Cookbook giveaway - Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore

April 18, 2016·Darcie

Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore Planning a dinner party - or even a family meal - can become quite complicated when your guests and relative have different dietary requirements. Screenwriter, producer, and cookbook author Anna Thomas offers solutions for reuniting our divided tables in her latest cookbook, Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore. "My idea is simple," says Anna. "Start with the food everyone eats, design a meal or a dish around that, then expand and elaborate with just the right amounts of the right cheeses, meats, or fish for your omnivores. Everyone feels welcome, and we eat the same meal - but in variations." You can learn more about the Anna's inspirations for the cookbook in our author interview, and view the World Calendar of Cookbook Events for book tour details.

We're delighted to offer three copies of Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore to EYB Members in the US only. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post:

What is your solution to the dilemma of feeding people with various dietary concerns?

Please note that you must be signed into the Rafflecopter contest before posting the comment or your entry won't be counted. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends May 16, 2016.

44 comments

elizaApril 18, 2016

I have a lot of vegetarian friends (no vegans) so I make just vegetarian dishes when I have a large group. That way everyone can eat everything. (Anna Thomas' book The New Vegetarian Epicure comes in handy for that!)

vicksterApril 19, 2016

Plan a main dish that will satisfy most, and then side dishes for specific dietary needs.

msimfamApril 19, 2016

I own a tattered copy of Anna's first book and would be honored to own her newest. My husband and I are Vegans for heart health. I serve meals centered around that lifestyle, with an added piece, ie fish for people to respect their lifestyle choice. But people have tried tofu in peanut sauce and are pleasantly surprised how good it actually is.

ReenaCooksApril 19, 2016

I try to make many side dishes as the food restrictions and that way everyone gets to taste a little of everything.

And the people with food restrictions feel included.
I label the food restriction with a positive thought from the food restriction.for example ,vegan dishes will be labeled " full appreciation to our furry friends ".
I make a lot of appetizers but no main course.
Still learning.....

SiegalApril 18, 2016

I try to cook a bunch of different dishes for everyone

sgumpApril 18, 2016

I try to plan vegan dishes--soups, stews, casseroles, salads--that can be "built up" through garnishes or add-ins (e.g., cheese, sour cream, chopped hard-boiled eggs, sliced or crumbled meats), letting the diners decide their preferences for the evening. I'll also try to make potentially troublesome ingredients (e.g., nuts or other things to which folks are likely to have allergies) part of the garnishes or add-ins instead of integral components to the essential dish.

lindaeatsherbooksApril 19, 2016

If everyone is at the same party, I cook for the person with the most specific diet.

joneshayleyApril 19, 2016

Tapas! Make sure there are options for all. It means people can pick and choose - discretely without having to explain their choices /dietary requirements to other guests!

pandapotamusApril 18, 2016

Soup, usually pasta fagioli.

kazoozleApril 19, 2016

My biggest issue is either finding something they will all love or minimizing time in the kitchen and making sure dinner is not cold and funky by the time I finish all the dishes. XD haha

jthelwellApril 21, 2016

I try to find a dish that will appeal to most/everyone. I take advantage of ingredients that will bring umami to vegetarian dishes that will make them appealing to meat fans. Dishes like felafel and pasta are great for that.

pgarciaApril 24, 2016

Thankfully, my small family (husband and occasionally my grown son) don't have any allergies nor are they too picky. The most my group of friends have are shellfish allergies and a couple who don't care for beef. But if faced with the situation, I would use EYB to find conforming recipes!

JuliaApril 23, 2016

I try to make a wide variety of foods that compliment.

elysekApril 23, 2016

I will generally make something vegetarian. Sometimes I'll make a seafood dish and a vegetarian entree. Salads, breads, and soups are also good ideas.

imaluckyduckyApril 24, 2016

I live and die by entertaining via buffet or potlock-style.

cocecitycookApril 22, 2016

My garden is usually my inspiration when feeding guests with dietary restrictions.

ballenApril 24, 2016

When the guests with the most unique dietary restrictions ask what they can bring make sure to agree on something that fits with their dietary requirements.

sir_ken_gApril 21, 2016

I do what is done on international tours. Make a variety of dishes so that everyone can eat the ones they like'

juazellaApril 24, 2016

I start with the "worst" dietary needs and build a meal everyone can eat from there. Having Celiac and needing to be gluten free means that I have learned how to accommodate a wide range of food needs.

sarahawkerApril 26, 2016

I start with the recipe that meets the dietary restriction and THEN add for other diners in side dishes.

