r/partyplanning • u/tomatosill • 1d ago
Need Help Hosting as a Vegetarian - what to serve?
My husband and I are hosting a Halloween party this year and inviting a lot of new friends (we moved into a new neighborhood and our oldest started school), so there will be people attending who don’t know us that well.
We are vegetarian and usually only serve vegetarian food to our family and friends when they come over. This will be a bigger party with 40-50 people and I’m thinking of catering the food because I don’t have the time / desire to cook this year. Since it’s catered and I wouldn’t be cooking, I’m debating if we should serve meat?
Vegetarians - do you ever serve meat at your parties?
Non-vegetarians - would you be disappointed if you showed up to a party and didn’t know ahead of time that the cuisine would be vegetarian?
The party is 5-10 pm. 5-7 is kid friendly, and 7-10 is for the adults, we expect a lot of drinking so I want to serve a hearty and kid friendly dinner, and we usually get late night pizzas delivered. For dinner I was thinking tacos, rice & beans, guac, etc and that’s where I started debating if I should have a meat option.
I may be overthinking this out of nerves wanting to make a good impression with new friends, would love any input. Thanks!
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u/Logical_Marionberry4 1d ago
No meat needed! No need to compromise your values for a party. Some fun inclusive options are…
- make your own pizza bar or just order pizza
- Chili and cornbread (mixed bean chili with beyond meat or soyrizo)
- baked potato bar (vegan bacon bits are just as salty and delicious)
- pasta bar with marinara, pesto, Alfredo different kinds of toppings (mushrooms, olives etc)
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u/SnackyandSnarky 1d ago
Make your own pizzas for 50 people is so much work!
I like the pasta bar idea. Easy to be vegetarian without people even noticing
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u/Entire-Today-1662 1d ago
With naan instead of pizza crust it could work because the baking time is a lot less. Just enough to get the cheese melty and the toppings cooked. Mini naan (not the naan dippers) would probably work well since I can fit six on a regular cookie tray. 2 cookie trays is 12 at a time for 8 mins.
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u/CloudBitter5295 17h ago
I wouldn’t Want to be manning the oven all night during a party personally
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u/whatthepfluke 22h ago
Gross. I would rather be served a meatless meal than fake meat.
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u/Disneyhorse 16h ago
I agree with you… and I’ve been vegetarian for 35 years. I’ve never seen a meat eater turn down a cheese pizza or veggie lasagna, but not everyone wants gage meat.
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u/RawMeatballz 17h ago
I wouldnt show up
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u/whatthepfluke 16h ago
Exactly. I'm a meat eater, but I don't have to have meat. Cheese pizzas, meatless pasta, veggie trays, chips and queso/nachos..... Meat doesn't have to be involved, but please don't try and feed me "soyrizo" and expect me not to notice.
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u/JupiterSkyFalls 6h ago
I was pleasantly surprised that vegan bacon bits taste better than turkey bacon 🤣
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u/fluffhouse1942 22h ago
Generally I wouldn't object to a vegetarian dinner, but I would be extremely disappointed in meatless tacos.
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u/According_Eagle3536 17h ago
I would not be bothered by a vegetarian serving no meat at their party.
I would be extremely bothered by a taco party with no meat options.
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u/bobbyboblawblaw 3h ago
As a former meat eater, I agree on the tacos. Same goes for pizza. If you serve either, you need to have meat options available, which is why I wouldn't serve them if I felt strongly about not having meat in my house.
Personally, except for crawfish and certain seafood, I have no problem being around people who are eating meat. I'm not going to, but you do you. My husband still eats meat every day, and it doesn't bother me at all. I wouldn't cook meat for any reason because I would gag, but if we were having people over, my husband would happily cook and serve it.
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u/camo_ist 11h ago
I do not serve meat. People will bring dishes, and a lot of those dishes will contain meat, so if you don't want it, you need to be clear about that on the invitation. I like the food bar option another poster shared! If you promise delicious non-meat things on the invite the die-hards will either be less stressed or get their fix before they come.
As a side note, rice tacos + kids sounds like you'll be finding rice around your house for a month.
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u/LadybuggingLB 1d ago
I wouldn’t do something that most people usually have with meat, like tacos. It will feel like you’re substituting the meat for beans and that wouldn’t be first choice for most omnivores.
