REPORT

Special dietary requirements cover specific changes applied to a diet to make it healthier, acceptable or safe for
reasons such as life stages, health, culture and religion.
When we feed people, they put a lot of trust in us. They believe that the food we offer was responsibly sourced
and that we maintained the highest standard of food hygiene during the food preparation. When people disclose
their special dietary requirements, we need to take them seriously and make sure that the food we present meet
these needs.
Here is a summary of the most common special dietary requirements;
1. Life Stages: describes different stages in human development and how diet and nutrition may vary.
These life stages include infants, pregnant women and elderly persons. Infants require food high
in calcium for growth and bone development. Pregnant women require food high in calcium, folic acid
and iron. The elderly people require food low in saturated fats and trans-fat which reduces risk of heart
disease in addition to vitamins and calcium. You should not feed raw meats or fish to this groups of
people as their immune system may not handle food poisoning well.
2. Medical reasons: there are several medical reasons to make dietary changes, we will look briefly at a
few;
o Diabetes: is a chronic disease associated with abnormally high blood sugar because the pancreas
does not make any or enough insulin, or inability of the body to properly use insulin. Insulin is a
hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and
obesity. Diet should be high in complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
o Heart disease: are cardiovascular conditions that can lead to narrowed or blocked blood vessels,
this can lead to heart attack, coma, chest pains, stroke and paralysis. Patients should drink lots of
water, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and avoid smoking, alcohol and sugary food.
o Kidney disease: kidneys filter waste and excess fluids from our bodies which are then excreted
from the body as urine. Renal diet should include low levels of saturated fat, salt (sodium and
potassium) and sugar, and include animal protein, diary or alternatives and legumes.
o Diseases of the digestive system: there are several disorders that interfere with the function of
the bowel, enzymes or secretions, preventing normal digestion and absorption of nutrients in the
body. Some common digestive system diseases are; Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD),
Gallstones, Celiac Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome,
Haemorrhoids, Diverticulitis and Anal Fissure. Patients should consume food low in fat, acid and
salt. In most cases they need to avoid spicy food, eat in smaller portions and avoid foods that
trigger symptoms.
o Food allergy: is an abnormal response to a food triggered by the body’s immune system[3]. The
immune system responds to certain harmless foods as a threat and symptoms can range from
mild to severe. Some symptoms include rashes, itching at the mouth and throat, eczema,
swelling of lips and tongue, abdominal troubles and anaphylaxis. In the most severe cases
breathing and blood circulation are restricted which can lead to death. Never mess with any food
allergy as a prank or test. Most common food allergies are;
 Peanuts: peanuts do not need to be eaten to trigger an allergic reaction, if you are
having people who are allergic over, keep your house peanut-free.
 Tree nuts (such as almonds, walnuts)
 Gluten: common sources of gluten are wheat, barley and rye (as well as related species
such as spelt, emmer, einkorn, kamut etc). Oats are often contaminated by wheat
product and should be avoided or consumed consciously.  Gluten is usually present in
soy sauce, store bought sauces and soups, processed meat and lots of condiments.
Always read the food labels.
 Soy and products
 Shellfish
 Wheat
 Milk
  Eggs
o Food Intolerance: this is an adverse reaction to food which unlike food allergy, is not an immune
response. It is typically less severe than food allergy and, in most cases, present as abdominal
symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Examples of intolerance to food include;
 Gluten intolerance
 Lactose intolerance: Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose which a sugar found
in milk. An individual that does not produce lactase, will be lactose intolerant and
the bacteria found in the intestines will ferment these sugars which naturally produces
gas, causing bloating, pain and flatulence.
 Intolerance to food additives such as colouring and flavour enhancers such as MSG.
3. Religious/Cultural/Personal reasons:
o Christianity: Most Christian sects do not have food restrictions. Some Christians may abstain from
meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday or the entire 40 days of Lent.
o Judaism: Jews have to follow a Kosher menu as mandated in the Torah. Edible animals must
chew the curd and have cloven feet such as cows, goats, sheep. Pigs have cloven feet but do not
chew the cud and are forbidden in the kosher menu. They also eat only fish that have scales and
shellfish is forbidden. Meat and milk may not be eaten together.
o Islam: Halal refers to what is allowed in Islamic law. Muslims have a strict law regarding the
slaughter of animals for food. It must be killed swiftly with a sharp knife in one movement cutting
the jugular vein and all its blood must be drained, some incantations are made by the killer.
Muslims eat only meat that are killed according to the halal rites and do not eat pork as this is
considered unclean.
o Dharmic religions such as; Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism: mostly follow a form of
vegetarian diet. Most of these religions do not mandate a vegetarian diet, but have views that
support it, it is believed that meat cannot be obtained without causing injury to other creatures.
Some follow a lacto-vegetarian diet which includes dairy products. The meat consuming
believers, will not eat beef as cows are considered sacred and the slaughter of cows is mostly
forbidden in India where most of these religions are prevalent.
o Vegetarianism: is abstaining from the consumption of meat, and choosing plant-based sources of
protein. People may choose a vegetarian diet for various reasons such as religious, moral, health
concerns, fashion or financial. There are different types of vegetarian diet;
 Lacto-ovo-vegetarian: They also consume milk (and milk products) and eggs.
 Lacto-vegetarian: They consume milk and milk products but no eggs.
 Ovo-vegetarian: They consume eggs but not milk products.
 Vegan: they refrain from eating all meats and animal products such as eggs, butter,
cheese, milk, gelatin and some may reject honey.

