Don’t Forget Your Vegan Friends
One of the key things of being a good host is that it is not about you. Make your guests happy. Show you know them and what they like. As it becomes more popular and the options become more prevalent, friends of mine are turning vegan. I even tried it for six weeks at the start of the year — but I fell off the bus. What I did find over those weeks, was that there are a lot of delicious options and alternative ingredients that even us meat eaters would enjoy.
“Three Office Workers” by Peter C. Vey
Now I’m not saying replace your entire menu, but 1. Maybe try and make a vegan dish that sounds good to you as well. Or 2. Look for small tweaks to do in the things you are already making that would turn it vegan. You don’t have to go nuts. Just have a couple options. No one wants a friend to feel left out. They shouldn’t feel like they have to eat before they come to your party or settle for the veggies in a plastic tray you tossed in your grocery cart last minute.
What are some good options that are creative and thoughtful, but won’t add a ton of time to your planning making a bunch of extra things?
Toasts. Just toast some french bread slices in the oven with olive oil and have two or three options of things to put on top. Avocado and sliced tomatoes? White bean dip and radish? Hummus and giardiniera?
Potato Leek Soup. One of my favorite things to make. Use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. And at the end instead of adding cream? Set some soup to the side that you won’t add the cream to. Or to make it even easier, just add something like oat milk to it for everyone. You won’t know the difference. Check out the recipe here.
Panzanella. One of my favorite versatile dishes (also good at room temp) and set some aside and leave the feta out. Check out the recipe here.
Spinach Dip Rolls. I made these for a New Years Eve party as an appetizer. So good. I used Kite Hill sour cream and Miyokos cream cheese. Click here for recipe.
Whole Foods Succotash. I don’t think they make it anymore, but they used to and it is so good. Meat eaters enjoy this too and it makes a good side for anyone. Check it out here.
Just be a little creative. And do it for your friends. Trust me, they will notice that you made plans to include them. Because not many people do it.