For Special Dietary Requirements, Which Food Is The Best?

Food is an essential part of every event. It is a good motivator for people to come in corporate events and often what people remember on an occasion. It assists in making celebrations and business events come out as a success. However, some foods can’t be served for everybody. There are special dietary requirements that need to be considered when planning what food to serve in an event. When planning out a menu nobody should be excluded especially those that have special dietary needs like people with food allergies, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance and those that advocate a vegetarian or vegan diet. Menu planning for this dietary needs can be challenging but is possible to create.

To understand more on what kind of food to include in planning a menu with special dietary requests for your event, here are the lists of common types of dietary restrictions to take into consideration:

Gluten-free - Gluten is a natural substance that is present to bread or any grain products. It what gives shape, strength, and elasticity to these products. Some people avoid foods that have gluten in it for medical reasons like it aggravates celiac disease once gluten is ingested while others opt for gluten-free food for a healthier diet. Fortunately, some recipes provide for gluten-free dishes and gluten-free food products have increased in recent years that are available in the market.

Dairy-free - Foods that are dairy-free means that there are no milk or any part of milk from a cow and other mammals. A dish for this dietary restriction avoids mixing cream, yogurt, and cheese in it because milk is a potential ground for allergies and lactose intolerance. Caterers can easily find food alternatives that exclude milk in menu items.

Vegetarian – Some people adopt a vegetarian diet for health reasons or environmental issues. The vegetarian diet avoids eating meat, fish and poultry products. It strictly sticks to plant-based foods. Most of the foods on this type of restrictions include various mixes of nuts, vegetables, grains, healthy fats, and fruits.

Vegan – People on this diet prefer not to consume animal products or any meat derived from animals. Serving whole foods such as beans, lentils, grains nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables are the best solutions for catering for vegans. It is also important to identify the food as vegan and that the ingredients are clearly stated.

Catering food for special dietary requirements need not be tasteless or unappetizing. There are well-experienced caterers nowadays that develop exquisite and delicious dishes for these special diets that everyone finds palatable and enjoyable to eat. Listed below are some of the corporate food catering ideas that are great for your guests with special dietary requirements.

1. Fresh Vietnamese rice paper rolls

It is basically overloaded with fresh vegetables like purple cabbage, red bell peppers, cilantro, carrots, herbs, avocados and romaine lettuce with slices of seasoned fruit like mangoes wrapped in paper rolls which make a good appetizer. It is packed with vitamins and minerals coming from the vegetables and mangoes. This is a good food alternative to serve because it is healthy and fits for a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan dietary requirements.

2. Fresh Salads

It can be Greek salads, Caesar salads, and garden fresh salads. Salads are a good option for those who have dietary restrictions. It is raw, fresh, crunchy, and definitely a very healthy one to eat. It will give you tons of fiber, antioxidants and superb health benefits. It is easy to prepare with endless varieties of fruits and vegetables that can be combined in a salad. It is definitely gluten-free and dairy-free that is perfect for vegetarians and vegans alike.

3. Burrito bowls

They are Mexican inspired veggie dishes served in a bowl. It is exceptionally healthy, tasty and easy to put together. You can make a combination of different grilled vegetables such as zucchini, carrots, onion, and mushrooms, fresh iceberg or romaine lettuce. Add up rice as a base with a selection you can choose from like brown rice, quinoa, and cauliflower rice and drizzle with sauces like guacamole, salsa or taco sauce that are low in calories. It got all the goodness needed to meet the special dietary requirements for food catering. It is absolutely gluten-free and dairy-free. It is a low-carb food perfect for vegetarians and a delight for vegans.

4. Sushi

Another great option for corporate catering for special diets is sushi. It is a complete healthy meal in itself. It consists of vinegared rice, vegetables with some seafood or sometimes mangoes or avocados inside then rolled in nori or seaweed wrapper with soy sauce, wasabi and ginger on the side as condiments. Although there are different types of sushi, its main focus is on fresh raw fish on top of rice. It got healthy fats like omega-3 and various vitamins and minerals. It is a great alternative food suited for a gluten-free and dairy-free type of dietary needs.

5. Sandwiches

They can be a good option for a healthy diet. Sandwiches are versatile food that can be adjusted to adapt to the dietary needs of your guests. There are loaves of bread available that are gluten-free and can be used to fill up with different veggies and proteins. It can never have too much crunchy, fresh and low-calorie vegetables on it. Bring out some creativity by adding caramelized onion or sun-dried tomatoes on the sandwich instead of pouring condiments on it or you can opt for low-calorie condiments like hummus and mustard. It will bring so much flavor and taste to it. Giving out a healthy twist to a sandwich will be a perfect match to meet the special dietary requirements for gluten-free and dairy-free food.