Prime food is organic, that much we know. If you had a choice and you wanted the best in nutrition, for health, for taste etc you would go all out and spurge on certified 100% organic food stuff. However, how many amongst us realise that a label on the food packaging that reads certified 100% organic isn’t always good enough for everyone, even if the price isn’t an issue?
The world is rich in diversity and we’ve come a long way since our ancestors who hardly knew what to make of it. In our modern world, we have come to be not only understanding of our differences but also appreciative of it, hence the colourful friendship we have built all over the world.
But just as the different cultures boasts of their own scrumptious traditional recipes, there are some rules although alien to those outside the society that must be observed regardless.
Yes, I’m talking about religious and cultural restrictions over what can be consumed and what cannot, but frankly I’m not here to discuss or debate over their origins, feasibility or sensibility. Instead I’m just here act as a little reminder over what you should take note of when hosting a meal for multi-racial or multi-cultural guests.
Some people are vegetarians; others go on a stricter regime and embrace veganism. Obviously when you know you have vegans and vegetarians amongst your guests, you would simply ensure that their special diet was taken account for in the menu. But what if your guests extend beyond vegans to Muslims and Jewish? Do you realise that they too have some dietary restrictions that aren’t just about their origin (organic or non-organic) or as simple as the exclusion of certain meat type (like how you would never serve a Hindu or a Buddhist beef)?
Muslims and Jewish require food that conforms with the rules of their religion – Muslims can only consume Halal food, whereas the Jewish will only consume Kosher food. I won’t go into the details of what exactly makes food Halal or Kosher because I’m not the ‘expert’ and I wouldn’t want to give any wrong information but I do know for a fact that like the quality of ‘organic’, Halal and Kosher needs to be certified by the proper authorities.
And as a respectful host, all you have to do is be on the lookout for an extra two certifications (Halal/Kosher) on top of your usual ‘organic and vegan’ stamps on the labels of your ingredients.
Sustainable living is all about respect and balance…
