Veganism is a popular lifestyle choice that comes with a long list of mental and physical benefits. For this reason, it is very common to meet individuals who practice a vegan diet. If you are planning a gathering that includes guests who are vegan, you may want to consider including some vegan-conscious courses that will meet their dietary needs, as well as their taste buds.

Continue reading to learn some easy tips for creating a tasteful and proper vegan meal spread!

Understanding Veganism

To better understand how to cater to vegans, it is helpful to learn what veganism is all about. A vegan is a person who follows a diet that is free of animal meat and by-products. This includes all dairy, such as milk, cream, cheese, and butter. It also include all animal meat and by-products, including poultry, beef, pork, lamb, eggs, and seafood. Some orthodox vegans also avoid using or wearing anything made from animals, such as leather, feathers, hides, furs, and more.

Beverages and Cocktails

There are endless choices for vegan beverages, alcoholic cocktails, and even mocktails. So long as you do not use any mixers that contain dairy, you are in the clear. Stick with lemonades, wines, beers, iced teas, hot tea, coffee, soda, juice, and liquor. Avoid milk-based products, or substitute them with coconut, cashew, or almond milk products.

Appetizers

Appetizers that are vegan are easy to come by. Summer is the time for fresh produce, so simply load up on all kinds of fruit and vegetables assortments, both raw and prepared. Grape and cherry tomatoes, zucchini, squash, broccoli, carrots, radishes, cauliflower, bell peppers, and more, are all fantastic options for color and taste. Try them in salads, on sticks, marinated, or dipped. Your vegan guests will love them all! You can also include vegetable and chickpea dips, like hummus, eggplant, onion, and more! Just be sure they are free of sour cream and dairy products.

Main Course

Whether dinner or lunch, your main course is simple to plan for a vegan guest list. Pasta is always a crowd pleaser, just avoid using egg noodles or sauce that contains meat or dairy. Or, choose hearty vegetables, like eggplant, cauliflower steaks, and portobello mushrooms, to substitute main course meat dishes. Tofu is a great option, too. When prepared well, these vegan courses are just as filling and delicious as meat. Pair these courses with delicious, vegan-style salads and sides, such as rice, quinoa, tabbouleh, couscous, vegan pasta salad, and any kinds of vegetables.

Dessert

Desserts are sometimes a challenge for vegans because most contain some form of dairy. However, there are excellent choices for vegan-friendly desserts, so long as you choose them carefully. Any type of cake, pudding, or cream pie will not likely be fit for vegans, so you may need to have them specially made using dairy substitutes, like almond milk, applesauce, and nut butters. Fruit smoothies are another terrific option so long as you use non-dairy milk, such as almond, cashew, or coconut. Any type of nuts are also a delicious option.

Custom Catering in Georgia

Call Food for Thought Catering at 678-340-0510 for customized catering in Newnan, Georgia and its surrounding towns. Our expert catering coordinators and Executive chefs specialize in providing tailored menus and themes for all races, religions, ethnicities, and more. We can also accommodate special dietary requests and restrictions, including Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, food allergies, and kosher diets. Request a free quote, today!