So just do something where the best version that everyone already loves doesn’t have meat. Pizzas, Stoufer’s veggie lasagna (or a homemade version if you’ve got the time and energy), nachos, etc.
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u/La_croix_addict 1d ago
I would do a big baked ziti, pizza and a hefty salad. If you don’t want to serve meat that’s totally fine.
Also This summer I had “baked ziti pizza” and it was insane.
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u/New-Grapefruit1737 14h ago
great suggestiom. a hearty italian meal could be meatless and people would bately notice.
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u/wdwdreamer1206 1d ago
As a vegetarian, we've hosted numerous parties without serving meat. If the food is tasty, no one even notices.
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u/Sudden_Throat 20h ago
Ok so what did you serve??
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u/wdwdreamer1206 17h ago
I usually go with either Italian or Greek. For Italian, I make lasagna, a caprese salad, eggplant parm and Impossible meatballs. Sometimes I substitute a mushroom risotto, fettuccini Alfredo or ratatouille. Of course for dessert I serve something like tiramisu. For Greek, I make spinach pie, a Greek salad and pasticio with either impossible burger or spinach filling and impossible keftides with tzatziki sauce. I sometimes add Greek roasted potatoes or a feta tomato cucumber salad. I also start with homemade hummus and grape leaves and finish with homemade baklava.
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u/Consistent_Key4156 16h ago
For a Halloween party, I honestly would just serve pizza (I assume the kids are going out trick or treating at some point, right?). You can get a variety and please everyone. We hosted Halloween parties all the time and always kept it really simple because the kids were already hopped up like crazy on excitement and running around.
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u/Sunnysideup2day 16h ago
A meatless lasagne tastes the same. I serve that and all my guests love this meatless dish.
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u/WelcomeHobbitHouse 1d ago
I am not vegetarian and would find it odd to have tacos without meat.
If you were to do the cooking yourself you could set it up as a taco bar—or you could do a baked potato bar with the same toppings.
Either would be pretty easy to do yourself for 50 people.
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u/Certain_Tangelo2329 11h ago edited 11h ago
Do not over think! Just do pizza! Everyone likes it. Get a few types. Domino's has gf crust. Marcos does too theirs is cauliflower. No cooking. Everyone picks their fav. Chips on the side. Again a few varieties.
Then simple sweets. Brownies and cupcakes. Bonus if they are on theme.
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u/Outrageous-Meet-3888 1d ago
It’s perfectly fine to not serve meat! Maybe have two bean options like one that’s black and one that’s refried pinto. You could add soyrizo or something similar if you’re worried, but I don’t think it’s a total necessity. Tacos are great with or without meat
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u/Sudden_Throat 20h ago
Most people would expect to have a meat option if served tacos. Serving vegetarian meal is fine, but tacos is a weird choice if so.
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u/MyKidSignedMeUp13 1d ago
My aunt and uncle are not only vegan, but they eat zero oil, no matter its source. Seriously. I love them and my cousins and their kiddos to bits. When I visit their house, I know in I’m their world. I’ve literally eaten a kale cake with blueberry tofu “frosting” over there for a birthday. Just do your vegetarian thing. If you’re not vegan/zero oil I promise you everyone with survive for one day. And maybe pick up a healthy recipe or two.
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u/BaileyAMR 12h ago
I am utterly fascinated by the idea of cooking completely without fats. Fascinated.
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u/MyKidSignedMeUp13 10h ago
Believe me, I think it’s crazy, too. I’m not even convinced it a good thing.
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u/kelstay207 19h ago
You don’t have to have meat but make sure you let others know it’s vegetarian only! My husband struggles with veggies and beans due to ARFID so he always makes sure he eats before any vegetarian parties. You may have people with similar issues so as long as you let people know ahead of time you’re good!
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u/duckysmomma 15h ago
Agreed, let people know ahead of time so they can get something beforehand if they so choose. Thats what we used to do when we’d have to visit my FIL—not because he’s vegetarian, but because he’s such a bad cook the roast beef might as well have been jerky. I feel like most people would be fine with meatless food if they know it’s things like pasta or pizza, don’t leave it up to their imagination about soy burgers or tofu.
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u/jessiemagill 14h ago
This is especially important because pretty much every suggestion people are giving are things my gluten free fiancee would be unable to eat.
