Help! I'm hosting a vegan

I can only apologise that you’re having me over for dinner or some other event but please do not panic and grab your towel. Hopefully you can just make what you normally do minus some ingredients and subbing in plant-based alternatives where necessary.

Da Rules

Before getting to what I can eat, here’s what I cannot eat:

• Meat (beef, chicken, lamb, etc.)
• Fish and seafood
• Dairy (milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt, etc.)
• Eggs
• Honey

That’s it! Pretty simple right?!? Basically nothing that came from an animal.

Now, to make it easy, I have broken down hosting me into four levels of effort.

Level 1: Panic Picky Bits

What it is?

A bowl of plain lettuce, some tomatoes, maybe a cucumber, and a side of oven chips. Maybe some fruit for dessert.

The verdict

You think I’ll be okay with just some chips and oreos? Hell yeah I am! I’m a fiend for chips (or fries for any NA’s out there) when I’m out and about. However, I will probably be making a trip to the nearest supermarket for a quick block of tofu or I will be bringing some seitan. I need protein!

Level 2: Oh, that’s vegan?

What it is?

Food you already know how to cook that just happens to be vegan by default:

• Daal and Chickpea curry with Rice
• A jacket potato with Heinz baked beans
• Pasta Arrabbiata
• Fajitas (just roast up some peppers, onions, and mushrooms with a little seasoning, and skip the cheese).

Complete Protein you say?

You can’t go wrong with rice and beans! It’s a meal that is a complete protein, has plenty of fibre, and is super versatile.

The verdict

I think you should have most of the ingredients above for these dishes or they shouldn’t be something completely foreign to you. These would be awesome for myself! But again I will need to stuff my face with some tofu or tempeh from the fridge when I get home for, you know it, protein.

Level 3: The 1:1 Swap

What it is

A dish you probably already make, but you swap out the animal products for some specific plant-based alternatives (mostly tofu).

• Spaghetti bolognese! (tofu instead of ground beef)
• Tofu Curry like chicken curry but with tofu
• Chocolate Chip Cookies (made without butter or eggs)

The verdict

These would be insane and means that you have unlocked the skill of working with tofu. Get some containers cause I will be taking leftovers!

Level 4: WTHELLY?

What it is

You’re doing things that are kinda long but totally worth it!

• Vegan Lasagna gotta make your own vegan mozzarella and pat dry some tofu
• Vegan Chocolate Cake I make this all the time and it’s always a hit!

The verdict

I am moving in.

All else fails

Ask me to bring something! I appreciate any effort that is made but have no problem sorting myself out and it gives me a chance at sharing some vegan dishes with y’all! Just give me some notice cause I’m so slow!

What about eating out?

If we’re eating out, breathe! It will be okay! Especially in London. Almost everywhere I’ve been to in London has had at least one or two vegan options. If you want to ensure there’s something for me, just check the menu beforehand:

Look for the (VE): Menus usually have a (V) for Vegetarian (contains dairy/eggs) and a (VE) or (Vg) for Vegan (totally plant-based).

If you don’t want to worry about all this, again don’t worry. I always check if there are vegan options available before I go to a restaurant. Also if there aren’t I can’t go wrong with fries.

Please Always Invite me though! I’d rather not eat and just hang out with people than miss out on socialising.