It can be quite exciting and stressful at the same time to prepare fro the coming of a vegan guest. It is exciting because of the novelty of the experience, yet stressful because of the difference in preparation that may be required. Equipped with the basic information about veganism, anyone can manage a presentable output that can please a vegan guest.
The first things to establish are the dos and don’ts of veganism. Once these are clarified, everything else will eventually fall into place. Should the details become blurred in the heat of preparation, it helps to remember the most basic. Vegans do not eat anything that contains animal meat, substances and derivatives. Ethical vegans extend this limitation to clothes, drinks, personal care products, home design, and entertainment.
If you are expecting a close family member or long time friend, you need not beat yourself unnecessarily to come up with the perfect preparation. These people are expected to be more understanding of any shortcomings on the part of the host as per vegan standards. Vegans in general are aware that there is nothing to be gained in creating a commotion in the middle of a celebration because of some minor lapses on the grounds of inexperience in preparing a vegan food fare.
In fact, vegan guests can take the initiative of bringing a vegan cuisine as a way of introducing the diet to non- vegan guests. This lightens the stress load of the host in knowing that a vegan guest is assured of something to eat if his/her own preparation does not prove suitable. This should not be a reason however for hosts to neglect their responsibilities by being totally unprepared. Hosts are expected to go out of their way to provide their guests a good time even if it entails some degree of inconvenience on their part.
A casual chat with the expected guest prior to the visit should settle basic issues such as preferred food, allergies (if any), and desired foods. Knowing these details narrows down the choice to possible hits instead of misses. Hosts should opt for dishes that will prove to be interesting for meat eaters themselves. This is to ensure that guests are not divided during eating time as dictated by dietary considerations. Although vegans cannot eat non- vegan foods, there is nothing to stop non- vegans from indulging themselves in vegan foods.
Hosts should be careful not to cross-contaminate vegan food preparations when simultaneously preparing non-vegan food. Potatoes and vegetables should be cooked in vegetable oil and placed separately from meat dishes so that everyone gets to enjoy them. Equipments and utensils used in meat dishes should not be used for vegan dishes. If this is not possible, they should be thoroughly cleaned before use.
Ready-made vegan food can be a life saver when there is not much time to prepare. With minimum time and effort, a suitable meat roast substitute can be served. Labels have to be read so ingredients can be verified. Some manufacturers fail to provide information regarding change in ingredients so it is best to be sure just in case.
Not all drinks and beverages are suitable for vegan consumption. Some beers and wines are clarified through the use of animal products but this doesn’t usually appear on the labels. Products certified by vegan societies are safe choices. All possible ready-made options can be considered by requesting a list of vegan-certified products from the nearest vegan society or organization.
The usual irritants in celebrations even among close family members is when someone decides that the occasion is the perfect time to make jokes about certain personal choices like being vegan. It is not only uncomfortable to the vegan guest but to other guests as well. The host can try to change the subject to avoid embarrassment. The vegan guest however can choose to respond good-naturedly and use the chance to explain more about veganism without being preachy. Guests in general should avoid confrontational issues that are deliberately hurtful thereby destroying the festive mood of the occasion.
The vegan guest is expected to show gratitude to the host and can even provide encouraging words so that efforts exerted for the vegan preparation will not be the first and the last. Everyone should be reminded that it is a time to enjoy and trying a vegan dish forms part of the fun. The host can even inform all guests that the occasion will only serve vegan cuisine so as not to isolate a lone vegan guest.
If a host is aiming for an all-out vegan affair, then food is not the only concern. A vegan guest will truly appreciate walking into a room or party area that has been visibly arranged to accommodate his/her preference. Plant-based decorations or plants used as decorations provide ample room for creativity without disturbing vegan senses. Vegans stay away from the use of animal derived materials such as leather, fur, pearls, and feathers so it would be sensible to stay away from these materials as well when preparing the house for the event. Should any form of entertainment be provided, it should veer away from numbers that suggest cruelty to animals such as animal show, circuses, and other like presentations.
There are many animal substances which do not readily reveal its source including albumen, ambergris, anchovy, beeswax, bone meal, casein, cochineal, cod-liver oil, dripping, gelatin, lactose, lard, lecithin, lutein, oleic oil, pepsin, rennet, sodium 5 -inosinate, suet, taurine, and volaise. Most additives cannot be readily identified as animal-derived as well. Information from the right source can quickly clarify matters so that vegan food preparation will not become a guessing game.
There are a number of good vegan books that can serve as a guide for preparing for a vegan guest, not to mention the vast information already available online. Do not make the mistake of thinking that vegan food is equivalent to bland food. The taste and flavor that vegan ingredients offer are as rich and exciting as their meat counterparts. You just need to determine the right combination to produce a wonderful vegan dish.
For a small get-together for close family members at Christmas time, food preparation can be as simple as serving Tofurkey, a meat-product substitute which tastes like turkey usually made of tofu, seasoned Portobello mushrooms, vegetable tray, herb-enhanced mashed potatoes, and vegan cheesecake. This combination provides a complete vegan meal that can be appreciated by non- vegans as well. There will be other events to come that will allow you to show your increasing ability to whip up vegan delights.
Even if certain modifications are expected to be done when a vegan is part of the guest list, the host need not call attention to the difference by serving separate dishes for “different” guests. Every event where people come together is an opportunity for fostering better relations and learning from the views and principles of others. An atmosphere of camaraderie and open-mindedness should guide the actions and words of guests.