How to meet the nutritional needs of different customers (2023)

There has never been such a wide range of different dietary needs, and as restaurants we need to be aware of them and accommodate them with relative ease, without making the customer uncomfortable or self-conscious.

Many large chains (for example,Pizza Hut and Price) and top restaurants have become more aware and offer additional or alternative meal options for various dietary requirements.

Offering a menu with many options for people with different dietary needs makes perfect sense. You maximize your customers' potential, but you also create a positive and satisfying restaurant customer persona. In other words, not only is it good for the customer, but it also improves brand reputation and increases revenue.

As well as being a decent gesture to customers, it is also imperative that your business adhere to dietary requirements due to legal implications, especially with allergies.

A terrifying example enteredJanuary 2014, when Mr. Paul Wilson, from Helperby, North Yorkshire, died as a result of anaphylactic shock following a severe reaction to peanuts.

Despite asking for a 'nut free' meal and the order being clearly marked on the lid of his food, Mr. Wilson received a chicken tikka masala which contained peanuts.

The restaurant from which Wilson ordered his meal was the Indian Garden in Easingwold and the owner, Mr. Mohammed Zaman, was subsequently convicted at Teeside Crown Court of manslaughter and jailed for six years.

With all of this in mind, it's imperative that you, your business, and your customers ask, listen, and meet all nutritional requirements.

What are the nutritional requirements?

Dietary needs are the needs of someone who has a specific and/or restricted diet.

Some of the most common dietary requirements are those based on religious or allergy-related reasons.

Allergy

Allergies are very common. A food allergy is when the body's immune system reacts badly to a certain food. Food allergies can be mild, but in some cases they can be very serious and sometimes life-threatening if the restaurant goes into anaphylactic shock. Some of the most common food allergies are:

• Milk (usually in children)
• Eggs
• peanut
• Nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, Brazil nuts and walnuts
• strawberries
• Military
• Wheat and other gluten-containing grains, including barley, rye and oats
• Pisces (usually in adults)
• Clamshell (usually in adults)

Intolerance

Food intolerances are generally less severe than food allergies, and symptoms are usually centered in the digestive system. Although they are less serious than allergies, they are not to be taken lightly as they can be uncomfortable and painful for the sufferer.

Some common food intolerances are:

• Milk and derivatives (lactose intolerance)
• Gluten/Colic

Religious dietary restrictions and guidelines

Islamic Diet: Halal

This Muslim diet dictates that only meat from animals slaughtered according to strict guidelines may be consumed. Pork is notoriously off-limits. as well as alcohol. There are also some strict guidelines for fasting during the holidays, especially Ramadan, but this won't affect you as a business.

Judaic Diet: Kosher

Pork and seafood are commonly known to be prohibited on a strict Jewish/kosher diet. Only meat from ritually slaughtered animals (similar to Halal but not the same) is suitable for consumption by an observant Jew. Another major consideration of the kosher diet is that mixing meat with milk is strictly prohibited.

Hinduism

Many Hindus follow a lacto-vegetarian diet (no meat or eggs, but do eat dairy products).

Beef in particular is not eaten as the cow is considered a sacred animal by Hindu followers.

There are several fasts throughout the year with specific restrictions, such as eating only plants.

Christianity

Different sects of Christianity have varying dietary needs and customs vary accordingly.

But as a property they won't/shouldn't affect what you offer in your menus.

Sikhism

Sikhs generally follow a lacto-vegetarian diet.

Some other religious diets to keep in mind are:

mormons

Mormons are prohibited from consuming alcohol and caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, etc.).

Rastafari: Italy

Rastafarians can eat lightly cooked food. Meat is not consumed and canned goods are avoided. In general, the Rastafarian diet is vegetarian and pork is prohibited.

Buddhism

There are no clear rules about food in Buddhism, but because of its teachings many are vegetarian.

jainism

Jains follow strict rules to protect all forms of life. Strict Jains do not eat meat, poultry, fish or eggs and sometimes milk. They can avoid eating root vegetables as the entire plant is killed when the root is dug up.