How to Create an Inclusive Catering Menu for Your Party
Planning a party can be a daunting task. You need to choose a venue, theme, dress code, and lots of other things. The hardest part, however, is deciding on the catering menu. If you have a food allergy or intolerance, you are aware of how infuriating it can be only to have a salad, as the party's main dish isn't for you. Therefore, as a host, it is essential to create a more inclusive menu if you want all your attendees to be happy with their meals.
Today, we'll share a comprehensive guide on how to create an inclusive catering menu for your party to keep your guests satisfied.
Take Time to Know Your Guests
Before even making appropriate menu selections, first, understand your guests' profiles. Consider their ages, interests, and professions. For instance, are you catering to an older group or millennials? If your guests are more senior, consider a milder, simpler menu. For fitness-oriented attendees, you can never go wrong with lighter and more health-oriented dishes. Young attendees, however, may want a more adventurous menu, so give them exactly that. Additionally, make sure to find great rent places for party that suit the preferences and needs of your guests, ensuring a memorable and inclusive event.
Provide a Vast Range of Options
One thing you need to understand is that there is absolutely no way everyone will love one dish. So, if you want everyone satisfied, the key is making room for variety in your party menu.
Here are some quick considerations:
Gluten-Free: People with celiac disease cannot eat gluten proteins found in wheat and certain grains. However, there are gluten-free grains like rice and millet that you can incorporate into your menu.
Vegetarians: These individuals eat primarily plant-based foods, effectively excluding meat and its products. However, they may consume dairy and eggs.
Vegans: Vegans consume an exclusively plant-based diet. They do not eat meat, meat products, seafood, dairy, eggs, etc., for religious, moral, or personal reasons. So ensure the vegetarian option fits into your guests' plant-based diet. If you can't find any viable menu options, create some that align with the guests' dietary needs. You can go for cuisines that lean towards vegetarian, such as Mexican and Indian foods.
Lactose Intolerance: The bodies of individuals that are lactose intolerant reject milk and other dairy products, so consider serving the non-dairy delicacies.
Religious Affiliations: Take time to know your guests' religious affiliations. Are pork, fish, or beef off-limits for some of your attendees for religious reasons? Make sure to check religious calendars for holidays requiring specific dietary guidelines. Knowing this will help you cater to your guests better.
Avoid Cross-Contamination
Preparing food for guests with special dietary needs requires precautions to avoid cross-examination. In the United States, approximately 90% of allergic reactions result from peanuts, milk, soy, eggs, and fish. So, ensure you prevent any mix-up in the ingredients by storing them inside sealed storage containers. You can also designate specific measuring cups, cutting boards, and spatulas to avoid the same.
Be Candid about Ingredients
It is essential to label the ingredients on your menu. For instance, you can put a 'Gluten-free' tag near your muffins. This way, your guests can decide what they can and can't eat. It also won't hurt to go the extra mile and point out any potential additives or allergens. Additionally, you can include a list of common allergens not found in your menu items.
Get a Professional Opinion
If you feel overwhelmed because you can't come up with an inclusive menu or your guests are many, the best course of action would be to hire a professional. You could seek the help of a dietician with a specialty in dietary restrictions. They could help craft recipes and create a menu that is interesting and tasty while still accommodating all your guests.