To believe that people should stop expecting special treatment for “food preferences” (not allergies) at events?

Yes, exactly.

I only eat fake meat if there’s no other option.

I often try to do the all day breakfast menu as I can usually get eggs with a gluten free bread, if nothing else. Usually there are more options though. I was recently travelling and a cafe had just stopped their breakfast menu. I asked about it but they directed me to their lunch menu and asked what I'd like. I just told them nothing as their gluten free options were not also dairy free. Everything had cheese of some kind. Fortunately I was able to find something down the road. I was travelling with a group so, for want of making a couple of poached eggs and a piece of bread, they lost a big sale.

Plenty of variety is key, and making sure dietary needs are taken into account. For example, Joe who is gluten intolerant and Betty who is a vegan, yes. There should be enough variety and options for ordering a special meal to accommodate. Pam in accounting who doesn’t like onions or mushrooms, no.

People should also pull their thumbs out of their bum and be able to eat a vegetarian meal (with vegan options) without complaint. I went to a vegetarian wedding awhile back and the food was fantastic - lovely roast spuds, roasted veg, lentils and beans, salads, wood fired pizza van and a nacho bar. Not a quorn burger in sight. I eat meat (we farm and raise our own animals for meat, but we still eat vegetarian 3-4 days a week). Even the weirdos who think they’ll die without a burger can survive one meal with a chickpea curry and rice with some naan and onion bhajis.

Most of this fake chicken and bacon, I read the ingredients to some in supermarkets and full of ingredients that you don't know what it is, struggle to spell or pronounce.

They are more processed than sweets.

I wanted to book an afternoon tea recently however I don't like cheese.

There was ONE sandwich I could have eaten, egg mayonnaise.

A cafe near me has EVERYTHING on the menu with cheese. Even the soup came with a cheese scone!

YABU

Same. I can’t eat dairy or soy - both makes me violently ill, but vegan cheese is on the whole horrendously over processed. I’ve found some great alternatives to milk and yogurt, but not cheese. It’s all mega processed.

As to those posters who just had a plate of veg at weddings, shows the sheer ignorance of the caterers. They should have 2-3 dishes of vegan, GF and both for each course in their portfolio. If when the special couple or anyone else planning a day with caterers. If they mention to caterers "oh we have a few guests that are GF, vegan or both. If they say they can't cater or they will sort something out, don't go with them.

Friend's sister bakes cakes and she can make GF and vegan wedding cake in her own kitchen. Why can't caterers?

Totally agree. I was buying vegan cheese at one stage before it dawned on me how processed it all is. Now I just do without.

No it's not. My eldest is 30 and we were advised 6 months then.

“Cooking plant based” is fantastic in theory, but most “plant based” cuisine is over processed junk full of soy, quorn, wheat, nuts, seeds, all of which are major allergens and triggers for IBS/IBD. It’s impossible to create a vegan buffet that can cater to all allergies and medical requirements.

Truely unprocessed vegan food is wonderful, but I’ve only met one company who really pulled that off well. Delicious food, most colourful food I’ve ever seen. But not IBD/IBS/allergy friendly by a long way!

The current generation were weaned at 4 months? It’s still quite a recent change of advice.

Doesn't seem to have helped, if the current and recent generation is anything to go by.

Conversely, the experience many vegetarians have had is that meat eaters take a lot of the veggie options as ‘sides’ or because they look interesting, so then there’s not enough left for them.

There needs to be a balance somewhere.

OMG! I didn't go to the event at work as unwell. Heard this back from a colleague. Two Muslim lads at work asked if any of the pork was halal. There is no such thing as halal pork as pig is classed as unclean and still too unclean if slaughtered in halal way.

Well that’s why they say to wean babies at 6months now and not 4 - because there’s evidence that has contributed.

This. I just want real food, I don't care if it's meat or veggie as long as it's not this absolute shite.

I have a gluten intolerance, I’ve been like it over 20 years. What really pisses me off when I make people aware of it, they acknowledge it and they then don’t cater for me. I’ve been to so many events (even weddings in the middle of nowhere where I’ve stayed overnight) and they’ve said sorry you can just have a plate of veggies or an apple (I shit you not I was once given a chopped apple for dessert).

I usually bring a roll and a packed lunch, but the converse of that is it often gets wasted. So if you don’t want to cater just tell me and I can prepare!

I’ve been stuck at parties served alcohol but no food!

Worse gut health, more allergies, weaker health more generally in humans, I believe myself.

Good grief. They should be encouraged to leave

Lots of people with allergies and different dietary requirements about now
I wonder whether this was always a thing or just more awareness now

I go to events to socialise, not worry about food. I never go to an event expecting to find food I’d want to eat / suits me. I put a few mars bars in my purse. Then if I find food I like I’m happy and if I don’t I’m happy. Life’s too short for me to list the things I don’t like, and life’s too short for others to have to fuss around trying to accommodate me. Just relax everyone.

Catering for vegan (and even vegetarian) invariably means that 50% of your buffet goes uneaten.

The last place I worked at, 30 people, one vegetarian. The company was nice enough to cater to that one person. It ALWAYS meant that we had two trays of food, one was stripped clean, the other had one or two sandwiches taken by the 'hungry'. The veggie lady actually brought her own food.

For me, most vegan food that is served is highly processed, which doesn't fit with the diet that my specialist has recommended and can cause me pain. If it's 'real' vegan food, that's fine.

So removing the egg, cheese or honey from a dish makes it awful?

I can't eat dairy. It's not because of a health problem or allergy. It's because the thought of swallowing cow's milk makes me feel nauseous, sick, faint, disgusted. I guess it's a psychological issue. I do eat meat.

I'm so happy that providing vegan options is more common and acceptable. I don't expect people to provide for my weird dairy aversion. At the same time time I'm gutted when there is no vegan option.