Dietaries

Everyday story; you’re gathered with your group of friends and colleagues, ready to chow down and enjoy some good food. But hold up! What did they order? Chances are, there were some dietary restrictions in the mix. Maybe one of them went for a soy latte, another opted for a gluten-free sandwich, and someone else chose a delicious vegetarian salad. Sound familiar?

Well, here’s the fact: in Australia, it’s estimated that a whopping 40 in 100 people have a food intolerance or allergy. That means the odds of you having to cater to special dietary needs are pretty high. Plus, these days there are innumerable trendy diets that limit certain types of food, whether it’s due to intolerance or just personal choice.

Here at Stellar Room, we feel your pain. In fact, almost 50% of our corporate catering orders are tailored to special dietary needs. Food allergies and intolerances are no joke- they can pose a serious health risk. That’s why it’s crucial to be mindful of your guests’ dietary restrictions when ordering office or event catering.

Vegetarian

What does being vegetarian mean?

Being vegetarian means not eating meat, but still being open to foods made from animals. It’s a moral choice, where we say yes to animal-derived foods that don’t involve slaughter or mistreatment of our animal pals. And guess what? Many vegetarians go the extra mile by seeking out ethically sourced animal products. Talk about being animal-loving superheroes!

 

Hold on to your hats a research conducted by Roy Morgan has found that the trend in vegetarian eating continues to grow — with 2.5 million people (12.1% of the population) in Australia now eating all or almost all vegetarian.

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Vegan

What does vegan mean?

Veganism takes things up a notch. It’s not just about skipping meat; vegans say no to ALL animal products – including meats, dairy, and anything that comes from animals. It’s about not just how animals are treated, but about not supporting their captivity and exploitation for food. That’s some serious dedication right there.

Now, here’s the scoop: veganism is a diet preference, not an allergy or food intolerance. But hey, it’s a great option for folks with dairy allergies. Vegan-friendly foods are a safe bet for them, no doubt about it.

 

Please note; we do not use and support fake meat alternatives.

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GLUTEN FREE

What is gluten free?

So, what is gluten anyway? Think of it as a group of proteins that hang out together in wheat, barley, and rye, and other grains. They bring the chewiness to bread and wheat products, and help with that all-important rising process in baking.

What foods contain gluten?

Breads, cakes, cookies and pastries contain gluten.

But fear not! There are gluten-free alternatives available, for all your favourite flour-based products.

One thing to note: gluten-free cakes and breads have a slightly different texture. They’re a bit more dense compared to their gluten-filled counterparts. Bread, in particular, doesn’t rise as much, resulting in a smaller, more compact loaf. We pride ourself to cater wholefood based naturally gluten free alternatives versus over processed fine starch based varieties.

Coeliac vs. Intolerance.

As someone responsible for organising food for a group, it’s essential to understand the difference between gluten intolerance and coeliac disease.

Gluten intolerance, also known as non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, occurs when the body struggles to digest gluten. The result? Gastrointestinal issues like bloating, stomach cramps, and the unpleasant consequences of diarrhea and vomiting. While there’s no “cure” for gluten sensitivity, a change in diet is often all that’s required to avoid those pesky symptoms. Medication is in development to aid digestion, which means those with an intolerance may be able to consume gluten-containing products without side effects, provided they swallow a handy tablet.

Whilst there is no clinical test for gluten sensitivity, a diet change experiment is the most common way of identifying the issue. Typically this means eliminating gluten-containing foods for 2 weeks and keeping an eye on any change in symptoms.

Unlike gluten sensitivity, coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition. It occurs when proteins in gluten attack the lining of the stomach and other intestinal tissue. The tiny finger-like tissues lining the intestine, the villi, play a crucial role in nutrient absorption. Consuming gluten for someone with coeliac disease can lead to serious side effects such as bloating, stomach pain, cramping, insomnia, rashes, mouth ulcers, and difficulty concentrating. Every exposure to gluten causes long-term damage that cannot be repaired. That’s why we take extra special care when we cater for a Coeliac. We kindly ask you to communicate clearly with you guests and make sure we can take care of your folks.

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DAIRY FREE & LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

So, what’s the deal with dairy-free?

Well, when it comes to dairy, we’re talking about products made from the milk of our slow-moving, grass-eating pals, cows. Think cheese, yogurt, cream, milk, and all the delicious concoctions whipped up with these ingredients. Just like gluten, dairy can cause both allergic reactions and intolerances. Let’s break it down:

What’s the difference between a dairy allergy and lactose intolerance?

Allergy

If someone has a dairy allergy, their immune system goes haywire in response to proteins found in dairy products, such as whey, casein, and albumin. Symptoms include bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and even eczema and respiratory issues. Some people may even experience muscle pain, headaches, and joint stiffness. It’s nothing to trifle with.

Catering for someone with a dairy allergy, it’s crucial to be aware that the risk of a potential life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis exists. Keep an epinephrine injection, like an epipen, on hand and make sure at least one person knows how to administer it.

And remember, if you have a dairy allergy, you’ve got to be strict with your approach to your diet. Absolutely no dairy in any shape, form, or cheese-covered disguise.

Intolerance

Now, let’s talk about intolerance to dairy. This happens when your body doesn’t produce enough of the enzyme lactase to properly break down the sugar called lactose found in cow’s milk and other animal milks. With lactose intolerance, you might experience the classic symptoms of bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and other gastrointestinal woes.

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PEANUT & TREE NUTS FREE

There is quite a lot of confusion between peanut and tree nut allergies, and these are often mistaken as being the same allergy.

The difference between peanut and tree nut allergies;

We use a high amount of legumes such as chickpeas and lentils. While tree nuts refer to nuts such as almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts and walnuts they will occur in our cakes as well. Coconut allergies are rare, but it’s best to not discount them entirely.

Some people may also be allergic to seeds, which include sesame seeds and we do use it sparingly,

We do prepare food separate entirely from those allergenes, yet we ask you to be mindful with your choices.

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