Special diets: what they are, types and examples
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2024 10:15 am
More and more people are paying special attention to their diet , even when eating out, whether for health reasons, ethics or personal preferences.
These cases include those who follow special diets, such as gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, or those adapted to food intolerances and allergies.
For these individuals, finding restaurants that understand their needs and offer suitable options is essential to enjoying a safe and satisfying dining experience...
For hospitality professionals, it is crucial to be aware of these diets and receive adequate training in order to offer quality service to all customers.
Understanding the needs of people with dietary restrictions not only improves customer service, but is also an opportunity to diversify the offering and attract a wider audience.
Special diet training enables staff to learn about alternative ingredients, safe cooking techniques and proper food handling, thus ensuring an inclusive experience adapted to new dietary demands.
Index
What are special diets?
Types and examples of special diets
Diseases that require special diets
Menu planning and special diets
What are special diets?
Special diets are dietary regimens tailored to meet the particular needs of people with specific health conditions , dietary restrictions, or personal preferences.
These diets go beyond a common food choice, as they are designed to avoid ingredients that can cause allergies, intolerances, or worsen certain diseases. They also include options for those who follow lifestyle philosophies such as vegetarianism or veganism.
Among the most common special diets are gluten-free diets, suitable for people with celiac disease, and lactose-free diets, for those who suffer from lactose intolerance.
There are also specific diets for diseases such as diabetes, in which it is essential to control the intake of carbohydrates and sugars. In addition, vegan and vegetarian diets, based on avoiding animal products, are increasingly common, both for ethical and health reasons.
Special diets focus not only on avoiding certain foods, but on ensuring adequate nutritional intake , adjusted to individual needs.
Types and examples of special diets
In the hospitality industry, it is becoming increasingly common to cater to customers with special dietary needs. These requirements are not only due to health issues, but also to personal or ethical preferences.
Below we detail some of the most common types of special diets and examples that catering professionals should be aware of in order to provide inclusive and quality service.
1. Gluten-free diet
The gluten-free diet is designed for people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This regimen eliminates foods containing wheat, barley, rye and their derivatives.
Foods such as breads, pastas and certain cereals should be replaced with gluten-free alternatives, such as rice or corn flours. It is essential to ensure that there is no cross-contamination in the kitchen, to avoid health problems.
2. Lactose-free diet
People with lactose intolerance cannot digest this sugar present in dairy products.
The lactose-free diet eliminates or limits foods such as milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products. However, there are many alternatives on the market, such as plant-based milks (almond, oat or soy) or dairy products treated to eliminate lactose.
A cook with braids prepares vegetables in a kitchen with white tiles and stainless steel shelves
3. Vegan diet
The vegan diet excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs and honey.
This type of diet is based exclusively on plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals and nuts. Veganism is not only followed for health reasons, but also for ethical or environmental reasons.
Restaurants should be creative and offer dishes that are rich in plant-based proteins, such as tofu, legumes or tempeh.
4. Vegetarian diet
Unlike a vegan diet, a vegetarian diet excludes meat and fish, but may include animal products such as dairy products and eggs.
There are variants within vegetarianism, such as lacto-ovo vegetarians (who consume eggs and dairy products) and lacto vegetarians (who only consume dairy products).
Vegetarian menus should include a variety of foods that provide protein and essential nutrients.
5. Low-carb diet
Low-carb diets, such as the popular ketogenic diet , focus on reducing carbohydrate intake in favor of healthy fats and protein.
These diets are designed to promote weight loss or control diseases such as diabetes. Examples of allowed foods include meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and low-carb vegetables.
6. Diet for diabetics
People with diabetes require a diet that regulates the consumption of sugars and carbohydrates. It is important to offer options that include foods with a low glycemic index, such as whole grains, fresh vegetables and lean proteins.
Diabetic menus should avoid highly processed foods, refined sugars and sugary drinks.
7. Low-calorie diet
A low-calorie diet is one that limits calorie intake, usually with the philippines phone number example goal of losing weight in a healthy way.
Dishes in this type of diet are based on foods low in fat and sugar, such as vegetables, fruits, lean meats and whole grains.
8. Diet for food allergies
Some people are allergic to certain foods such as nuts , shellfish , or eggs , among others.
Food allergies can be serious, so it is crucial that restaurants clearly list allergens on their menus and take strict measures to prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen.
9. Low-salt diet
This diet is crucial for people who suffer from hypertension or heart disease. It limits sodium intake and promotes the use of herbs and spices to flavor dishes, instead of salt.
Restaurants should offer low-sodium options and avoid processed foods that are often high in salt.
The bottom line is that hospitality professionals need to be prepared to cater to the needs of people with special diets, not only to offer an inclusive service, but also to ensure food safety. Knowing the types and examples of special diets allows restaurants to expand their offerings and attract a more diverse audience.
Diseases that require special diets
Some diseases require special diets to improve health, prevent complications and ensure the general well-being of those suffering from them. These diets are designed to control or eliminate certain foods that can worsen the patient's condition or, in some cases, be potentially dangerous.
Below we review some of the most common diseases that require specific diets:
1. Celiac disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which eating gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley and rye) damages the lining of the small intestine.