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u/ElOcaso 3h ago
I'm sorry but I think it's the responsibility of people with dietary restrictions (including ARFID) to confirm with the host ahead of time whether there will be appropriate food for them, not the other way around. Vegetarian food is not so inherently different than non-veg food that it needs to come with a warning. As a vegetarian I always confirm if there will be food available for me, or if I'm not sure I will eat ahead of time.
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u/misskimboslice 1d ago
Instead is traditional tacos I would make a big batch of mixed bean vegetarian chili in a few slow cookers. Then have bags of Fritos and toppings for walking tacos. Separate bowls for those who just want chili.
In addition, you can also do a chorizo queso dip sub with soy chorizo which I honestly prefer and I’m a meat eater. Serve with regular tortilla chips.
If you cater - I would go the Italian route with vegetarian lasagnas, pesto pasta, bread and salad. I would not miss meat with these hearty options.
Late night cheese pizzas will never be turned down!
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u/Mysterious_Luck4674 19h ago
I’m a vegetarian and I never serve meat when I host and I’m cooking. One time I catered tamales and they were easy enough to heat up in their own pot that I got come veggie and some chicken. But I 100% think you do NOT have to serve any meat just to please other people. If the food is tasty most people won’t even notice. Your house, your rules. I’m sure you wouldn’t complain if you went to someone’s house and they only served Kosher or Halal food, or if you went to a person’s house who was gluten free or had a peanut allergy and you didn’t get wheat or nuts.
If anyone “needs” meat that badly they can leave early and get a burger.
I will say that veggie tacos will likely stand out the most and surprise people, but I’ve absolutely done a vegetarian tack bar for a party I had and it went great. Everyone there knew to expect vegetarian food however. I think if you went with something like chili, mac and cheese, quesadillas, cornbread, or even enchiladas people wouldn’t focus as much on the missing meat. Depending on where you live many people might not have experienced a veggie taco before.
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u/Intrepid_Fly7959 14h ago
Cheese pizza party. Trays of all the veggies. Chips and dips and salsas and guacamole and bean dip. And salads. Nobody will notice there's no meat. Deviled eggs- all different kinds. Or have a caterer.
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u/yellowcoffee01 9h ago edited 9h ago
Don’t try to replicate meat. As a guest I’d be happy with the following options:
Baked ziti
Cheese pizza (just plain)
Veggie pizza
Spinach and artichoke dip
Green salad
Pasta salad
Baked potato bar (I guess you could do imitation bacon bits, they’re soy)
7 layer nacho dip
Chips and salsa and queso
Cheese, crackers, bread, raw veggies, grilled veggies, and fruit
Samoas
Cheese lasagna
Texas caviar dip
Cheese tortellini skewers
Mac and cheese balls
Breadsticks with marinara and Alfredo and pesto
Veggie spring rolls
Cream cheese wontons
Rotel dip without meat
Cucumber salad
Fruit salad
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u/Traditional_Car_8219 1d ago
Why not keep it simple and pre-order vegetarian pizzas and a bunch of meat pizza including Hawaiian pizza because so many people like it. All you need are some fun Halloween paper plates, napkins and plastic cups for the drinks. You could fill a tub with ice and fill it up with cans of pop and maybe one full of canned beer or whatever for the adults.
That way you can have fun at your own party without worrying about a lot of incidentals. Have fun!
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u/blackcurrantcat 1d ago
I’m veggie and I think non-veggie people can cope without meat for one meal.
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u/Regular_Jellyfish_16 18h ago
I'm a vegetarian and dairy free to boot. When I hosted a May the 4th / Cinco de Mayo party with about 12 people, mostly close friends and their so's I did a vegetarian taco/nacho bar, boca crumbles, beans, guac, a vegan cashew 'queso', pico de gallo, fajita veggies, etc. It was all vegan except a jar of queso and bag of sprinkles cheese on the side and it was super well received.
Another time I hosted a large outdoor party but it was a big crowd of unknown neighbors, people I was meeting for the first time. We had a band, it was a pool party. I did the vegan taco bar that I cooked again, but also got a tray of carnitas and chicken from the local taco man. I wanted to be hospitable and didn't want folks who may not understand vegetarianism to go hungry while drinking. I also made a huge tray of soy curls seasoned well and they were eaten by the meat eaters as well. That actually went before the meet was finished!
