The Ultimate Dinner Party Menu for Dietary Restrictions

Text the group or ask them to RSVP accordingly with any dietary restrictions. Then, take some time to research. No chickpeas on Whole 30. Noted. Nut allergy. Got it. No honey for vegans. Check. While it may feel cumbersome to learn all of these guidelines, consider it a research project. You may learn something new – and it certainly makes for interesting dinner table conversation.

As a guest with food restrictions, it’s always a good strategy to fill up on appetizers – just in case you can’t find too much food to accommodate you during dinner. As a host, you can think the same way. If you know you’re serving meat for the main dish, try to stick to some vegetable apps. Guacamole is generally a crowd-pleaser and can be enjoyed with chips or carrot sticks.

From salads to veggies, the most natural ingredients are usually the safest choices for all. Try to keep your dishes as sides – rather than mixing them together – so eaters can pick and choose what works for them.

If you have to keep the main meal simple, you can set out a couple of condiment options so guests can season their food as they see fit. Plus, it’s much easier to make a few different sauces than a few different meals. (Pro tip: Tahini is super simple.)

It’s already a lot of work to host dinner, so you can keep dessert extra simple. For a special-diet crowd, consider serving berries for dessert. Spoiler alert: They’re dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. You can add whipped coconut cream, toasted coconut, and offer an option for slivered almonds.

If the pressure of pleasing everyone is too much, find a restaurant that can accommodate everyone. (They’re much better suited to be able to do so.) And, honestly, your friends and family will have just as much fun. It’s really so much more about the memories than the meals.