People with this disease must follow a strict gluten-free diet to avoid symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and malnutrition. In addition, eliminating gluten is vital to prevent long-term damage to the digestive system.
These cases include those who follow special diets, such as gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, or those adapted to food intolerances and allergies.
For these individuals, finding restaurants that understand their needs and offer suitable options is essential to enjoying a safe and satisfying dining experience...
For hospitality professionals, it is crucial to be aware of these diets and receive adequate training in order to offer quality service to all customers.
Understanding the needs of people with dietary restrictions not only improves customer service, but is also an opportunity to diversify the offering and attract a wider audience.
Special diet training enables staff to learn about alternative ingredients, safe cooking techniques and proper food handling, thus ensuring an inclusive experience adapted to new dietary demands.
Index
What are special diets?
Types and examples of special diets
Diseases that require special diets
Menu planning and special diets
What are special diets?
Special diets are dietary regimens tailored to meet the particular needs of people with specific health conditions , dietary restrictions, or personal preferences.
These diets go beyond a common food choice, as they are designed to avoid ingredients that can cause allergies, intolerances, or worsen certain diseases. They also include options for those who follow lifestyle philosophies such as vegetarianism or veganism.
Among the most common special diets are gluten-free diets, suitable for people with celiac disease, and lactose-free diets, for those who suffer from lactose intolerance.
There are also specific diets for diseases such as diabetes, in which it is essential to control the intake of carbohydrates and sugars. In addition, vegan and vegetarian diets, based on avoiding animal products, are increasingly common, both for ethical and health reasons.
Special diets focus not only on avoiding certain foods, but on ensuring adequate nutritional intake , adjusted to individual needs.
Types and examples of special diets
In the hospitality industry, it is becoming increasingly common to cater to customers with special dietary needs. These requirements are not only due to health issues, but also to personal or ethical preferences.
Below we detail some of the most common types of special diets and examples that catering professionals should be aware of in order to provide inclusive and quality service.
1. Gluten-free diet
The gluten-free diet is designed for people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This regimen eliminates foods containing wheat, barley, rye and their derivatives.
Foods such as breads, pastas and certain cereals should be replaced with gluten-free alternatives, such as rice or corn flours. It is essential to ensure that there is no cross-contamination in the kitchen, to avoid health problems.
2. Lactose-free diet
People with lactose intolerance cannot digest this sugar present in dairy products.
The lactose-free diet eliminates or limits foods such as milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products. However, there are many alternatives on the market, such as plant-based milks (almond, oat or soy) or dairy products treated to eliminate lactose.
A cook with braids prepares vegetables in a kitchen with white tiles and stainless steel shelves
3. Vegan diet
The vegan diet excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs and honey.
This type of diet is based exclusively on plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals and nuts. Veganism is not only followed for health reasons, but also for ethical or environmental reasons.
Restaurants should be creative and offer dishes that are rich in plant-based proteins, such as tofu, legumes or tempeh.
4. Vegetarian diet
Unlike a vegan diet, a vegetarian diet excludes meat and fish, but may include animal products such as dairy products and eggs.
There are variants within vegetarianism, such as lacto-ovo vegetarians (who consume eggs and dairy products) and lacto vegetarians (who only consume dairy products).
Vegetarian menus should include a variety of foods that provide protein and essential nutrients.
5. Low-carb diet
Low-carb diets, such as the popular ketogenic diet , focus on reducing carbohydrate intake in favor of healthy fats and protein.
These diets are designed to promote weight loss or control diseases such as diabetes. Examples of allowed foods include meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and low-carb vegetables.
6. Diet for diabetics
People with diabetes require a diet that regulates the consumption of sugars and carbohydrates. It is important to offer options that include foods with a low glycemic index, such as whole grains, fresh vegetables and lean proteins.
Diabetic menus should avoid highly processed foods, refined sugars and sugary drinks.
7. Low-calorie diet
A low-calorie diet is one that limits calorie intake, usually with the philippines phone number example goal of losing weight in a healthy way.
Dishes in this type of diet are based on foods low in fat and sugar, such as vegetables, fruits, lean meats and whole grains.
8. Diet for food allergies
Some people are allergic to certain foods such as nuts , shellfish , or eggs , among others.
Food allergies can be serious, so it is crucial that restaurants clearly list allergens on their menus and take strict measures to prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen.
9. Low-salt diet
This diet is crucial for people who suffer from hypertension or heart disease. It limits sodium intake and promotes the use of herbs and spices to flavor dishes, instead of salt.
Restaurants should offer low-sodium options and avoid processed foods that are often high in salt.
The bottom line is that hospitality professionals need to be prepared to cater to the needs of people with special diets, not only to offer an inclusive service, but also to ensure food safety. Knowing the types and examples of special diets allows restaurants to expand their offerings and attract a more diverse audience.
Diseases that require special diets
Some diseases require special diets to improve health, prevent complications and ensure the general well-being of those suffering from them. These diets are designed to control or eliminate certain foods that can worsen the patient's condition or, in some cases, be potentially dangerous.
Below we review some of the most common diseases that require specific diets:
1. Celiac disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which eating gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley and rye) damages the lining of the small intestine.
People with this disease must follow a strict gluten-free diet to avoid symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and malnutrition. In addition, eliminating gluten is vital to prevent long-term damage to the digestive system.