How to Accommodate Vegan and Vegetarian Guests

Planning a dinner party is stressful enough, but when some guests are vegetarians or vegans, it gets a little more tricky. Help vegan and vegetarian guests feel welcome--show them you respect their lifestyle choice and learn to accommodate their diet.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Ask what the guest's diet requirements are. There are different types of vegetarians. Complete vegetarians eat only plants. Lacto-vegetarians allow dairy products. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians allow dairy products, eggs and plants in their diet. Pesco-vegetarians eat both fish and plants. Pollo-vegetarians eat various types of poultry meat along with plants. Vegans do not eat any animal products.

2. Prepare separate dishes for vegan and vegetarian guests. Do not expect guests to eat vegetables that are cooked with meat products. Have several choices available for guests. Most fresh fruits, breads and non-gelatin desserts work great for vegetarians and vegans.

3. Use vegetable-based products to prepare foods. Try vegetable oils and shortenings instead of animal fats. Don't flavor a pot of beans with bacon or ham hocks. Use vegetable stock in soups instead of chicken or beef stocks.

4. Keep utensils separate while you cook so you don't cross-contaminate vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. If you use one spoon for pot roast drippings, use a different spoon for veggies.

5. Label all of the dishes as a courtesy. Help vegan and vegetarian guests know which dishes are "safe" to eat.

6. Seat guests next to open-minded people. Vegan and vegetarian guests feel more welcome when you seat them next to people who accept their lifestyle.