We are sure you have heard the word vegan and vegetarian more than once in your life, and now, as the time is changing, you might be seeing more and more people adopting this lifestyle. 2023 is all about making your life better and adapting ways that are not only good for your health but also good for the environment.
As people are loving and embracing this new concept that is more ethical and environmentally friendly, vegetarian and vegan catering ideas are indeed in high demand. However, designing a menu that includes diverse dietary preferences and includes different cuisines can be a little challenging. This is why we have made this ultimate catering guide for you.
So let’s jump into this guide and learn more about the vegan and vegetarian catering guide.
What is Veganism and Vegetarianism?
Most people might think being vegan and vegetarian is the same thing; however, this is not the case. Veganism is basically a lifestyle that is more than just a diet. Vegan people try to exclude things that are related to animals as much as possible. They don’t eat food that comes from animals, such as meat, dairy products, eggs, and even honey.
On the other hand, we have vegetarians. Vegetarians are basically people who focus just on their diet. They don’t eat food that is made from the slaughtering of animals or even the by-products of animals. Even the foods that have processing aids from animals are not consumed by vegetarians.
Hence, the main difference between the two words is that veganism is basically a lifestyle that exceeds the food choices and makes its way to the clothing, makeup, and other things that people use. Whereas vegetarianism is just about the food that people consume, and it should not be from animals. Both these dietary preferences aim to have a plant-based diet and to stop using the food that comes from animals.
Understanding the Rise of Plant-Based Catering
As mentioned above, plant-based catering is blooming this year, and many people are now converting from their regular diet to this plant-based diet. The awareness is growing about how the vegetarian diet can be helpful in making our health better. Now, people are being more mindful as to what they should be consuming and the things that will have a positive effect on their minds and bodies.
As far as the vegan and vegetarian lifestyle is concerned, it is also great for the environment. This diet is cruelty-free and also a sustainable choice when it comes to food. It is becoming more and more popular in the world, as people of all ages, especially those 20s and 30s individuals, are opting for this diet.
How to Incorporate Essential Nutrients in Vegan and Vegetarian Diets?
Even though a plant-based diet has a lot of benefits, there can be severe risks that also come with not having the proper vegan or vegetarian diet. Switching to a plant-based diet can be a sudden change for the body; therefore, it becomes essential that you consume all the nutrients that you will get from eating a non-plant-based diet.
One of the biggest risks that come with this kind of diet is not consuming enough protein. In the regular diet, dairy products and meat is the most significant source of protein; however, all of these things can’t be taken when a person is vegan or vegetarian. In such cases, including legumes such as beans, peas, lentils, nuts, and different seeds can prove fruitful in making up for the protein content.
Getting the right amount of vitamin B12 while being a vegan can also be a little challenging, and if not taken care of, it can cause serious problems like amnesia. This is why you should incorporate vitamins in your diet such as vitamin B12. Being a vegan, you can increase the calcium levels in the body by eating veggies such as kale or collard greens.
Since there are a lot of gaps in the nutritional values of vegan and vegetarian diets, when catering to such foods, you need to have a lot of knowledge.
Innovative Vegan and Vegetarian Ideas to Add in Catering Menus
Now, come to the central part, which is some fantastic, mouthwatering, colorful, and attractive vegan and vegetarian dishes that you can add to your catering menu. When you are trying to make a perfect menu, you need to put a few plant-based options because you never know the dietary preferences of people. Following are some of the options that you can add to your menu.
1. Burgers
Who doesn’t like to eat some yummy burgers? Burgers are one way to spice up the menu and also incorporate them in the vegan and vegetarian menu. There are a lot of different options, such as mushrooms, tofu, and even falafel options. These options will make the menu much more fun for the vegan people to enjoy their meal.
2. Pizza
Pizza is one of the yummiest mouthwatering dishes that you can put on the table. There are a lot of amazing options through which you can make your pizza vegan-friendly and even gluten-free. There are unique vegan options for the dough, and there are also a lot of toppings such as kale, vegan cheese, vegan meat and other things that you can add to make your pizza look more eye-catching and yummier.
3. Grazing Tables
When it is an office party, arranging a grazing table can be a fantastic option. Mostly, you will see that the grazing tables have non-vegan options, but you can even make particular areas designated for your vegan and vegetarian people in the event.
There are different things that you can incorporate to make this table. You can add artichokes, carrots, grapes, Roman tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, and other fruits. If you like some kind of protein alternative, then adding tofu can be a fantastic option.
