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​There are many reasons why people may exclude foods from their diet. These include allergies, intolerances, autoimmune diseases, personal beliefs, and religious, philosophical and cultural beliefs.

Catering for service users’ dietary requirements is an important aspect of honouring equality and diversity within your care establishment. Your service users are individual people. You should always strive to ensure that their diverse needs are met and that they have equal access to the services you provide – whether that is appealing vegan food at a summer barbecue, or a slice of gluten-free cake as part of a birthday celebration.

With a little thought and planning, catering for those with dietary restrictions needn’t create extra work. It can be an opportunity to create new, exciting and innovative dishes.

​This publication is designed to make it easier to cater for any service users who require a ‘free-from’ or ‘special’ diet’.

Christmas is a busy time in the kitchen. But, with a little forward-planning, it needn’t cause a lot of stress. On page 11 are some tips for catering for older vegetar​ians and vegans this Yuletide. They will really appreciate your efforts.

For V for Life’s position statement on vegetarianism and veganism, please click here

• Existing vegans and vegetarians.
• Meat-reducers.
• Care caterers.

Not everyone has the time or energy to create lavish dishes. The good news is that it needn’t take much to make simple, tasty food. With a few key ingredients, you’ll find inspiration to recreate these meals at home with ease.

For V for Life’s position statement on vegetarianism and veganism, please click here

• Existing vegans and vegetarians.
• Meat-reducers.
• Care caterers.​

Want an excuse to celebrate between Christmas and Easter? On 25 January, join Scots worldwide by indulging in our vegetarian take on the traditional Burns supper fare. And why not give a little loving on 14 February, by indulging in our delicious Valentine’s Day feast?

For V for Life’s position statement on vegetarianism and veganism, please click here

This booklet is aimed at anyone celebrating Burns Night or Valentine's Day. For many older people in a care setting, such occasions can help rekindle warm and comforting memories from their younger years. Additionally, they can help people to build warm memories of their new home and friends.

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This Vegan Rescue Pack has been prepared to support and encourage those who cater for older vegans. You might be a chef working in the care sector; a community carer working in domiciliary care; or looking after an older member of your family. Perhaps you are simply keen to cater well for an increasingly diverse range of diets. If you are reading this as an older vegan yourself, this guide might just give you that little bit of inspiration to rediscover your vegan va va voom!

• Chefs working in the care sector.
• Community carers working in domiciliary care.
• People looking after an older family member.
• People who are keen to cater well for an increasingly diverse range of diets.
• Individual older vegans.

Enjoy some freshly baked Bara Brith or a traditional Welsh Pancake – a Crempog. Often given to newly arrived family and friends, these quick tasty treats are sure to bring back many happy memories – perfect with a cuppa. If there is still a chill in the air then why not enjoy some perfect comfort food: a delicious savoury Leek & Cheese Muffin or Crumble. Let your taste buds enjoy a cwtch (a warm hug) with those perfectly combined savoury flavours!

For V for Life’s position statement on vegetarianism and veganism, please click here

​This booklet is aimed at anyone celebrating St David’s Day, the arrival of Spring, vegetarianism, and all things Welsh!

Also spelt and pronounced Divali, the five-day celebration is India’s most important holiday. The festival is calculated by the lunar Hindu calendar and falls on different days each year. It occurs on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika (during October/November in the Gregorian calendar). The fourth day of Diwali is the Hindu New Year. The festival of lights is held in honour of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Hindus pray to Lakshmi to bring them good luck in the coming year. The word Diwali means ‘rows of lighted lamps’. People light hundreds of small oil lamps and place them around the home, in courtyards, gardens, roof-tops and outer walls. The more lamps they light, the more likely it is that Lakshmi will be tempted to visit them. Hindus believe that the goddess brings wealth with her when she visits.

For V for Life’s position statement on vegetarianism and veganism, please click here

Recipe guide that offers vegetarians and vegans a delicious and healthy way to celebrate Diwali.

Cooking for one is often the reality for many older people. So we have developed this recipe booklet especially for senior vegetarians who cook for themselves.

Most of these ‘no-fuss’ recipes are easy to make. The ingredient quantities are mostly for one or two servings. But it’s easy to double the quantities if you
are cooking for more people.

And of course there is no need to restrict yourself to ‘recipes for one’. Many recipes can be adapted by reducing quantities in the correct proportions.
Plus sensible use of the fridge and freezer usually means that you can avoid waste.

For V for Life’s position statement on vegetarianism and veganism, please click here

​This publication is aimed at older vegetarians and vegans or those who cater for them.

From a delicious Sweet Potato Soup to an enticing Pink Rhubarb and Mascarpone Pudding and from a warming Pine Nut and Carrot Loaf to a refreshing Hot Citrus Pudding there is something in the guide to delight everyone. And not forgetting that Easter is a time of treats, there is also a simply wonderful Black Cherry and Kirsch Truffle Dessert!

For V for Life’s position statement on vegetarianism and veganism, please click here

Older vegetarians and vegans and those who cater for them.

You may be reading this guide because you or someone you care for is adjusting to living on a pension. Or perhaps you’re already a dedicated money-saving scrimper. We appreciate that people reading this will be in different circumstances, and that some sections may not apply to you. Please dip in and out of each section as you see fit. Whatever your reason for reading the guide, you can still have fun while saving money.

For V for Life’s position statement on vegetarianism and veganism, please click here

We realised that many people are struggling in today’s economic climate, particularly older people, and thought a few helpful tips and recipes would be a useful resource. The booklet is aimed at older vegetarians and vegans but will be helpful to anyone wanting to save money at the same time as enjoying their food.