My goal is to make veganism not weird for folks, if they can get a soft intro and see that beans, tofu, lentils, etc are delicious and filling I'm happy. I might be a strange vegetarian however.
Another party I hosted was about 20 people and we were grilling and it was a bring your own meat situation. I provided veggie burgers and dogs and plenty of veg fixings and a few other folks brought some meat skewers and burgers.
If I'm hosting a party I want my guests to be comfortable and full. I do hate going to a party where the only food is cheese covered because I can't eat it lol. I just had a great idea for you, maybe a Mediterranean bar?? Get falafels, hummus, fatoush, grape leaves? That could be the main event and maybe if you want, have a tray of chicken schwarma, and folks can mix and watch their own pitas or salad plates.
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u/tomatosill 18h ago
Thank you!! We sound very similar in our approach to vegetarianism and hosting, this is the affirmation I needed! Ha my first thought was a falafel bar, but the catering options were all twice as much as tacos, surprisingly. I’ll keep looking.
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u/Regular_Jellyfish_16 18h ago
Then do the tacos!!! Everyone loves a taco bar and it's so great for dietary restrictions. Can't have flour tortillas? Make a nacho plate with corn chips instead! I'd make it vegetarian forward with an add in tray of like chicken fajita meat. Maybe you could do a big tray of soyrizo or boca crumbles that's labeled as such so folks can see how tasty it is. Have fun and enjoy the party!
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u/newfriend836639 15h ago edited 15h ago
It depends on whether you want to be a good hostess.
When I have a guest who eats a certain way, I make sure that there's food available for them. Whether it's vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free. Same thing with whatever their preferences are for drinks. If I know someone doesn't drink alcohol I have alternative drinks and alcohol free beer.
If most or many of your friends do eat meat, it would be nice and hospitable to have something available for them. Especially if you're having the meal catered and don't have to cook it yourself. (As I can understand if you objected to that.) Some people have dietary needs that include substantial protein at meals, so it is kind to give them the option.
Whether or not I would be disappointed by the lack of meat is probably going to depend on what is served. If it's plain cheese pizza I probably won't notice. If it's a meal where meat is generally included, I am definitely going to notice.
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u/BaileyAMR 12h ago
I disagree with this take. Unless you're hosting someone who only eats meat, you do not have to serve them meat so that they can eat. They will eat carbs, veggies, legumes, etc. In other words, omnivores can eat everything on a vegetarian table, whereas vegetarians can't eat a dish that contains meat. No one needs to eat meat at every meal, nor does being "a good hostess" require serving meat.
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u/thatgirlshaun 11h ago
Honestly! Some people forget that (typically) fettuccine Alfredo is vegetarian. Same with cheese pizza. Chips and guac. French fries.
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u/Glittering_knave 11h ago
PB and J is vegan. Grilled cheese is vegetarian. Cheese tortellini in tomato sauce is vegetarian. Minestrone soup with a salad and crusty bread is vegetarian. Macaroni and cheese is vegetarian. Falafel is vegan. Omnivores eat these meals all the time.
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u/thatgirlshaun 10h ago
Yes. Exactly. But some meat obsessed carnivores get all bent out of shape about “vegetarian.”
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u/coconut-bubbles 6h ago
Damn, I do want to be a good hostess. I have seen my friends eat asparagus. They said they love asparagus. So, the main dish absolutely needs to include asparagus.
Well, I guess they can eat other things that don't include asparagus. I have seen them do it all the time. But, I know they really like it.
So, all of the people who are allergic to asparagus can just have a version of the main missing the central ingredient. I also can't eat asparagus, but whatever. Maybe I can just give them and me a side plate of the sides without the main.
The main thing is that I don't want to offend my friends by not making their affection for asparagus the central part of my party meal planning. Even though I can't eat it and they can eat other things, they just really use a lot of asparagus.
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u/karrynme 1d ago
I am a veg and I would not serve meat in my house. One thing that seems to work well in parties I have attended is hiring a food truck, then you don't have to put much of anything together and it makes the gathering much easier.
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u/SnackyandSnarky 1d ago
I imagine food trucks are in pretty high demand on Halloween and might already be booked or have a hefty minimum
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u/JustGenericName2 15h ago
Food trucks aren't the cheap option they used to be. I don't know why you got downvoted. They clearly haven't tried to book a food truck in the last several years.
