Around the world, people follow many different diets. When planning a multicultural event, meeting, or gathering, it’s essential to be mindful of your attendees’ dietary needs.

Some of the most common dietary preferences include:

• Vegetarian: No meat (such as beef, chicken, or seafood).
• Vegan: No animal products of any kind (including meat, dairy, eggs, or honey).
• Kosher: Prepared according to Jewish dietary law (for example, no meat and dairy served together, no pork).
• Halal: Prepared according to Muslim dietary law (for example, no pork, specific methods of slaughter and preparation).
• Gluten-free: Excludes gluten-containing grains (such as wheat, barley, and rye).

Not everyone from a particular culture follows the same diet—or follows it in the same way. It’s important to understand how you can accommodate different needs and to ask respectful questions when you’re unsure. Pay close attention to ingredients such as broths, simmering sauces, gelatin, and items containing lard, as these can easily be overlooked.

Pro tip: When baking for a vegan diet, you can replace 1 egg with any of the following: ¼ cup vegan yogurt; ½ mashed banana; 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water; or ¼ cup applesauce. What tip can you share with us?