Barbecue and picnic food
If you fancy being creative, below are some ideas to get you started. If you're in a panic because you've just found out you've got a vegan coming to your barbecue and have no idea what to provide for them, buy a pack of vegan sausages and don't pre-butter all the bread rolls. Sorted!
It's a good idea to have a separate barbecue for vegan and vegetarian food if possible - a disposable one is fine - as most vegans and vegetarians prefer not to eat food with meat fat splashed on it. Foil-wrapped food also keeps the meat juices at bay if you're cooking it on the coals.
Barbecues
Shop-bought vegan sausages
Portobello mushrooms served in a bread bun with ketchup, vegan mayonnaise, BBQ sauce or salad
Grilled vegetables such as aubergine slices, courgette slices, bell pepper quarters, butternut squash slices or asparagus, either cooked on the grill or wrapped in foil and cooked on the coals
Home-made spicy beanburgers or shop-bought vegan burgers with lots of extras - tomato salsa or ketchup, vegan mayonnaise, vegan cheese slices or grated cheese, jalapeños, salad, grated carrot and beetroot
Stuffed mushrooms cooked in foil
Corn on the cob served with vegan margarine
Skewers with a combination of bell peppers, mushrooms, courgette, cherry tomatoes, mangetout or tofu
Potato skins stuffed with mashed potato flesh, black pepper and vegan cheese
Whole baked potatoes or sweet potatoes cooked on the coals wrapped in foil
Pineapple rings wrapped in foil with melted vegan margarine, brown sugar and cinnamon
Foil-wrapped bananas stuffed with vegan chocolate
Picnics
Couscous and roasted vegetables
Avocado, tomato and pesto mayonnaise sandwiches
Tortillia wraps of various kinds
Individual-sized pizzas
Potato salad made with vegan mayonnaise (or without mayonnaise)
Sharing fruit such as grapes. strawberries and cherry tomatoes
Marinated tofu pieces
Nice fresh bread and vegan pâté or houmous
Crisps (but read the labels first)
Salads
Crunchy vegetable sticks and vegan dips