Summer is the time to chow down at a good old-fashioned barbecue, especially for the Fourth of July in the United States– but what about the vegans?
A new survey examined how the traditional concept of barbecue can accommodate those with meat-free and alternative-diets, and explored the lengths hosts go to in order to cater to guests with dietary restrictions.
The survey conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Sabra examined the summer hosting habits and behaviors of 2,000 Americans and discovered that two in five expect to host a guest with dietary restriction this summer.
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For starters, if you get anxious over hosting vegan guests, then you’re not the only one; the survey results say that 47% of hosts are likely to panic or get nervous during their event planning. Furthermore, men are far more likely than women to stress about pleasing their guests with dietary restrictions (52% versus 40%).
While 58% of Americans have a family member who is vegan, vegetarian or both, 71% hope these guests will be fine with a veggie platter and “get by” with what is already offered at a barbecue.
Four out of five Americans believe they are accommodating towards those who eat vegan—and the top five go-to dishes that hosts put out to please everyone are salad, grilled vegetables, fruit, corn, and refrigerated or fresh dips like hummus.
TOP 10 GO-TO SAFE FOODS FOR DIETARY RESTRICTIONS? SURVEY SAYS…
1. Salad 72%
2. Grilled vegetables 67%
3. Fruit 65%
4. Corn 50%
5. Refrigerated/fresh dips 46%
6. Meatless hamburgers 46%
7. Hummus 46%
8. Crudite (raw vegetables) 45%
9. Crackers 44%
10. Meatless hot dogs 38%
That being said, these snacks are apparently not enough to please. Over half (52%) of Americans with dietary restrictions admit to bringing their own food to barbecues to make certain that their stomach growls on low volume.
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Those over the age of 55 were the least likely to become annoyed at hosting a vegan. Not only that, they largely disagreed with their younger counterparts by reporting that it’s not at all rude to “BYOF (bring your own food).”
Of those surveyed with a dietary restriction, half reported feeling judged by their host during a barbecue—and they rated the most common annoying questions that have been posed to them by party-goers who can eat everything.
MOST ANNOYING QUESTIONS TO ASK SOMEONE WITH A DIETARY RESTRICTION? SURVEY SAYS…
1. Do you get enough protein? – 43%
2. Aren’t you hungry all the time? – 43%
3. Do you miss foods you can’t eat? – 34%
4. Why do you choose to eat this way? – 27%
5. Are you trying to lose weight? – 21%
The top challenge hosts will face this barbecue season is making sure the food offered is tasty (48%).
Next in line for the biggest challenges facing barbecue hosts this year is a tie between providing a variety of options (47%) and making sure guests with restrictive diets have enough food (47%).
TOP 9 CHALLENGES FACED BY HOSTS? SURVEY SAYS…
1. Making sure the food offered is tasty – 48%
2. Providing a variety of options for everyone – 47%
3. Making sure guests have enough food to eat – 47%
4. Knowing what a guest with a dietary restriction can or can’t have – 45%
5. Making sure vegan options can be enjoyed by all – 42%
6. Knowing how to cook food items that they aren’t used to cooking – 38%
7. Making sure cross-contamination doesn’t occur – 31%
8. Buying more than initially expected – 29%
9. Confusing the vegan hamburgers with the real ones – 22%
That being said, both hosts and those with dietary restrictions are happy to see hummus on the menu at a barbecue. More than 70% of barbecue hosts and guests with restrictive diets say they would be happy to see hummus on the menu – and more than 46% say that they already put it out on the picnic table.
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Sabra, a manufacturer of hummus, is kicking off the busy summer barbecue season by coming to the rescue of panicked barbecue hosts nationwide. They can call 1-866-Code-Vegan or visit CodeVegan.com for recipes, inspiration and, while supplies last, free Vegan Rescue Kits featuring vegan recipes for barbecue flatbread, product coupons, and quirky laptop stickers all designed to remind vegans and meat-lovers alike that the answer to your menu challenges is likely already in your fridge.
Be Sure And Share The Helpful Hints With Your Fellow Party Hosts On Social Media…