Some of the best memories are made outdoors in the garden, with good food and even better friends. With BBQ season now in full swing, we wanted to make sure everyone is catered for at your next gathering. It’s easy to create a menu suitable for everybody – all you need is a little bit of planning.
Vegan and vegetarian BBQs
Attending a meat-eating friend’s BBQ as a veggie or vegan can be a bit of a minefield, especially if you’re new to the scene. In addition, it can be equally confusing hosting someone with specific dietary requirements.
Vegetarians follow a diet with no meat or fish. Vegans, on the other hand, exclude, as far as possible, all forms of animal products. The dietary aspect of veganism involves plant-based foods. However, someone who only follows a ‘plant-based’ diet sometimes doesn’t avoid animal testing or by-products, unlike vegans.
A barbecue doesn’t have to revolve around meat. There are plenty of vegan and veggie BBQ options suitable for everyone’s tastes and requirements. Making sure you’ve got an extra throw-away BBQ or a separate area to cook will help avoid any cross contamination and is a great way to make sure everyone feels comfortable. If in doubt, always ask your guests about their preferences.
Top tip: Ask your veggie and vegan friends for ideas! There are numerous meat substitutes out there.
Food allergy advice
In addition to those who follow special diets, it’s estimated that around 2 million people living in the UK have a food allergy – this figure doesn’t include those with food intolerances. To help prevent guests from having an allergic reaction to food, make sure you read up on their requirements beforehand. Similar to catering for veggies and vegans, it’s a good idea to ask for some suggestions of foods they can and want to eat.
Top tip: Freefrom sections in supermarkets are a great place to find popular foods that omit some of the top allergens.
We’ve put together some tips to help understand all your guests’ dietary requirements and make sure everyone has a good time.
With a little bit of research, chefs of all skill levels can create a healthy BBQ to accommodate everyone. From veggie and vegan meals to gluten-free BBQ foods; a barbecue can be diverse, as well as delicious. Try Heston’s char-grilled tomato and avocado slaw as a yummy vegan accompaniment or, for some vegetarian BBQ ideas, the roasted pineapple sundae is perfect for dessert.
Now all you need is the perfect barbeque from our Everdure range. From the charcoal hub to our furnace gas BBQ, we’ve got something for every outdoor garden party.