KOSHER

“Kosher” is a term used to describe foods that comply with dietary guidelines set by traditional Jewish
law. These laws determine which foods may be consumed and how they must be produced, processed,
and prepared.
 Kosher guidelines strictly prohibit the pairing of any meat and dairy product. This also means
that all utensils and equipment used to prepare meat and dairy must always be kept separate.
 Some of the main kosher dietary guidelines ban certain food pairings — particularly that of meat
and dairy.
 Kosher guidelines limit the consumption of animal-based foods to specific animals and cuts of
meat which are slaughtered and prepared in a particular manner.
 During Passover, all leavened grain products are forbidden. However, unleavened breads, such
as matzo, are allowed.
  If you keep kosher, be sure to look for appropriate labels when you shop. Kosher foods often
feature a certification to guarantee they have met all the necessary stipulations.
There are three main kosher food categories:
 Meat (fleishig): Mammals or fowl, as well as products derived from them, including bones
or broth.
 Dairy (milchig): Milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt.
 Pareve: Any food that is not meat or dairy, including fish, eggs, and plant-based foods.
According to kosher tradition, any food categorized as meat may never be served or eaten at the same
meal as a dairy product.

DIABETIC

A diabetes diet simply means eating the healthiest foods in moderate amounts and sticking to regular
mealtimes.
A diabetes diet is a healthy-eating plan that's naturally rich in nutrients and low in fat and calories. Key
elements are fruits, vegetables and whole grains. In fact, a diabetes diet is the best eating plan for most
everyone.

Recommended foods

Make your calories count with these nutritious foods. Choose healthy carbohydrates, fiber-rich foods,
fish and "good" fats.
Healthy carbohydrates
During digestion, sugars (simple carbohydrates) and starches (complex carbohydrates) break down into
blood glucose. Focus on healthy carbohydrates, such as:
 Fruits
 Vegetables
 Whole grains
 Legumes, such as beans and peas
 Low-fat dairy products, such as milk and cheese
Avoid less healthy carbohydrates, such as foods or drinks with added fats, sugars and sodium.
Fiber-rich foods
Dietary fiber includes all parts of plant foods that your body can't digest or absorb. Fiber moderates how
your body digests and helps control blood sugar levels. Foods high in fiber include:
 Vegetables
 Fruits
 Nuts
 Legumes, such as beans and peas
 Whole grains
Heart-healthy fish
Eat heart-healthy fish at least twice a week. Fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines are rich in
omega-3 fatty acids, which may prevent heart disease.
Avoid fried fish and fish with high levels of mercury, such as king mackerel.
'Good' fats
Foods containing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help lower your cholesterol levels.
These include:
 Avocados
 Nuts
  Canola, olive and peanut oils
But don't overdo it, as all fats are high in calories.
Foods to avoid
Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease and stroke by accelerating the development of clogged and
hardened arteries. Foods containing the following can work against your goal of a heart-healthy diet.
 Saturated fats. Avoid high-fat dairy products and animal proteins such as butter, beef, hot dogs,
sausage and bacon. Also limit coconut and palm kernel oils.
 Trans fats. Avoid trans fats found in processed snacks, baked goods, shortening and stick
margarines.
 Cholesterol. Cholesterol sources include high-fat dairy products and high-fat animal proteins,
egg yolks, liver, and other organ meats. Aim for no more than 200 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol
a day.
 Sodium. Aim for less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. Your doctor may suggest you aim for even
less if you have high blood pressure.
A sample menu
When planning meals, take into account your size and activity level. The following menu is tailored for
someone who needs 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day.
 Breakfast. Whole-wheat bread (1 medium slice) with 2 teaspoons jelly, 1/2 cup shredded wheat
cereal with a cup of 1 percent low-fat milk, a piece of fruit, coffee
 Lunch. Roast beef sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce, low-fat American cheese, tomato and
mayonnaise, medium apple, water
 Dinner. Salmon, 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil, small baked potato, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 cup
green beans, medium white dinner roll, unsweetened iced tea, milk
 Snack. 2 1/2 cups popcorn with 1 1/2 teaspoons margarine

VEGANS 

Vegans are individuals who avoid animal products for ethical, health, or environmental reasons — or a
combination of the three. Instead, they eat various plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and products made from these foods.

What You Can Eat

On a vegan diet, you can eat foods made from plants, including:
 Fruits and vegetables
 Legumes such as peas, beans, and lentils
 Nuts and seeds
 Breads, rice, and pasta
 Dairy alternatives such as soymilk, coconut milk, and almond milk
 Vegetable oils
What You Can't Eat
Vegans can't eat any foods made from animals, including:

 Beef, pork, lamb, and other red meat

 Chicken, duck, and other poultry
 Fish or shellfish such as crabs, clams, and mussels
 Eggs
 Cheese, butter
  Milk, cream, ice cream, and other dairy products
 Mayonnaise (because it includes egg yolks)
 Honey

Health Benefits
Studies show that vegans have better heart health and lower odds of having certain diseases. Those who
skip meat have less of a chance of becoming obese or getting heart disease, high cholesterol, and high
blood pressure. Vegans are also less likely to get diabetes and some kinds of cancer, especially cancers
of the GI tract and the breast, ovaries, and uterus in women.
Going vegan might even help you live longer, especially if you also cut down on your daily calories.
Better weight control may be one reason for all of these health benefits. Vegans have a lower body mass
index (BMI) than people who eat animal-based products.
Good nutrition is another perk. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts are staples of the vegan diet.
These foods are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and compounds that help protect against diseases like
diabetes and cancer.