Is It Rude to Not Offer Vegetarian Food at Your Event?

Question

I am an RA throwing a bingo night at my college.

We have a budget for 40 sandwiches.

I ordered 20 turkey, and the other 20 roast beef.

My co-RA is mad and thinks we should offer a vegetarian option, and that no one will eat roast beef and I should have ordered ham. What do you think?

Answer 1

I'd get a head count of actual vegetarians, before I planned my menu.

Answer 2

You can find out how many vegetarians will be there, and depending what you can up with, maybe change your order.

Answer 3

Offering a vegetarian option is standard these days, so not doing it is kind of odd. You should find out how many people will be coming and what their food preferences are. Even those who aren't vegetarian might prefer a vegetarian reason for health reasons, or due religious or other types of diet restrictions such as allergies.

Answer 4

I think if you know there will be non-meat eaters at the event, then it's rude not to offer something they would enjoy. It would also be possible to have meat, veggies, bread all on separate platters so people could assemble their own sandwich, and thus select which meat, or veggie-only, they prefer.

When hosting or catering an event, it's the food preferences of your guests that are important, not so much what you like (you are but 1 of many who will be eating the food).

Answer 5

And some wouldn't eat ham either. I might have offered a vegetarian option, but then there's the white/wheat options etc etc. You can't please everyone regardless.

Answer 6

Roast beef and turkey is a wonderful combination for sandwiches trust me the roast beef in the turkey is not going to go to waste the roast beef will probably go first because everybody knows roast beef is expensive and as far as a vegetarian meal you should have a couple of Chef salads available made with tofu just in case somebody is vegan

Answer 7

i think she might be right, you might need to offer some vegetarian stuff too,i think people will eat roast beef, i love roast beef myself

Answer 8

I think the roast beef is not a problem--but you should have a salad to go with those sandwiches, which would also be good for vegetarians.

Answer 9

These days your mom will be called a "fag" by the gay club and everyone will be on their side over this mistake. Its fair enough to say you should offer a veg option but you're in college to learn, its not life ending the way some people may make you feel it is.

Answer 10

The problem with offering some vegetarian is that everyone has a different idea of what a vegetarian will and won't eat. Some vegetarians will eat fish, some won't. If you can change your order why not go with some egg salad, turkey or chicken, ham, roast beef, cream cheese, salmon or tuna salad for a total of 40 sandwiches? If your budget will allow it why not have a platter of raw veggies such as carrot sticks, broccoli and cauliflower with a dip?
You don't mention the bread you are using but it's a good idea to have both whole wheat and white bread sandwiches.
Just keep in mind that you can't please everybody.
A friend of mine often makes sandwiches for her church and when she does egg salad she makes some sandwiches with onions and some without.