As awareness of dietary needs has grown over recent decades, inclusive catering to guests with dietary requirements has become standard for events, ensuring guests feel valued and included. Inclusive catering, or catering for dietary requirements, means providing food options for an event that accommodates various nutritional requirements and restrictions. This approach accommodates diverse needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, kosher, or Halal options, creating a welcoming experience for everyone.

Here in Houston, Goode Co. Catering and Events specializes in providing delicious full-service and catering delivery menus that are customizable to meet common dietary requirements for events. Whether you’re planning a corporate gathering, a wedding, or a private party, we’ll work closely with you to create a memorable dining experience for all your guests.

Why is it important to accommodate different dietary requirements?

Catering to dietary restrictions is crucial for ensuring inclusivity at any event. Accommodating intolerances and allergies promotes guests’ well-being and, in some cases, can be a matter of life and death. Beyond health concerns, it also demonstrates thoughtfulness and respect for the personal and religious beliefs of others. 

For example, when selecting a venue for your corporate holiday event, ensure it can accommodate these dietary needs, primarily if it provides on-site catering.  Can it accommodate specific requests, such as nut-free, Halal, or pescatarian, and do they know what these terms mean?

These considerations are critical when planning a corporate catering event, where guests often come from varied backgrounds with unique dietary requirements. Thoughtfully accommodating these needs can leave a lasting positive impression and ensure everyone enjoys the occasion. 

What are common dietary requirements?

Assess your guests’ dietary requirements before exploring catering options. If you’re hosting a large event in Houston, we advise requiring all invitees to indicate special dietary requirements when RSVPing. Inventory the responses, such as how many guests indicated Kosher or vegetarian preferences. 

You’ll then need to relay this information to your caterer as soon as possible to avoid any issues developing the menu or surprises on the day of your event.

Throughout the years we have catered events in Houston, the expert team at Goode Co. Catering and Events  has frequently encountered the following dietary needs:

Special Diets

Vegetarians: Vegetarians typically avoid meat, poultry, and seafood. However, they may eat foods derived from animals, such as eggs, honey, and dairy products. There are several varieties of vegetarians, including those who consume eggs and dairy (lacto-ovo vegetarian), those who eat eggs but no dairy (ovo vegetarians), and those who eat dairy products but avoid eggs (lacto-vegetarians). Goode Co. Catering and Events offers multiple vegetarian-friendly sides and salads for guests.

Vegans: Vegans adhere to an entirely plant-based diet. They don’t consume any meat, seafood, or chicken. Additionally, they don’t eat any foods that come from animals, such as gelatin, eggs, dairy, or honey.

Pescatarians: They are primarily vegetarian but will eat some seafood. 

Religious Dietary Requirements

There are many religions with food traditions or dietary restrictions. Some are more stringent than others, but what remains the same is that they all need to be observed as closely as possible. The following are a few of Houston’s most prevalent religious dietary requirements.

Catering With Kosher Requirements in Mind

People who follow kosher dietary guidelines adhere to Jewish dietary laws, which include avoiding shellfish and pork and ensuring that animals are slaughtered humanely. Mixing meat and dairy is prohibited, so separate cooking tools, utensils, and serving plates are required. 

When choosing your venue in Houston, ensure your caterer understands and can accommodate these kosher requirements, from the ingredients they use to the kitchen space and operations to provide an inclusive and respectful dining experience.

Halal

Halal food refers to any nourishment permitted by the Quran—the Muslim holy book. Pork and alcohol are not allowed, and if you serve meat, the animal must be slaughtered in a specific manner. 

For stress-free full-service catering in Houston, choose a caterer that thoughtfully accommodates Halal requirements to ensure all guests feel welcome and valued.

Mormons

The followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as Mormons, are not permitted to drink alcohol, coffee, or tea. These ingredients can also be found in everyday foods such as tiramisu or coq au vin. 

Let’s say you’re organizing a corporate breakfast in Houston. To accommodate your guests respectfully, consider offering a variety of beverages like juices or herbal teas and ensuring the menu indicates if any foods contain those ingredients.

Sikh

Though Sikhs are allowed to decide for themselves whether or not to include meat in their diet, this religious order is primarily Lacto-vegetarian. It is not permitted to eat meat from animals that were slaughtered according to other religious codes such as Halal or Kosher.

Dietary Requirements for People with Disabilities and Allergies

The most common food allergies and food intolerances include the following:

In addition, guests with specific disabilities may have medical conditions that require them to drink only liquids or eat soft foods. When choosing the perfect menu for your inclusive event, consider these concerns and make sure your caterer can meet them. 

What do you ask your caterer about dietary restrictions?

Getting the right information is critical to choosing a caterer who can accommodate your guests’ dietary needs. These are some of the most frequently asked questions about accommodating dietary restrictions:

What are the steps to manage dietary restrictions when planning catering?

  1. Communicate with your guests.

Communication is crucial to managing dietary restrictions. Give your guests plenty of time and opportunity to communicate their needs and preferences. If you’re planning a holiday event, ask your guests to detail their requirements in their RSVP well before the holidays. Include contact information if you need to follow up with questions. 

  1. Talk with your caterer.

If you have many guests who keep Kosher and your caterer can’t accommodate them, let them know beforehand or find a Houston catering service to accommodate this request. 

Or, if your caterer specializes in immersive catering events and some of your guests have indicated they’re vegetarian, learn if you can create a station with strictly vegetarian food provided. 

  1. Plan the menu

If you’re planning a Texas BBQ-themed event, consider your guests’ diverse needs and work with a caterer who can accommodate various dietary preferences. Thoughtful menu planning ensures that everyone can enjoy their meal together, regardless of their specific needs. Offering Halal, vegetarian, or gluten-free dishes demonstrates inclusivity. It allows all guests to feel welcomed and catered to, regardless of whether you’ve chosen on-site or off-site catering. 

  1. Be thorough and follow up.

Whether you’re planning catering for your wedding or a graduation and need clarification on specific requests made by your guests, reach out to them. Don’t assume! Ask them to provide you with as much detail as possible if these restrictions are detailed. Do not be afraid to ask questions if you’re unfamiliar with their preferences.  

  1. Have a ‘plan B’

One of the best holiday event planning tips that often goes unmentioned is ensuring you have a plan B. Despite your best efforts, there will usually be someone who’s forgotten to mention their food allergies or intolerances. For this reason, we recommend you keep a few options as extras for the most common dietary restrictions. 

Goode Co. Catering & Events

At Goode Co. Catering & Events, we pride ourselves on creating experiences that bring people together, regardless of their dietary needs. For over 45 years, we’ve created customizable menus that accommodate Houstonians’ diverse preferences, ensuring every guest feels looked after and included. 

Regardless of the type of event you’re hosting or your dietary requirements, our experienced team is here to make your catering experience memorable.
Ready to host an inclusive event that everyone will enjoy? Contact Goode Co. Catering & Events today.

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