Preparing meals and parties for a wide range of guests can be challenging for a home-based cook. If you have a big family to provide food for, or you are having a large celebration, you need to make sure there is something for everyone. There are many different kinds of dietary requirements and with the help of this quick guide, you will be prepared to provide for anyone.
Vegans, Veggies, and Pescatarians
Some dietary requirements are ethical, not medical. More and more people, especially young people, are changing their dietary habits to be more sympathetic to the environment and its animals. Providing food options for vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians can be challenging, but with the right preparation and research, it can actually be fun. It can also help you create interesting and nutritional dishes that everyone can enjoy.
Vegan dietary requirements can be a little more difficult to provide for than vegetarian diets. All animal food products must be avoided, including things like eggs, butter, and cheese. Vegetarians can consume food cooked in butter for example, but vegans do not have this option. Pescatarians have a diet that is similar to vegetarians but also includes fish and shellfish.
It’s also worth mentioning that among these 3 types of diet, according to this reliable dentist in Naples, vegans are more susceptible to dental problems due to the high levels of natural sugar and starch in their diet.
Religious Dietary Requirements
For some people, their religion asks them to avoid certain foods or meats. Judaism is a good example of this. Jews cannot consume pork or pork products, or shellfish. These are just two examples of some of their dietary needs that must be upheld. Orthodox Jews will often only consume Kosher products or ingredients that are naturally kosher, such as vegetables and grains. Muslims also have similar dietary requirements and follow a food preparation discipline known as Halal that governs how meat and other foods are prepared and harvested.
These are just two commonly known religious dietary requirements. There are many more religions that have a dietary component that their followers must adhere to. Religions can also affect the timing of meals. Ramadan is a well-known religious celebration in which Muslims do not eat until after sunset. These things need to be taken into account when planning a social event that intends to be inclusive to all people.
Medical Dietary Requirements
Dietary requirements that are the result of a medical condition or ailment are becoming more and more common. The ancient Greek physician, seen as the world’s first doctor, said ‘let food be your medicine’, and for some people, avoiding certain foods can be the key to their good health. When you are providing food for friends, family, and other guests it is a good idea to be prepared to have to cater to medical dietary requirements.
Dysphagia can affect people and give them difficulty swallowing certain foods and drinks, often because of their consistency. Food and drink can be thickened with products from Simply Thick LLC. You can use their gel-based food and beverage thickener to make juices, sodas, and many other types of food and drink more palatable to people with dysphagia. This can be very helpful when preparing for a large event with lots of guests, some of whom struggle to swallow certain foods.
With the right preparation, you can provide food for everyone, that everyone can enjoy. Next time you are getting ready to host a large party or a big family get-together, remember the tips in this guide so you are sure that there is something for everyone at your table.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