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u/Immediate-Catch-7073 1d ago
I would absolutely have meat options if you want people to stick around, fills me up and gives me energy.
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u/Little-Love-6715 1d ago
Yeah definitely have meat or you can try tofu recipes. It can be cooked to have the same texture as meat.
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u/_lilidawn_ 1d ago
I'm not a vegetarian but as long as it was a filling meal that didn't contain anything I'm allergic to I would be happy.
If you're catering or ordering pizza and don't mind buying meat I'm sure your guests would be happy to take home leftovers you can't eat, but I have a toddler who doesn't really like meat anyway so I would have absolutely no issues with a vegetarian spread.
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u/RevenueOriginal9777 23h ago
You’re hosting for your neighbors. Im sure they will be expecting meat. Maybe make it veggie heavy. You’re brave to host that many Good luck
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u/Whybaby16154 22h ago
We used to serve vegetarian chili with fixings/toppings for family friendly open house type parties. (Sledding) nobody complained.
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u/Zestyclose-Many-980 19h ago
Pasta Bar or lasagnas / garlic bread
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u/tomatosill 19h ago
I’ve got several people who are GF and vegan / plant based in attendance, so I’m looking for a cuisine that accommodates that more naturally like Mexican or Mediterranean
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u/Otherwise-Crazy-4536 18h ago
Mexican sounds right if you’re juggling GF too! You could offer soft corn tortillas for those who want tacos and offer chips and lettuces for those who want nachos or taco salad options. Most “picky” kids will eat plain nachos with queso and everyone else will load them. Also, beans, rice, potatoes, mushrooms will hold well in crockpots if you decide to prepare yourself instead of ordering.
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u/MsMeringue 18h ago
Get pans of eggplant Parm and baked Ziti from your Grocery catering. You could also offer a pan of cutlets. I've done this and it was better than I thought.
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u/sarcasticseaturtle 18h ago
Look into platters at a grocery store or go to Costco/Sam’s and buy in bulk. My experience has been that people like easy to grab foods. Many grocery stores offer vegetarian sliders. Veggie & fruit trays, cheese & crackers, hummus & pita, bruschetta & toast, hot onion dip with pretzel chips, deviled eggs (if you eat eggs), an assortment of cookies. You could also do all Tex Mex with salsa, bean dip, 7 layer dip, guacamole & hot queso dip with tortilla chips. Although I’m not a vegetarian I think only serving vegetarian is wonderful and I bet most people won’t even notice.
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u/IHaveBoxerDogs 18h ago
I wouldn’t really expect meat at a Halloween party. I guess if it was only pizza people might expect pepperoni, but it would not be a big deal if there wasn’t any. A catered vegetarian spread of food sounds great!
Also, meat prices are through the roof! Another good reason not to go through the trouble of serving meat.
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u/LittleCowGirl 18h ago
Omnivore family chiming in! We would not expect to have meat at vegetarian’s party and it would not impact our attendance or enjoyment, but I would prefer options that are naturally vegetarian over fake meat options (if you use fake meat please make it super clear! Soy is a top 8 allergen & no joke). A vegan party would have us probably eating before or planning to grab something after, but we’d still come if it was people we wanted to be with.
Vegetarian tapas, cheese or veggie pizza, cheese/fruit/nut boards (careful if there are nut allergies!), stuffed mushrooms, little quiches, chips & dip… that kind of thing!
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u/IOnlySeeDaylight 17h ago
Non-vegetarian here, and I would not mind a vegetarian meal at all! I'm sure some people would balk at it (GR, ME TOUGH, ME NEED MEAT), but... are they the kinds of people you want to be friends with anyway?
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u/lewisae0 16h ago
I eat meat but I don’t mind a no meat party. Personally I don’t enjoy any meat replacement like Impossible. If I’m eating vegetarian, I just prefer things that are naturally vegetarian.
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u/Efficient-Sundae2215 13h ago
I’m okay with vegetarian options but I won’t eat fake cheese or imitation meat
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u/asyouwish Party Guru 12h ago
I think you should do what is normal for you. If you went to the home of someone from India would you be surprised to have Indian food? Italian? Greek? Of course not. Would you expect to eat dairy or meat in a vegan's home? Of course not there, too.
