, with NSW having the highest proportion of vegetarians with 12.4 per cent of the population steering clear of meat products.

media_camera Vegan butcher Suzy Spoon has created festive vegan roasts from plant-based ingredients. Picture: John Appleyard

Suzie Spoon, who runs a “vegetarian butcher” in the inner west has made 25 per cent more vegan Christmas roasts — a roulade of plant-based ingredients including seitan, walnuts, breadcrumbs and dried cranberries — this holiday season than she did last year.

“I have really noticed it. I have been making vegan food for 30 years and I have never seen anything like the growth we’ve had in the last five years,” Ms Spoon said.

“Almost every family has a vegan in it now. Some things we make out of soy or wheat protein, they have been grown and had the protein extracted, and we use that ingredient to make some of our products.

“Other things that we make are made from vegetables.”

media_camera Vegan butcher Suzy Spoon has created Vegan Xmas Roasts for those who want a meat free yuletide feast. Picture: John Appleyard

Life Health Foods Australia, a company that produces a range of “alternative meats” catering to those on a plant-based diet, has experienced double digit growth year on year for the past three years.

Its general manager, Dean Epps, said the company’s growth was meeting the demand in mainstream supermarkets for meat free protein.

“Retailers are great supporters of plant-based meat alternatives as they see the demand from shoppers and want Australian solutions on their shelves rather than the solutions being only found in health food shops or online,” Mr Epps said.

“The trend toward increased plant based consumption is clear and consistent, in Australia. Life Health Foods Australia is experiencing double digit year-on-year growth of the last three years with no sign of letting up.”

Last year it created the Alt Meat Co, a company which makes so called alternative meats, to meet the growing demand for plant based protein options.