{"id":969,"date":"2019-07-05T18:27:04","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T18:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/?post_type=food&p=969"},"modified":"2019-07-05T18:35:38","modified_gmt":"2019-07-05T18:35:38","slug":"vegan-party-food","status":"publish","type":"food","link":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/food-drink\/vegan-party-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Vegan Party Food"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Vegan
Vegan pizza is always a crowd pleaser!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Vegans love to party as much as anyone else but vegan party food has traditionally been something of an afterthought. As the meat-eating guests tucked into creative crayfish canapes and inventive meat-heavy buffet dishes, the vegans were left to munch on the leftover salad garnish or hunt for abandoned olives and peanuts.<\/p>\n

Another crime against veganism was that vegan dishes were not always easily identifiable and at catered events underpaid and overworked waiting staff were unable to differentiate their hummus from their halloumi so the poor hungry vegan had to make do with celery sticks, quietly resigning themselves to a raging hangover the next day.<\/p>\n

Vegan Party Food Is Getting Better<\/h2>\n

Fortunately, things are now improving as hosts realise the importance of catering for their vegan guests, and, in fact, vegan nibbles are often the first to get gobbled as the carnivores are keen to try something new, so it pays not to hang around too long before hitting the buffet table at any event!<\/p>\n

Whether you are a vegan with something to celebrate or a non-vegan party host looking for ideas and inspiration to wow your vegan guests, this article will make your party planning a breeze. You should also check out our articles on Vegan Christmas Dinner<\/a> and Vegan Barbecues<\/a> if you have a particular event or theme in mind.<\/p>\n

For a more general gathering, a good starting point would be to take a look at our Best Vegan Snacks<\/a> recipes, as many of these quick and easy snacks are great for any occasion.<\/p>\n

Unless you are planning an entirely vegan party menu, it is essential that you clearly label the vegan foods on your table and ensure that anyone serving food to your guests knows which dishes are suitable for vegans. Unfortunately, some people don’t quite understand the difference between veganism and vegetarianism and may have still failed to grasp that cheese and pineapple chunks on sticks are not a vegan delicacy (although if that was your first thought for feeding anyone at your party, hiring professional caterers is probably a sensible idea!)<\/p>\n

Unless you are going to set up a carnivore exclusion zone around the vegan delights on your buffet table, it is definitely worth over-catering for your vegan guests. Once the meat eaters realise how tasty vegan party food is, it will be difficult to stop them piling their plates high!<\/p>\n

Vegan Party Food the Easy Way<\/h2>\n

Party planning can be a stressful business, which is why the rich and famous shell out millions to pay someone else to do it for them and you\u2019re unlikely to see Elton John worrying about which brand of vegan sausage roll he should be serving to his guests. Sadly, most of us do not have the luxury of a professional party planner on speed dial but that does not mean your party cannot be a success. With a little research and forward planning, you too can party like an ageing pop star.<\/p>\n

If you are pushing the boat out, an Internet search for vegan caterers should bring up a list of professionals available in your local area and, unlike the bad old days, all competent bakers should be able to produce a cake that does not contain any animal products and will still taste delicious.<\/p>\n

If you are trying to keep costs down and plan on catering the party yourself that does not mean you will need to spend the weeks before the party slaving away in your kitchen,. There is a fantastic range of ready-made vegan party foods available at most supermarkets, so sit back and relax with a vegan beer<\/a> and let someone else do the hard work for you.<\/p>\n

Our advice would be to combine a selection of pre-prepared party foods with a selection of simple vegan dishes of your own. If you are looking for inspiration then the Recipes<\/a> section of our website will help. When it comes to drinks, both alcoholic and otherwise, you can also now find a great selection of vegan tipples available in your local off licence or supermarket. Check out our articles on vegan wine<\/a>, vegan cider<\/a> and spirits<\/a> if you are unsure where to start or what to be looking out for on the labels.<\/p>\n

Best Vegan Supermarkets<\/h2>\n

\"Supermarket\"<\/p>\n

Supermarkets have finally realised that the demand for vegan products is growing and that they are missing a trick if they do not develop their own-brand product ranges to meet this demand.<\/p>\n

Most supermarkets will also sell other vegan brands – a couple of our favourites include Beyond Meat and some of the vegan range products from Quorn and Linda McCartney. And, don\u2019t forget that you can pick up additional vegan items from the deli counter and salad bar too.<\/p>\n

Many of the more specialist vegan-friendly supermarkets have selected a wide variety of products from some of the best vegan food producers around. Our top recommended supermarkets for vegans are:<\/p>\n