Is it really that hard.....? 🤔

[StillGotBabyBrain]

My family is vegan, not a massive deal.

When the school has events, no vegan option, so everyone gets a bbq or food catered and we don't. Not even a dairy free alternative for hot drinks! (Primary school, high school is better).

When they go for sleepovers I get worried parents asking me what should they do, can I provide food and drinks for them...

Pubs and restaurants barely cater for adults let alone add options for the kids menu.

Went to a choir meeting the other week, nothing I could eat from the food included in my ticket price.

Am I being unreasonable thinking it's really not that difficult to provide bread and houmous or vegetable dishes? They're suitable for everyone, so isn't a waste of food! Blows my mind.

I hear you and feel that with you. Just a shame. A real shame.

I tend to feed us before we go somewhere now, and opt out of food type situations where possible, unless it's somewhere I know we can eat.

If there's seasoning on the crisps, it might not be vegan. Cupcakes are unlikely to be vegan. The sandwiches are fine but some vegans won't touch them if there's any risk the utensils used to prepare them are cross contaminated (like cutting the ham sandwiches before the vegans ones, with the same knife). Or if they might have been carried in the same box or be served on the same platter.

If it’s a simple swap and price wise same then I’d point it out eg can you get oreos (I think they are vegan) as I can have those not fox’s creams but issue is probably choir’s budget is value custard creams.

Of course , meat eaters can eat veggie based dishes. We have an ethical belief. Would you expect other beliefs to provide food that goes against their belief, or just vegans? Eating meat is not a belief. It's just something you do.

I make sure that when kids are here they have something that I can make them, they will like.

No exactly the buffet won’t be vegan friendly at all - butter in sandwiches and cakes but it’s type of easy diy catering found at lots of events and will be suitable for most people just not vegan or some allergies.

OP, I get that it must be frustrating, but have you ever tried to cater for a large group? By the time you factor in intolerances and other dietary restrictions, it can become quite costly and wasteful (eg a whole packet of gluten free rolls for one person to have one or two, the rest just go in the bin etc.)

It also can be just too much head space for the person organising, on top of everything else (especially if the veggie/vegan option has to be cooked separately, presented separately etc.)

Unfortunately having dietary restrictions is actually restrictive. And most people are going to prioritise health based needs like allergies over what is a personal preference in most cases (ie veganism.)

That choir event was not a church choir and tickets were not cheap! They'd all made glorious dishes, done a fab job. Just not one suitable for me 🤣
We laughed at it, and someone found me a bag of crisps, whilst they were all eating loaded plates of food. I was only slightly jealous 😅

Exactly. I'm capable of cooking vegan cupcakes and other dishes but do I want to? It also costs a lot more in terms of money and time.

It's just sheer laziness, I find. People, like a PP said, cannot be arsed.

Actually, it is really really easy to prepare vegan food, like you say, it's just vegetables, but people are so programmed to add chicken stock cubes, or butter, milk or mayo to everything, to reconsider their ingredients becomes a drama. Therefore, vegans are PITA.

Hummus, bean salad, most breads, vege sticks, pasta, rice, chips, even jacket potatoes topped with baked beans are all simple enough. So many sandwich options... We eat a lot of vegetarian meals (the one thing I really miss in a vegan diet are eggs), and DH's family have a lot of severe dairy allergies, that we often skip that in cooking and people can just add cheese, butter etc to their meals, if they so wish.

Of course there are some ridiculous cookbooks/recipes out there which require all kinds of crazy expensive ingredients, (I usually pass them on) but 99% of the time, it's just simple, clean food.

Yes I have, done lots of catering. Had a couple of cafes. Still sell cakes now.

I said above, pre vegan, I never left them out. Vegan dishes can often be made gluten free and so therefore cover most of the allergy issues with one dish. Eg dairy, egg, gluten free etc. 😋

That's not what I'm saying. You are moaning no one caters for you but you won't cater for them?

Some children may eat be restricted to non vegan items because of SEN etc. I always find it annoying when it's a one way street unless of course its an allergy.

I do prep for vegans in my life and they do the same because they realise that not everyone has the same beliefs (same as i would use halal / kosher though i dont agree with some slaughering methods) and they go for a much higher welfare meat product so they feel the animal has had a more fulfilling life.

I love you 😍

I don't think you understood what I wrote. I wouldn't go to a Buddhist centre (who are mainly vege) and expect them to cater meat for me because I'm not Buddhist. I wouldn't expect someone to come into my vegan home and demand meat. Catering vegetables is not offensive to anyone.

What a ridiculous comment.

Some of the things you're suggesting here take more prep than the stuff that is served to non-vegans at an event, typically. It would also cost a lot more to get things like bean salads and jacket stuffed potatoes if you buy them ready made or from a catering company (if time is the issue). Things like finger foods often come from the freezer at the supermarket (if basic and not catered) and the vegan freezer options to cost quite a bit more. So maybe have just one small platter for the vegans? Sure, but what happens when all the non-vegans have grabbed them? I'm not vegan but would tend towards the more vegetable type options.

I've had vegans come into my home and insist no animal products even be seen, let alone consumed, while they are there. Former friends, that is.

it is, it really is a nightmare catering to vegan's: no honey no butter add in a few allergies and voila a ruined get together.

Yes, you can't tell my husband, in his own home, he can't have a splash of milk in his coffee, or my kids can't have butter on their toast if they want it (I don't buy that margarine stuff).

Seriously if you can't see the irony in your comments then what else is there to say.

#vegetablesarealivetoo

I've saved a fortune since not buying meat and dairy. The idea that beans and potatoes or salad is more expensive seems crazy! Lentils instead of mince, or many other meats. Bean chilli is easy peasy, so quick and simple and costs barely anything. It really is just people not wanting to be bothered. And that is frustrating.

I get people being worried and having concerns, but just thinking - nah - I don't get that at all.

And if people are more likely to go for the veggie type dishes like you say, perhaps there should be more of them!

Have you actually been out to a pub / restaurant recently? There are at least 2 vegan options now at most high street chain places e.g. pizza express, wagamama, Zizzi etc. Even McDonalds now has the McPlant. You can get vegan lunches in most coffee shops e.g. Costa, pret, Starbucks. Even better,.go to some independent local places, they seem to have even more vegan options than the high street chains.

Regarding school, have you offered to join the PTA to help organise the vegan option on offer? Or just expecting another parent to do it.

I found vegetarian/vegan cooking quite expensive because of the need to do proper protein balancing. You can't just have lentils without balancing that elsewhere. Nuts are good for you but so expensive. To do it well, I found quite costly.

Speaking of catering functions though, having to do food prep like that, or spend more on catering, is a time issue for whoever has to do the prep. I'm very busy, my time is tight, do I want to spend the time cooking extra dishes? I'd be happy for an organisation to cater it, but it is likely to add to the cost of hosting the event. For some organisations with tight funds, that will be an issue. Join the committee and offer to do the vegan cooking required for events yourself?

I just think it's alot of faff/added cost for the school to include all dietary requirements in a bbq (which let's face it is a meat feast.)
I would always cater for vegans though if they came to my house and would be happy to.

People don’t want to cater to you, OP. You’re a minority and minorities are difficult. You’re suppose to blend in apparently. All of us the same…

I've always been happy to cater to vegans visiting my home, and understand the issues with keeping utensils and things separate. Where I draw the line though is when the vegan I'm catering to tells me I'm not allowed animal products of any kind in my home during their presence.

It’s massively inconvenient and a choice. You want it.. you sort it out. Why should they have waste just to accommodate you? Allergies.. yes… should be accommodated… food fads… no… deal with it.