During this holiday season, it's very likely that you'll be hosting at least one gathering.
If you're health-conscious, this can be convenient in some ways, because you can choose the menu yourself and have healthy and delicious options. However, it can also be challenging because not everyone around you is health-conscious, and you'll likely want to offer food and drinks that appeal to everyone.
I've been the "odd one out" in the group for a long time - both among my friends and in some parts of my family - maybe what I've learned can also help you to be a good host, without giving up your values.
1. Opt for a buffet instead of a plated meal: It's easier to offer several options so each guest can choose what they like best. A salad or cream of mushroom soup could be one of the starters, and you could offer two protein options, one plant-based and one animal-based.
2- Make or buy the sweets your guests want to see this time of year, but make sure they're made with quality, not mass-produced, ingredients. Making chocolate nougat is quite simple—this recipe from Cocinando el Cambio is good, and there are artisan bakeries where you can buy delicious, high-quality sweets—even if they aren't the healthiest.
3- Serve the drinks you're comfortable with, but allow your guests to bring their own. For example, we don't have soft drinks at my house, but my brother-in-law always brings them for his children—and takes them home with him when they leave.
4- If you decide to make or buy food that you don't eat at home but that your guests like, make them lunchboxes (always reusable) so they can take the leftovers home, this way food is not wasted (which is a problem in many countries).
5- If having people over for lunch or dinner feels too much, host a gathering that doesn't involve feeding people who don't share your lifestyle. You could invite them for afternoon tea with coffee, hot chocolate, and homemade pastries.