How far would you go to accommodate a vegan?

[Juicyj1993]

In a few weeks we're hosting a bbq for my Husband's birthday.

We have about a dozen guests coming, one of whom is vegan. As we don't normally buy vegan food I've started looking at what we'd normally buy and what is and isn't vegan. To make sure the vegan has the same variety of choice as everyone else I'm going to have to spend quite a bit on alternatives. As we have the non vegan alternatives we won't be eating the vegan versions, so they'll either go home with the guest or be thrown.

How much would you accommodate a vegan?

Would I be unreasonable to provide vegan burger with vegan cheese, plus bun and nothing else or do I need to go the whole hog and get vegan sausages, vegan condiments and vegan coleslaw?

Ps they are vegan by choice, not for medical reasons

I'm sure the vegan will be able to bring their own or eat before they come, surely they won't eat it cooked on the same grill as meat and shouldn't expect you to cook it differently etc. They chose to be vegan and aren't forced to eat while there! I'm sorry but it's not on you to go all out to accommodate their lifestyle choice.

@AkitaAtHome I'd never eat before a bbq! Yes to taking my own, but not eating before going somewhere where everyone else will be eating. That'd make me feel like a real outcast.

I would buy vegan options for far more than a burger, cheese and a bun. Other people can eat the Vegan version, as can you. A lot of it is pretty damn nice.

Personally I’d just cook meat and tell them it’s vegan. They’re fussy choices aren’t your problem

Wow you really have a chip on your shoulder about this vegan don't you! I'm sure you wouldn't have your back up so much about the odd guest who may not like onions, spice, etc etc. You're happy to buy food for all these people too! This person is entitled to abstain from eating meat and dairy, it's very normal. Just ask them what they would like and try not to see it as an affront on your sausage eating. It's not that deep.

They know it's a BBQ so they should eat before.

If somebody told you they do not want chicken, burgers or sausages would you go out and buy some fish or steak just for them?

I'm.not vegan but that's a disgusting thing to do.
Just why?
Never ceases to baffle me why people get so upset at the thought of vegans.
You (I hope!) wouldn't do that for a Muslim or someone who is Jewish, so why be like that for vegans and their beliefs?
No need.
Twatty.

@Soapyspuds Why should we eat before, when we could just bring some vegan burgers, sausages etc.? It'd be very unusual for the bread products to not be vegan. I'd hate to be the only person not eating at a BBQ, everyone questioning me as to why, that would be really weird, in the main and just totally unnecessary.
@BodgerLovesMashedPotato Quite. I think that's a troll. As I've said upthread, it is illegal to discriminate against vegans, and lying to one and telling them that something is vegan when it isn't, would likely come under that.

Do a vinegar based coleslaw - so much fresher than Mayo ones and less susceptible to dodgy tums from being out of fridge

Ha, have exactly the same problem in reverse! We are a vegan household but will be, shock horror, buying meat to accommodate family at an event soon. Will have to send leftovers home with them! But onto your vegan problem, I would suggest just asking them. They will probably just offer to bring a pack of vegan sausages or burgers and have a bit of salad and a roll. Sorted.

They know it's a BBQ so they should eat before

But.... a BBQ is an invitation to a gathering where everyone is eating food, would you invite someone for dinner and tell them to eat before?!
That makes no sense lol

I can't understand the "shock, horror" at cooking vegetables. So do you all host bbqs that are just meat, meat, meat? Lots of normal salads, bread, dips, relishes, corn on the cobs, veggie skewers...surely everyone will eat that too? A couple of bean burgers (don't bother with fake meat) or falafel type things and pittas, most will eat those too.

I don't really understand the issue. There's plenty of everyday food that is vegan, that everyone will enjoy.

I'll never be one of those people who says something 'tastes like meat' (as in the beyond burgers etc.) because for one, I don't know, I've not eaten meat since 1992, and also I just don't think anything possibly can. However, vegan mayo in coleslaw or potato salad, I truly doubt anyone would notice. It's a side dish, a condiment and the taste is not compromised, at most It's very slightly different.

One nice thing to make, not related to veganism but I learned the recipe when I worked in restaurants is a 'slaw' that's not made with any mayo at all. Shredded carrot, cabbage and red onion with fresh ground black pepper, pinch of salt and a squirt of lemon juice, and a slug of olive oil (I realise some people prefer precise measurements but I am a 'chuck it all together' sort.

Really delicious and good alterative to coleslaw if you'd rather not buy a 'special' product and don't have any coleslaw addicts in your BBQ circle.

When I'm catering for a crowd I provide a range of dishes (vegetables, dahl, beans rice hummus , salads, fruit) which are suitable for vegans, vegetarians, and eagerly eaten by people who also have meat or fish on their plate. Serve dips salad dressings and sauces separately.

Two of the best cooks I know are vegan. Its a treat to eat meals they've made.

Ask them what they’d like and how best to accommodate. I did a BBQ so the weekend (vegan and GF) - suggestions;

veggie kebabs
corn on cob
vegan sausage (ideally M&S)
a condiment
One side and a normal undressed salad - I did this;
theherbeevore.com/simple-lemon-quinoa-salad-vegan-gluten-free/

NOT a vegan, cannot BE a vegan, but when I read "portobello mushroom (grilled, of course) on a bun, I DROOLED! There are so many wonderful vegan foods out there!

As a vegan, I'd be delighted with a burger and bun (or 2) and a bit of vegan cheese.

A salad, without meat, is obviously vegan.

I think you are being hospitable.

You do realise that you probably eat a hell of a lot of food that are also suitable for vegans?

No. I would not accommodate you, or any of my friends/family, by buying meat or anything that has come from an animal, but do you know what, I would provide you, or anyone, with delicious food that doesn't contradict my views that animals should not be used and abused.

In real life, this isn't an issue to normal people, and if they aren't happy, they keep quiet about it and stop off at a kebab shop on they way home if needed.

I think it’s a bit different, you having to buy vegetables for vegans, and vegans having to go against their believes to buy animal produce for you?

Surely you see the huge difference?

Vegans tend to dislike the fact baby cows are killed, so that we can take milk from their mothers. That’s probably why they won’t buy you chocolate biscuits 🙈

I completely agree, it's just not the same non vegans buying in some vegetables or meat free sausages to vegans buying meat.
Presumably buying vegetables doesn't go against anyone 's beliefs?!
Isn't it with vegans though that cows are repeatedly impregnated so able to produce milk for us humans, whilst their babies are taken away from them and are deprived of it?
Female ones are kept to keep us in milk.
Male ones are killed to eat them.
Cows aren't killed to give us milk.
Baby male ones are killed for us to eat their meat though.
(Happy to be corrected as I don't claim to be an expert)

I'd cater some options (as suggested above) - more than just a burger, less than a vegan option for every menu item.

Personally I would do as you mentioned and have veggie burgers available. Salads and other bbq extra's can be enjoyed by all. If I were vegan (not) I would bring something in my purse to eat in case I don't eat the food served. Anyone going to a bbq should expect the usual fare and plan accordingly.

Nobody really believes that vegetarians should cook meat for meat eaters, surely? Please tell me those are spoof posts.

So you don’t eat anything ever that doesn’t have meat or dairy in and therefore require every food you’re offered to contain one or both? What a strange take.

By that logic, I should be serving all my non-tee total guests booze whenever they come round for any reason because it’s wholly selfish of me to offer them anything that’s not alcoholic just because I don’t drink.

I don't think vegans take much accommodating....I'm not vegan BTW but a family member is. A lot of things are vegan at a bbq - salads, rice, pasta, veg kebabs, bread rolls, you just need some vegan burgers or sausages or something to go with.