What to give vegan at foodbank?

cats_ahoy

Caterina wrote: »

I volunteer at a food bank and some of the people who come to us do not actually have a kitchen, might live in a hostel with limited resources or in very difficult housing circumstances. Some have mental or physical issues that make it difficult for them to actually cook from scratch. So tins and easily reheatable food are very important items for people in these circumstances.

I am really glad to read that so many feel that it is in fact important to respect the wishes of the people who come to the food banks in need of food. It is hard enough to be in those hardship circumstances without being preached to about what one should or should not be eating.

And I can guarantee that the food bank client who takes advantage is virtually inexistent. Most are sad, destitute and acutely embarrassed to be forced to rely on food banks and it takes the volunteers a lot of compassionate work to put those people, entire families sometimes, at ease. The people who take the mickey about food banks are a myth and an invention of the tabloids.

I usually only read the comments these days but felt I had to log on to reply to this. You are a wonderful human Caterina! I am going to donate some specifically veggie/vegan food now as I never really thought about that when I've donated before. And whoever compared modern day food banks to Belsen shame on you!

Caterina

cats ahoy thank you for your lovely words, it's very kind of you, but I am only giving something back, I feel so fortunate and privileged to have a home and food, that it is only fair I do my part to help those less fortunate.

cats_ahoy

Caterina I have never volunteered ar a food bank before, but I have a lot of respect for people who do. There are certain people in the UK (e.g. daily mail commenters) who like to dismiss the role of food banks in society unfortunately. I agree with giving people as much respect and dignity as possible when they use food banks, including letting them keep any dietary requirements!

Mohawk_3

I must admit that I think it's a real challenge to be vegan if you don't cook from scratch, but I think we have to accept that many in need of a food bank don't have good cooking facilities, so it might be worth trying to establish what they can do - due to their own skills, or the facilities available to them.

The vegan diet on top of other dietry restrictions is an added challenge, and again I'd encourage you to work out which things they absolutely cannot have, and which things might be OK in certain circumstances.

I know a few people with food allergies and/or intolerances, and they often find it easier just to say they can't have X, than to explain it. One who is allergic to shell-fish, and intolerant to dairy, sometimes requests a vegan meal at events - just to be on the safe side. I know another person who is allergic to raw tomatoes, but is fine with cooked.

A celiac colleague of mine found that when it wasn't in control, he became intolerant to cow's milk, but was OK with goat's milk, and he could get away with small bits of cow's cheese. He also found that he was sporadically intolerant to rice cakes, he thinks because he started to eat loads of them when he first discovered he couldn't do gluten. There were a few more things that he had trouble with, but so long as he was good at avoiding gluten, he could actually tolerate those other things in moderation.

WantToBeSE

The majority of breads are vegan, as are pasta, rice, cous cous, most tomato based sauces and vegetable soups (just check for milk/egg). For healthy fats you could include some nuts and seeds or oil.

Tins of lentils, various beans, chickpeas,fruit are all a good idea and provide protein.
Yes, biscuits can be vegan. The ones that come to mind are McVities choc chip hobnobs, most rice tea, most Nice, ginger nuts and bourbon biscuits (again, just check for milk).
Also, breakfast cereals like fruit and fibre can be vegan, also weetabix, Alpen granola, porridge oats, muesli, dark chocolate.

iammumtoone

Putting the issue of whether it is right to supply a vegan option at food banks.

It is very difficult to get the nutrition you need from a vegan diet especially one that also needs to avoid tomatos (which eliminates a lot of tined vegan friendly food). It is difficult for those that can afford the diet and cook from scratch let alone those who are struggling to afford to eat and do not know how to cook.

With the lack of cooking from scratch it doesn't sound like their diet could have been very good before they got into the situation of needing a foodbank.

Of course it is up to the person if they want to continue this diet choice but I think someone should explain to them how hard it can be to get all your nutritional requirements on a limited budget following this plan.

I think one of the best things you could supply them with would be a packet of multi vits/minerals, I would be worried that their health will suffer from this diet in this situation.

Caterina

Food bank packs are meant to be a stopgap, not a whole nutrition system, they are designated for 3 days for the number of people (eg single, couple, single parent, larger family etc). At least this is with the Trussell Trust food banks.

There are other food banks run independently who might operate in a different way. For example we aren't allowed to give away perishable food, so bread, fresh meat, veg and fruit are a no-no, but I know of an independent church where they give bread loaves and some fruit when they have them.

While we try to be aware and sensitive to different dietary requirements, we don't always have the supplies to give people who have dietary exclusions the whole 3 days allocation. Sometimes it is possible to swap tins from a box to another, say someone does not like tinned tuna but is ok with corned beef, or many don't eat pork for religious reasons. We do the swap and if sometimes the clients get a bit less because there isn't enough of what they ask, they are usually ok and take it as it is, and accept that this is inevitable.

Some people do have cooking facilities but not the means to buy the food.

People don't like to be preached to about their dietary choices, if someone is a vegan, and declares so, we tend to take at face value that they know what they are doing.

There are community cookery classes and these are the places where people can be informed of what constitutes a nutritionally sound diet. In the food bank the role of the workers is to welcome the clients, make them feel at home and give them some humanity, a chat and a cup of tea, sometimes it is the only places where they have a chance to have this space in their lives and to be listened to, unconditionally. We also signpost them to other agencies when they need specialist help. Giving dietary advice is definitely not in the food bank workers remit, and even less is the dispensing of nutritional supplements.

However, I really want to thank the OP for starting this thread because it has made me reflect and I will have a word with my coordinator about being more aware of variations in dietary restrictions and how maybe we could hold a small separate stock for these eventualities.

msb5262

Interesting thread...my local food bank will be receiving some vegetarian stock cubes, a jar of yeast extract, soya milk, coconut milk, cans of green lentils & chick peas, vegan dry mix for falafel or burgers, olives, nuts and long-life soya yogurts next time I donate. I really hadn't thought about this so thank you to the OP for starting the thread.

SailorSam

So many foods, such a big choice. I can't make my mind up.
Will you accept a new £5 note ?

Broomstick

I was vegan for a few years a very long time ago. It was easy living in a vegan household where we all shared the cooking and cooked from scratch. Short term food bank use should not be a problem with things like tinned soups and pulses, bread, nut butters, marmite and other non-animal savory spreads, rice and corn cakes, couscous and noodles (which need very little cooking), soy sauce or tamari as seasoning, meusli with nuts for protein (can make with fruit juice), non-dairy long life milks etc etc. Stir-fries don't take much preparation and you can throw in what ever bits of veg you can get hold of but you'd need a bit of oil and some soy sauce/tamari.

Is the not cooking a general thing or do they not cook because they can't afford the electricity/gas at the moment? It's tough if you are struggling with the choice of either fuel or food. Vegan food can be very nutritious and cheap but cooking really extends your options.

B x