Meat-free lunch guide published for care chefs

Charity Vegetarian for Life has published a lunch club catering guide for care homes.

Care charity Vegetarian for Life (VfL) has launched a lunch club catering guide for care home chefs.

The charity, which supports older vegans and vegetarians living in care homes as well as independently, has launched the guide - lunch club catering for older vegans and vegetarians - to mark both Plant-Based Week (which runs from 9 to 13 May) and National Vegetarian Week (from 16 to 22 May).

A 24-page, digital guide, it has been written for homes which provide lunch clubs but also aims to offer inspiration for lunch options. As well as ideas for sandwiches, soups and mains, there is advice around vegan protein sources and dairy alternatives.

Amanda Woodvine, chief executive of VfL, says: "You're sure to have seen positive news about the rise in meat-free diets. Google reports that searches for ‘vegan food near me' rose by more than 5,000% in 2021. Supermarkets, online stores and most catering suppliers are now havens for plant-based foods, and both the ingredients and cooking possibilities are endless."

She adds: "An increasing number of older people in particular are choosing to cut down on meat or dairy consumption, or even cut them out completely. And around 10% of the UK population may have special dietary requirements because of their beliefs. So, it's more important than ever to provide a diverse and tasty range of options.

"Recent research by the Eating Better Alliance found that 85% of sandwiches available on the market have meat, fish or cheese as their main ingredient. Given the significant rise in meat-free diets, consumers are likely to be very attracted to a good range of lunchtime options."

For more details and to download a copy, visit vegetarianforlife.org.uk or call the charity on 0161 257 0887.

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