Disaster Event Care
Catering for Vegans during a disaster event
Veganism is now commonplace in New Zealand. The number of vegans in Aotearoa New Zealand is growing every year, so you are now more likely to come across vegans as you provide vital help to the victims of crises.
Veganism is a common cultural, religious, health, and ethical position.
More recently, the choice to be vegan is also associated with the desire to reduce climate change.
There are a number of Māori and Pasifika vegans in Aotearoa New Zealand, and as well, many New Zealanders come from cultures which have been largely plant-based for centuries.
Why cater for vegans in disaster events?
* You are likely to come across vegans * To reduce shock and stress for vegans in crisis events
More Vegans
Veganism is a common cultural, religious, health, and ethical position.
More recently, the choice to be vegan is also associated with the desire to reduce climate change.
Veganism spans many cultures. There are a number of Māori and Pasifika vegans in Aotearoa New Zealand, and as well, many New Zealanders come from cultures which have been largely plant-based for centuries.
Why is it stressful?
Unfamiliar kai
Some vegans may never have eaten animal food and to do so would be stressful, especially for the very young, or unwell.
Making an impossible decision: Refuse the food?
Having vegan kai available means they won’t have to make the choice to either abandon their life-long beliefs in the middle of a crisis event, or to go without food.
Having simple and filling plant-based kai and a hot drink would make all the difference in an urgent situation.
What vegans don't eat
- Vegans do not eat animal-derived foods.
- No beef, chicken, pork, lamb, goat
- No eggs, fish, fish roe, animal skin or bone products.
- No animal milk products
- No animal derived butter, cheese, yoghurt, cream cheese, or milk powder.
- Most vegans don't eat honey
Plant-based food is suitable for all rescued persons, even when they are not vegan. It is already a part of many commonly eaten dishes. It can easily be added to non-vegan dishes so it will never go to waste.
Care and Catering for Vegans
1-2 days following crisis
Warm and filling animal-free food will
be all that is needed for short periods of time.
Meat substitutes are not needed.
Vegan babies who are not yet eating solids may need a vegan formula (for example: Sprout Organics plant-based baby formulas, Karicare Soy Milk Formula).
1-4 weeks following crisis
When care has to be extended beyond a brief crisis period, vegans’ nutritional needs can also be planned for.
If all the basic food groups are provided, no extra supplements are needed for a heathy vegan for 1-4 weeks.
However, a vegan multivitamin (containing Vitamin B12 among other vitamins and minerals) may help to reassure catering staff that the vegans in their care, especially pregnant or breastfeeding women, are getting all the nutrition they need.
What kai do vegans eat?
Vegans eat 100% plant-based kai.
It is easy to find vegan versions of all these foods but some products, like soups and sauces, should be checked for ingredients (look out for milk powder or egg among others.)
Grains
Bread, wraps, bagels, pastry, porridge, rice, pasta, noodles, vegan cakes, biscuits, crackers.
Beans
Baked beans, bean salad, lentils, chickpeas, hummus, tofu, vegan sausages/burgers/mince, nutmeat.
Vegetables and Herbs
Any fresh, frozen or tinned vegetables; frozen chips, potato flakes.
Fruit
Fresh, Trail mix, vegan fruit leather, tinned fruit.
Nuts and Seeds
Trail mix, roasted nuts, nut butters, coconut, pumpkin seeds, nuts in the shell, snack balls and snack bars
Other
Sugar, maple syrup, vegan gravy mix, plant based cheese, margerine (eg Olivani), plant milk, vegemite, soups, tomato pasta sauce, vegan chocolate or many dark chocolates, vegan biscuits (including original Oreos).
Stock planning for your organisation
We know that much planning goes into sourcing and storing emergency food supplies and then getting foods to welfare centres and community centres in good condition, to provide for crisis victims.
Vegan foods can be planned for in the same way. Many basic vegan foods you will be using already, plus some specialty emergency foods have vegan options, for example vegan freeze dried emergency packs (freezedriedemergencyfood.co.nz), and vegan dried meals for everyday use (vegansupply.co.nz).
Vegan B12 supplements and multivitamins are available in all chemists and many supermarkets.
Basic Food Groups
Vegans eat 100% plant-based kai.
Carbohydrates
All vegetables, bread, porridge oats, pasta, potatoes, kūmara, rice, fruit.
Fats
Vegan spread (eg Olivani), plant milk, chocolate, vegetable oils, nuts, seeds.
Protein
Tins of beans or lentils, hummus, tofu, chickpeas, peanuts.
Vitamins and Minerals
A vitamin B12 supplement is required for vegans > 4 weeks.
Infants
Vegan baby formula.
Simple Vegan Meal Ideas
Potatoes and kūmara dinner
Potatoes and kūmara (baked, boiled, mashed) with mixed vegetables, topped with pasta sauce or vegan gravy.
Baked beans on toast, or on potatoes or kūmara
Baked beans on toast, or even better, on potatoes or kūmara. You can use vegan spread (eg Olivani or Nuttelex) on the bread or in the potato.
Peanut butter and jam sandwich
Quick, easy and filling comfort food. Any vegan nut butter can be used with any vegan jam (most jams are already vegan).
Shepherd's Pie
Mashed potatoes on top of a mix of tinned lentils, tinned tomatoes, peas, corn and tomato paste. Top with vegan gravy.
Instant Noodles with coconut sauce
Cook vegan instant noodles, pair with mixed vegetables. Mix coconut milk/cream with mild curry powder and onion powder, cook into a sauce, thin with water as needed.
Vegan Cereal
Eat with plant milk, tinned fruit or water.
Soup and pasta
Soup with vegan pasta or vegan instant noodles. Cook the pasta, or instant noodles in the soup.
Pasta with Vegetables
Cook tins or jars of vegetables; (peas, corn, peppers, tomatoes) add tomato paste and vegetable stock powder, thicken sauce with flour. Add cooked pasta.
Freeze-dried vegan meals
Rice Pudding
Put cooked rice into a saucepan, add vegan milk (or nut butter and water), chopped dried fruit, and heat gently until it becomes thickened. Top with trail mix, tinned fruit, or jam.
Porridge
Make porridge with oats, dried fruit and plant milk or water,
and top with tinned fruit or peanut butter and jam.
Snacks
Nuts, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, dried fruit, trail mix, snack balls, vegan crackers, chips, biscuits.
Download our resources as a flyer format.
We hope this short guide to catering for vegans in emergency times is a useful tool for disaster pre-planning, or as a quick reference when a vegan turns up at your door.
If you have any questions please contact The Vegan Society on amanda@vegansociety.org.nz