MariarosaApril 23, 2016

I choose dishes that everyone can eat and that I think will be the most satisfying for all (i.e. if I make a vegetarian dish, I choose a hearty one so the meat eaters will be satisfied.)

t.tApril 23, 2016

If there are that many different dietary restrictions, I like the "build your own ______" idea. That way, everyone can customize it to their own tastes.

sabrina7April 20, 2016

instead of doing a main dish with sides i will make two main dishes (e.g., one meat and one vegan) taste along with a side dish for everyone. or i will make the whole meal around the dietary restrictions(e.g., a gluten free dinner from main to dessert).

ravensfanApril 29, 2016

I serve small dishes (tapas).

infotropApril 28, 2016

If I don't know already, I ask dinner party guests if they have any food allergies or strong dislikes. Then I build a menu that will make everyone happy (I hope!)

nikignuApril 26, 2016

In these situations I make great use of my EYB account to find just the right recipe. Or I create a build-your-own bar.

jlh39April 29, 2016

I like a buffet style with a variety of dishes that are best at room temperature, and including protein choices to round things out (beans, cheese, chicken).

LarkspurMay 1, 2016

I have to make meals daily for both vegetarians and omnivores so this book sounds perfect for my family. I like sheet-pan suppers: a bigger sheet pan for the omnivores with both meat and veggies and a smaller veggie only sheet pan.

WaderuApril 30, 2016

focus on making non-meat dishes...grilling is great because I can put meat, vegetables, hauloumi cheese, etc on the grill

NancithApril 29, 2016

I make plenty of meat-free sides plus a meat-centered dish. In my circle of family & friends, I am the only vegetarian, but I give lots of veggie/ grain dishes alongside the meat, not only for myself, but as healthy options for everyone else.

JanSchollApril 29, 2016

I won't cook animal flesh in any way. My kitchen is animal free. If someone brought a dish with meat, they are free to do so. I usually cook way too much and would present enough to eat.

cpasekApril 29, 2016

I try to serve things like tacos or salads, with lots of options, so everyone can add the things they like to the dish.

HelenBApril 28, 2016

Vegetarian. No dairy nor eggs. But also do not use fake meats.

LilyB612May 6, 2016

I tend to make everything accessible to everyone, unless it's a special occasion, and the I'll make sure that there is something substantial for every dietary restriction at the table.

MollyBMay 6, 2016

I'll usually cook something vegetarian that is interesting enough to appeal to everyone, usually something Middle Eastern or Indian.

kbennallMay 5, 2016

I try to make a variety of things that mostly everyone can eat, and then maybe just one dish that excludes people (e.g. meat dishes.)

LizwizzMay 8, 2016

I ask guests about any allergies then plan lots of different platters that do not include the offending ingredient(s). This usually means vegetarian choices with perhaps one roasted meat option.

lsgourmetMay 7, 2016

Our middle son has been veggie since high school so my solution was to cook a regular meal for the rest of us and to add a main, cooked veggie style, for him. I always cooked the sides veggie style so he could have those as well. A typical dinner plan: Salad, Veal Schnitzels for the meat eaters, Mushroom Cutlets for the veggie, Potatoes Rosti, Sautéed Baby Artichokes. Yes it is more work, but I wanted him at the table eating with family.

WlowMay 7, 2016

Husband and one son are fairly picky eaters and the only plan that makes everybody happy at home is usually vegetarian, though in restaurants some family members will get their meat of choice. Meals like tacos are really helpful because people can choose what to include.

love2chowMay 16, 2016

Kebabs worked well for a mix of vegetarians, obligate meateaters, and people that disliked vegetables. Make your own pizza/flatbread or make your own tacos (with a variety of fillings), or a pho bar using a vegetable stock.

ladibyrdMay 15, 2016

I haven't had to manage dinner for restrictive diets yet, but my usual approach is overwhelming people with variety. As the primary dessert provider for family dinners I've got a few vegetarian options, but no vegan or gluten-free.

SfgordonMay 8, 2016

If I'm having people over f or a meal, I tend to do buffet-style where people can select from enough options to suit many different diets. If I know that someone with a specific diet is attending, I find a 'main' that they can enjoy along with everyone else. My biggest problem is when I invite people to parties/dinner and they don't make any mention of dietary preference although they are vegan/gluten-free/etc. I've been vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, grain free, omnivore, etc. at different points and I can happily cook (great) food for any of those diets, but if you don't tell me, I won't just know! Duh.

MayandbillMay 10, 2016

I offer a choice of meat and vegetarian dishes, and always check beforehand with guests if they have other needs/restrictions.

sbh2006May 16, 2016

Since I normally cook only vegetarian dishes (many times vegan, often gluten-free), I would offer add-ins for those who wish to "spice up" the main dishes on offer. Also, assuming there are no food allergies, I would offer cheese, nuts, etc. to sprinkle on separately; that way, everyone can customize their dish.