Don’t you love it when you attend an event, and there is an extensive line of food options to choose from? We all love the food at big events, majorly because of the variety that comes with it. But imagine being present at an event where everyone has a plate stocked with food. And you’re the only one empty-handed because the menu doesn’t cover your special dietary requirement. Just the thought of it makes you sad and disappointed.
This is exactly why event planners should always be considerate of all the food choices and plan a menu such that there is something for everyone. In this guide, we’re going to talk about the five major dietary restrictions that you need to take into account before planning a menu. So, if you are an event planner, or enjoy hosting big family events, get a notebook and a pen because you’re about to learn a lot.
Contents
Why Is It Important To Consider The Various Dietary Restrictions?
When you invite people to attend an event, it is of utmost importance to make sure that they all leave the event with a smile on their faces and good food in their stomachs. If you want everyone to eat at an event, it is essential to consider what food people eat. As you may already know, there are many different types of diets that people have been adopting over the past few years.
As event planners, you must be aware of these diets and make sure that the food caters to them. Other than that, there are also health concerns and a range of food allergies among people. These factors also need to be addressed so that the guests don’t leave with an upset stomach.
Let’s move to some of the most crucial dietary restrictions you should consider when hosting catered events.
Vegetarian Diets
This is quite an obvious one. Having vegetarian alternatives at events is a must. Vegetarians eat plant-based food, and they don’t eat meat, fish, dairy, egg, poultry, or any food that comes from animals. There are three types of vegetarians. The ovo-vegetarians consume eggs but not dairy and meat. The lacto-vegetarian group consumes dairy, but not eggs and meat. And the Lacto-ovo vegetarians consume both eggs and dairy, but not meat and fish.
Vegan Diets
Veganism is on the rise as more and more people are growing conscious of animal rights. A vegan diet is completely plant-based. There is no involvement of meat, fish, eggs, dairy, or even honey. Any food that is from animals is a no for vegans. So you need to make sure that you have vegan food at the event, which is entirely plant-based. If you are serving milk-based beverages, then you may prepare them with almond or soy milk for vegans. Besides, there are various innovations in the food industry around vegan meats for you to consider adding to your menu.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a food allergy, and the people who have it cannot digest the sugar contents present in dairy. Those who are lactose intolerant must stay away from the dairy at all times. Therefore, as event planners, you need to have non-dairy alternatives to ensure that no one gets sick at or after the event. If you have packaged food at the event, you should always read labels thoroughly to find out whether it is suitable for lactose intolerants or not. It would be best to have different food options, particularly for this group.
Gluten-Free Diet
Many people go gluten-free because they face gut health issues after the consumption of gluten. Some even have celiac disease, the inability to digest a protein found in grains like barley, wheat, etc. Consuming gluten may also lead to damage to the internal lining of the small intestine. Considering how severe the consequences can be, it is always good to prepare a different food menu for people with celiac disease.
Their food should be free from ingredients like wheat, barley, rye, malt, wheat starch, and even yeast, for that matter. So if you are bringing any processed food to the table, make sure that it is labeled gluten-free. Otherwise, completely replace it with whole food, fruits, and vegetables, etc.
Conclusion
These are some of the most major food choices and concerns that you should take care of. There are many more dietary restrictions out there, so it is always best to check with your guests before planning the menu.
