Creating a more inclusive catering menu for your next event is a wise decision that ensures everyone leaves with a full and happy belly. Learn more here.
If you have a food intolerance, allergy, or specific preference, you understand how frustrating it is to only have a salad because the event’s main dish isn’t for you. As a business that serves food to guests, creating a more inclusive catering menu is crucial for ensuring every attendee is happy with their meal. Keep reading this guide to learn how to build an inclusive menu for all guests.
Different Food Preferences & Restrictions
When you’re creating a menu for an event or party, it’s inevitable that some of your guests will choose not to eat specific foods. Regardless of their reasoning, it’s best to understand these different food preferences and restrictions so that you can be more familiar with the various foods to add to your menu.
For example, someone who is vegan will not eat meat, dairy, or any product produced by an animal due to their exclusively plant-based diet. Meanwhile, someone who is gluten-free cannot eat foods with gluten proteins due to an allergy or intolerance to gluten. Other preferences and restrictions might include vegetarianism, lactose intolerance, and other food sensitivities.
Know Who Is Attending Before Making the Menu
The best way to determine if someone attending your event will have a food preference or restriction is to ask them on the invite. Ask guests to RSVP to the party and include any restrictions or preferences for food items. Afterward, you can compile a list of what each guest likes, dislikes, or cannot have, ensuring you can create a more inclusive catering menuthat everyone enjoys.
Don’t Overcomplicate It!
When various guests have multiple different restrictions, it’s important to avoid overcomplicating things for yourself. Plenty of dishes and appetizers are suitable and safe for many types of conditions and preferences. It’s perfectly fine to have a plethora of mouth-watering appetizers for your event, but don’t get too carried away. Having options is nice, but offering too many foods can lead to confusion. Stick to having three to four choices to decide between, as anything more will overcomplicate the menu.
The more inclusive your catering menu is, the happier guests will be. It’s impossible for a single dish to please every guest, so you must remember to keep in mind the various needs of those in attendance. What will you add to your menu to ensure it’s inclusive to everyone?
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist for 2UrbanGirls.com.