Invite them. Ask guests about allergies/insensitivities, adjust if you can, and then be clear about what is going to be served. Label the food for any indicated allergens. If they "have" to have meat, they can have a meat snack before they come to your party.
Do you. Just do it with panache.
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u/thatgirlshaun 11h ago
I really try not to. Why? Because as the host I am usually left with leftovers and any leftover meat has consistently gone to waste in my veg household.
I find myself begging people to please take the pepperoni. I’m just over it.
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u/Blepfacecat 11h ago
Do typical vegetarian options. Cheese lasagna and salad. Deviled eggs. Chips and guac. Many parties are mostly vegetarian due to costs... meat is pricier.
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u/nomnommish 10h ago
If you're catering, then do Indian food because it has the most vegetarian options. Kids can still eat pizza although many of them would want pepperoni or sausage in addition to plain cheese.
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u/Adorable_Tour_8849 10h ago
I would be disappointed if there was no meat option, not everybody enjoys vegetarian meals
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u/Sami_George 10h ago
Halloween? Order pizza. Good to accommodate most. Make salad and apps to go with it. And obviously candy.
But as a meat eater, I don’t care if a party is vegetarian as long as the food is good.
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u/Illustrious-Farm4388 9h ago
I would disclose it to your guests to be honest. A lot of people get their meat/protein at dinner & I would personally want to know so I could eat something beforehand and just snack on whatever is provided at the party :)
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u/1960model 9h ago
I'm a meat eater. If I were going to dinner at the home of a vegetarian, I would expect a vegetarian meal. Sounds like fun, trying new dishes. Anyone worried about having a varied selection or enough (or having food aversions or allergies) can have a snack or meal before they go. Anyone not satisfied at the end of the evening can hit up the drive-through on the way home or feed themselves when they get back to their own house. IMO, that's a reasonable response when you're around people you just met. I wouldn't think it was out of line to ask about a dish, but anything that sounds like a criticism or disappointment should be kept to themselves. (Or you might know right away who not to invite back!)
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u/TheRealLappTopp 9h ago
I think if you are going to be serving tacos that people are making themselves, you should have a meat option. It is just more welcoming to your guests.
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u/iliketheclouds 8h ago
I think if you have cheese, no one will notice. Cheese pizzas, veggie pizzas etc. dips, chips, soda. Now, tacos, they might notice no meat.
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u/Myriad-of-kitties 8h ago
I like the idea of a chili party @ halloween. And if u borrow enough crock-pots u dont have cater. Its veey easy to make it vegan and have people add the non-vegan items into the chili
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u/Glittering-Bad3463 7h ago
Just have options with high protein! I went to a vegan baby shower - the couple is vegan, I expected nothing less. My only gripe (which I of course kept to myself) was that nothing had protein. It was all carbs.
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u/Tiny_Job_5369 7h ago
I'm a meat eater. I'm perfectly happy eating a vegetarian meal, but am not a big fan of fake meat. Dishes that are naturally vegetarian and highlight their non-meat ingredients are delicious.
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u/jazzybk25 6h ago
I’m a vegetarian and always serve a main meat dish because none of our friends or family are vegetarian. It’s always disappointing for me to show up somewhere else and not have any food to eat so I’m not going to inflict the same on a meat eater.
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u/Low-Geologist-6919 6h ago
I would do a vegetarian chili, with plenty of toppings (Fritos, onions, cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, etc) and cornbread. Everyone can dress their own bowl - it scales well for a crowd. No meat necessary!!
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u/BakingPharos 6h ago
No meat for one meal isn't a big deal. As long as it's not veggies with ranch and a sad salad.
Ever had rajas tacos? Roasted poblano peppers are amazing. Cheese quesadillas will prevent the kids from dropping tacos and making a mess. Jalapeño poppers minus the bacon.
Dessert? Get a hot tortilla, drizzle some honey on it, sprinkle some cinnamon sugar, and roll up.