For dipping and condiments, you can add hummus, balsamic vinegar, and even olives. For some texture, you can also add pistachios and other nuts. There are vegan options for breads and breadsticks as well that you can choose from. Vegan cheese is available in the market as well.
In short, grazing tables are an amazing option to add in the event or even a corporate event as it can be a perfect appetizer and a snack for the people.
4. Asian Dishes
Having Asian dishes in the catering menu can be the perfect way to spice up the entire table. There are so many cuisines that are especially for vegan people, such as vegan sushi, rice paper rolls, and so many other things. Since Asian dishes are versatile you can add then in different occasions such as meetings, festivals and even get-together with friends and family. There are a lot of different options that come in the Asian menu this means everyone can find something that will of their choice.
How to Navigating Dietary Preferences at Events?
When you are catering events, one of the main things is that you need information. You need to learn what the people want and what are the things they are expecting at the event. The food is one of the biggest attractions for people; therefore, it becomes crucial that you get all the possible information and then arrange the menu accordingly.
When you have dietary preferences, communication becomes the key. You need to have open communication with the hosts so that you know the type of food they want and the dietary preferences they have. You can even make a personalized catering menu with them so that they can be satisfied with the food they are getting.
Communicate with special dietary needs and ask them about the things that they like. This will ensure that you are serving everyone at the event, and all the guests return home happy and with a full tummy.
Vegan and Vegetarian Dessert Options to Add in the Catering Menu
No meal is complete without some mouthwatering and sweet treats. Now you might be thinking, is it really possible to have vegan and vegetarian desserts? Then the answer is yes; let’s have a quick look at some of these fantastic options.
Lemon Pistachio Loaf
If you are into citrusy sweet dishes, then the lemon-pistachio loaf is the perfect vegan option. The bright, citrusy taste of two lemons with the soft sponge of the cake is the perfect dish you keep on the catering menu. The best thing about this loaf is that it is very easy to make and will indeed become one the best desserts on the table for the vegan and vegetarian fellows.
Chocolate Date-Caramel Cups
Another easy-to-make vegan and vegetarian dessert option is this chocolate date-caramel cup. These sticky and chewy cupcakes with chocolate filling and chocolate topping make it one of the sweetest desserts to put on the menu. This is the perfect dessert option that will surely fulfill the sweet tooth for the vegan people.
Vegan Chocolate Mousse
If you want to put something that looks expensive but is only made from a few ingredients, then this is the dessert that you should be choosing. The vegan mousse chocolate is made from a bittersweet Choco and aquafaba; there is a hint of lemon juice that enhances the flavor and makes it one of the best sweet dishes for vegan people.
Fruit-platters
There is nothing that can beat a fresh fruit platter that looks colorful and attractive to the eyes. Having fresh fruits on the tables can be a perfect way to add that sweetness for the vegan and vegetarian people coming to the event. This is also a smart way to brighten up the table and make it more attractive.
Sustainable Catering Practices
Since we are talking about the plant-based diet, we can say that this is a more sustainable option and good for the environment. So why not make the catering process more sustainable and environmental friendly. There are different ways through which you can make the entire process more environmentally friendly and help in the betterment of the environment.
Food wastage is one of the biggest problems that comes at the end of the event. There is so much food that is thrown in the garbage because people don’t eat and order a lot. One of the best ways to reduce this is to give food to needy and homeless people.
Other than this, use packaging materials that are eco-friendly and can be recycled easily. Also, opt for the local services instead of the people who are using high-quality and not-so-sustainable options.
Hence, this is an excellent way to give back to the environment and also make a good impression on the customers. By making your brand more sustainable and being conscious of the things you are doing, you will better align the values of your brand with that of the vegan and vegetarian people. This way, you will not only attract more customers but also have a positive impact on the environment.
Conclusion
In the world of catering, there are different challenges that you might face, and one of them is to complete the dietary requirements of people. With the escalating demand for vegan and vegetarian food, it becomes essential that you also incorporate some vegan menu options.
Learning about the plant-based diet is becoming more and more important so that if you have a catering business, you can even present some vegan and vegetarian options to the people.
If you are planning to host and event such as a family gathering or even a corporate event then you can also contact your catering providers as they can help with vegan and vegetarian catering ideas and will make your event much more fun and inclusive for every person They can be the perfect partner for you and will help you create the yummiest and mouthwatering menu for the event.
