Vegan party food?

[VeganQuery]

Hosting a birthday party soon and two of the guests are vegans. We're catering ourselves doing lunchboxes for the kids and I'd ideally like them all to be the same so that it doesn't matter where the children sit.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what sort of stuff would work well in a party lunch box. I was going to put in bags of party rings or Oreos because I thought both of them were suitable but when shopping tonight the packets said suitable for vegetarians which gave me pause for thought on buying them?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

*We have never done

You've had loads of great suggestions, so as a vegan mum, I just wanted to say thank you so much for being so considerate of the vegan attendees, that is soooo kind. My children have been to a couple of parties of non-vegans where the parents have gone for a fully vegan serve, which we appreciated so so much. Thank you!

Just a word of advice (based on my experience of bringing up vegetarian children). I would let the parents of the vegan children know that the snack boxes are all vegan friendly but some of the sandwiches aren't- that way they can make sure their children know what's 'safe'. They're probably used to being given a slightly different box so if you don't tell them the children may be unsure about eating it. I wouldn't mention to the other children that the food boxes are vegan friendly though- it's amazing how some people seem to enjoy tucking in to lovely meat free food until they are told there's no meat!

I do think training children to view food as safe or unsafe might be a bit damaging.

What's wrong with them trying a ham sandwich for example? Surely it is their choice? ( there! I've said it!)

Also I wholly disagree that it's wonderful when these gatherings are, however thoughtfully, entirely planned around the very narrow and restricted eating preferences of a small minority.

The compromise arrived at here looks incredibly unhealthy, frankly.

The compromise arrived at here looks incredibly unhealthy, frankly.

With the best will in the world it's a kids birthday party it's not meant to be healthy and nor is it my intention to restrict the other children who will have several sandwich choices.

I don't see the problem with making it inclusive so all the kids can eat it. It's literally no more difficult for me to give everyone a bag of pom bears or some party rings etc so why would I choose to pick crisps or snacks that all but two could eat when there's plenty of choices they can all have?

Mr Kipling jam tarts are vegan

It’s obvious what you thought of vegans from your posts here and you’re often being negative on other threads regarding vegans too. 🙄 Your ‘there I’ve said it’ is pathetic. No one cares. OP asked for vegan options, people have done that, if you want to start a debate about the ethics, start your own thread. As for being unhealthy, kids parties tend to be.

What, unhealthier than "a ham sandwich"? Really? You know about nitrates? And the whole processed meat/bowel cancer link, right?

Well said. Let’s ignore the derailing. Those sorts of posters love to go on any thread like this and get their digs in. It’s pathetic.

Nitrite free ham, obviously. Yes it is expensive but, as you say, a much better choice and if only eaten as a treat, no harm done.

It also tastes so much better than the flobby nasty plastic stuff- and their vegan alternatives.

The sugar could be a US thing, I have lived there. When I did they didn’t even have free range eggs ( in fact they had no idea what they were )

Icing sugar eg silver spoon, Asda, dr oetker etc are not vegan here in the UK.

Tesco do a 6 pack of crisps called Bunny Bites that are shaped like little bunny rabbits that are vegan. My friends daughter loves them. Asda do similar shaped like monkeys. Cute for kids parties.

A lot of kids like fruit winders which are vegan.

🙄🙄🙄

Fruit winders are a brilliant suggestion! According to a quick Google they are not only vegan but also halal and kosher, talk about inclusive. 😁

Will also check out the crisps as when I looked earlier I couldn't actually see multipacks of pom bears in our supermarket.

I am sorry for being so very, very naughty.

I do stand by my principle of going by the majority and catering for the minority separately but that aside, I have been Very Wrong.

Enjoy your vegan party OP.

Someone did take the trouble to look up my recent posts and you will see in there I have asked, quite genuinely for decent recipes.

It's as much a mystery to my palate as applying tattoos is to my knees.

Mumsnet is a wonderful place.

Icing sugar is definitely vegan in the UK 🫤
Are you thinking of royal icing? As that sometimes isn't due to eggs.

Some royal icing aswell

But yes I do mean icing sugar is not all vegan

See Asdas for example. OK for vegetarians only.
Same as the ones I’ve noted but there could be more Makes. seems like madness I know

Haribo giant strawbs are vegan.

@StandingSideBySide Ah ok, thanks - what is it that makes it not suitable for vegans in those ingredients?
(Genuine question, husband vegan and I'm always open to learning!)
Maybe the caking agent? 🫤

No, it's fine. Just because something isn't labelled as vegan doesn't mean it's not suitable.

No UK sugar producers use bone char (and if they did it wouldn't be labelled as suitable for vegetarians), and all UK sugar except royal icing sugar is suitable for vegans. Some fondant icings are considered OK for vegans but have a risk of egg contamination that means they aren't suitable for people with egg allergy.

Egg
some brands of icing sugar add dried egg whites to the mix.
No idea why though.

I think Tate and Lyle don’t

Honestly if it was vegan it would say.
Why bother labelling something vegetarian if it’s vegan
Its egg

Any risk of contamination in a factory with an animal product will not make it suitable for vegans. It won’t be approved because it isn’t suitable.

Not true. Loads of things are vegan but not labelled as such if the brand doesn't consider the extra cost gains enough extra sales.

Egg is only added to royal icing, not plain icing sugar.

And allergen 'may contain' warnings for crosscontamination do not preclude something being vegan. You'll see it on items specifically labelled vegan.