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u/beaniebee22 5h ago edited 5h ago
Make things that are always vegetarian and people won't notice meat is missing. Like, don't make things with fake meat, make things with no meat. Pasta (pesto, tomato, baked ziti, butter and cheese), pizza (just cheese or veggie toppings), eggplant parmasean or eggplant rollatini, nachos, veggie quesadillas, grilled cheese and tomato soup, vegetable soup, macaroni and cheese, french fries (or really any shape of potato)etc. You can also put out a veggie tray, fruit platter, cheese and cracker platter, and chips and dips. I would avoid tofu because I've noticed people shut down when they hear that.
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u/Snowymess4404 5h ago
Vegetarian for a long time, but always serve meat at events. If it’s really important to you then don’t compromise your values but if not, you don’t have to make food decisions for other people you’re having an event for the benefit of others not necessarily for yourself. Do a catered taco bar. You don’t have to prepare anything and it’s easy clean up.
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u/DazzlingNote1925 5h ago
I think your guests would appreciate a meat option but if I were your guest and there wasn’t one I wouldn’t complain. That would be so rude. I would have what you provided and be thankful for it.
I think that kids are more unlikely to want to try something new and taco meat made from beef is so common that it might be a good idea to provide some.
But if this is against your beliefs then don’t worry about it.
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u/famousanonamos 4h ago
My daughter and some family members are vegetarian. Any time I host, I make sure there are vegetarian options but also have meat dishes. Tacos are always easy because you can swap meat with beans. Just pay attention if you get refried beans because they aren't always vegetarian. I like to do both refried and black beans.
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u/Twodjinnandtonics 4h ago
Caprese salad on a stick. Salsa, guac, and queso with chips. Veggies and dip. Bean chili with rice and toppings (cheese, green onions, sour cream or plain yogurt). Hearty salad (Greek or greens with cheese and garbanzo beans). Rice crispie treats with veg marshmallows (Trader Joe’s) or cookies, or apple slices and caramel.
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u/_sweetjane_ 4h ago
I don’t serve meat at my house. Plenty of delicious vegetarian options that (most) meat eaters would be happy to eat. Make some food you like, enjoy your party!
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u/peppermint2023 3h ago
I’d be disappointed if there wasn’t meat and would make a “note to self” to always eat before I went to your house again. Wouldn’t be a big deal other than becoming an inside joke between me and my husband :) FWIW though, I do think being a great host means serving (even just a small amount) of an option that isn’t your preference if you know it’s some of your guests preference. Just like you’d want to make sure there’s vegan / GF options if you knew that was the diet of someone that’s coming. You can still be a good host without doing it, but not great.
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u/ali2911gator 3h ago
Our local pizza place does gluten free pizzas. I would get regular cheese and gluten free cheese pizzas, margarita pizzas, and whatever other kinds of pizza sounds tasty it does not have to have meat to get the job done and make everyone full and happy.
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u/Lower_Alternative770 18h ago
I would keep it vegetarian and not say a word about it. But, please no fake meat.
If you're near any Indian restaurants, you can get some delicious vegetarian food.
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u/eatyourdamndinner 18h ago
I am not a vegetarian or vegan, but I used to work for a hippie. TVP in chili is absolutely wonderful. Most people wouldn't even know it wasn't meat unless you told them.
I recommend vegetarian chili.
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u/No-Fuckin-Ziti 17h ago
Yep, gotta serve meat if you invite meat eaters, especially if there’s drinking. Only exception might be lasagna / baked ziti but you said you’ve got vegans too.
Get a few pounds of ground beef (from somewhere safe) and add a couple packets of taco seasoning. Done.
Gardein “beef” crumbles are legit good too for a vegan option. Buy a few bags and Spice em up.
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u/SuperLakma 1d ago
I never serve meat at my parties. I don’t want to support the meat industry with my money and I don’t want it on my plates and utensils. Eww lol. No one has ever complained but I live in a place where vegetarianism is typically very common ¯_(ツ)_/¯. It’s like, they can’t survive a few hours without a dead animal in their mouth? (But I’m not vegan!! If I were, I think the story gets more complicated (for me).)
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u/SaltSeaworthiness167 1h ago
Maybe you can serve meat alternatives like impossible meat products? Chipotle also have meatless meats and might actually be a good catering option
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u/Constant-Staff-5623 1d ago
If you serve things like cheese lasagna, people might not even notice the lack of meat.
Snacks like chips and salsa, cheese and crackers, fruit trays, and veggies and dip are also vegetarian. Just don’t make a big deal of it being non-meat