Dietary intolerances.
There’s always one. You’re hosting Christmas this year, but you just found out your cousin has recently turned vegan? Or maybe your mum has decided to cut out gluten, or your sister has just found out that she can’t eat onion and garlic anymore otherwise she will be terribly sick? What are you going to cook? It’s likely that there will be at least one of these scenarios at your event this year, and it can be more than daunting if you have no idea what it all means. Dietary intolerances and restrictions are varied and very individual (in regards to both reason and cause) – so there is no one approach that will fit an entire group. But, you can use these tips below to give you a starting point. Remember to always check with the individual beforehand so that they can make the best decision for themselves. Only they will know their body well enough to decide, it’s not up to you to choose for them.Vegetarian
There is quite a bit of variation within vegetarianism, but as a general rule: no meat, be it red or white, and no seafood (including things such as oysters, prawns and crab). Vegetarians are usually fairly happy with a couple of good quality salad options and some roast vegetables. Try not to be too boring with the old lettuce and tomato, get some colour and creativity in there! It’s also a good idea to include some vegetarian sources of protein in the mix too. If you’re having a BBQ, include some vegetarian sausages or lentil burgers as an easy option. You could also add chickpeas to your salad, or some cheese such as feta or haloumi will work well too.