What Should I Bring To A Vegan Potluck?

 By Eccentric Vegan on September 19th, 2008 Print This Post Print This Post

What Should I Bring To A Vegan Potluck?

You have tons and tons of options. The variety of vegan food is endless.

Just bring something that’s 100% vegan. That’s the only requirement.
(Remember vegan = no meat, no poultry, no fish, no seafood, no dairy, no eggs, no honey. No animal products of any kind.)

Here are some ideas to get you started on what to bring to a vegan potluck:

If you have only five minutes, or if you’re nervous about cooking for others, bring…

  • …store-bought bread, muffins, or cookies. (Read the ingredients to make sure it’s vegan).
  • …a fruit plate. You can usually pick up a pre-made fruit platter from your local grocery store.
  • …a veggie platter. (Many come with nonvegan ranch, so find one without or toss the ranch and replace it with a vegan salad dressing.)
  • …fruit juice, seltzer, water, tea, or coffee.
  • …vegan wine, if allowed. For a list, check here >>
  • …napkins, plates, utensils, and cups.

If you have fifteen minutes, bring…

  • …a home-made green salad. Dress it with oil and vinegar, Italian dressing, or any number of other vegan salad dressings.
  • …a fruit salad. (No yogurt, or cottage cheese, though, please.)
  • …a bean salad.
  • …a spouted salad.
  • …dip: bean dip, pate, salsa, guacamole, etc.

If you have half an hour, bring…

If you have an hour or two, bring…

If you have all day, bring…

There’s something else you should bring to a vegan potluck if you can…
…a friend!

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What shouldn’t you bring to a vegan potluck? Here are some things to avoid bringing to a vegan potluck:

  1. Leather, wool, or fur: Out of respect, don’t wear a leather jacket or a fur coat. Even if it’s an old, used coat and you only wear it to reduce wastefulness, please avoid it for the potluck. Other potluck-goers may be offended and hurt if you wear animals to a vegan potluck.
  2. Honey: Even if you’re a “beegan” and don’t consider honey to be an animal product, don’t assume other vegans feel the same way.
  3. Confusion: Avoid confusing people by adding a sign. If you want to be really nice, make a little sign for your dish that lists all the ingredients. This helps people who have allergies or special dietary conditions.
  4. Faux meats: If it’s your first time, you may want to skip the faux meat or faux cheese dish. Some vegans love it, some hate it. If you choose to use faux, bring along the package so other potluck participants can verify that it’s vegan. (Believe it or not, some mean people will bring nonvegan food to vegan potlucks and ‘fool’ vegans.)
  5. Furry friends or babies: Ask the host about companion animals and children. Some potlucks will welcome them but others won’t.

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For free vegan recipes, try these websites:

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9 Responses to What Should I Bring To A Vegan Potluck?

  1.  Ryan McReynolds commented on Sep 19th, 2008 at 10:15 am

    I’m not sure buying a veggie platter and throwing out the dairy ranch is quite something I’d think of as a recommendation for a vegan potluck… it’s kind of like going to KFC and buying chicken and mashed potatoes, then just leaving the dismembered corpse in the car. Sure, what you bring is technically within the letter of the vegan law, but it’s not within the spirit.

    ~ Recent blog post: Market Fundamentalism at http://ryanmcreynolds.blogspot.com ~

  2.  Eccentric Vegan commented on Sep 20th, 2008 at 11:38 am

    No, Ryan, it’s not like going to KFC and buying chicken. It’s like buying baked potatoes and tossing the butter packets they came with. The essential part of the veggie tray is the veggies, not the ranch dressing on the side. The essential part of a baked potato is the potato. However, the essential part of the chicken dinner example you provide is the dead birds, not the side dishes. There’s a difference, and it’s important.

    Moreover, depending where you live, your vegan potlucks may differ. If you live in Portland, NYC, SF, or Austin, fine, be a purist and demand purity from all your potluck attendees. But when you live somewhere else and you have a hard time getting even 3 people to show up at vegan potlucks, well, you just have to be a little more flexible.

  3.  Ryan McReynolds commented on Sep 20th, 2008 at 11:45 am

    Oh, I’m not saying I wouldn’t accept it, were I ever to find myself throwing a vegan potluck. I’d probably accept the KFC mashed potatoes, too. I’m just saying it wouldn’t be something I’d specifically recommend.

    ~ Recent blog post: The Asymmetry of Bailouts at http://ryanmcreynolds.blogspot.com ~

  4.  Eccentric Vegan commented on Sep 20th, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    Sorry, Ryan.

    Just for the record, KFC mashed potatoes are not vegan.

    Potatoes: Potatoes (Color and Flavor Protected with Sodium Bisulfite, Citric Acid, and BHT), Salt, Corn Syrup Solids, Butter, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Monoglycerides, Sodium Pyrophosphate, Nonfat Milk, Natural Flavor, Calcium Phosphate, Sodium Caseinate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Artificial Flavor, Mono- and Diglycerides, Artificial Color.
    Contains Milk and Wheat.

    And wow, after looking at the KFC ingredient listings, the “chicken” is often only half actual dead bird. Weird.

  5.  Sassy commented on Sep 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

    Excellent suggestions. I especially love the way you’ve broken dishes down into the time available to toss a dish together.

    I differ with your statement that a pot luck is the time to stay away from faux meats. There are usually people there who are trying veg for the first time; faux meats can help them to feel more comfy.

    I grew up eating lots of meat and other animal products, just as many vegetarians/vegans do. One of my favorite dishes was my mom’s Chicken Divan. I veganized it not too long ago, using chicken-flavored seitan, a faux meat. It’s a great dish for a vegan potluck, vegan dinner party, or simply introducing someone to the yummy options available. You can check it out here: http://www.vegancoach.com/200707.html#e26

    Thanks for your fabulous site. :O)
    Sassy
    p.s. The animal counter on the right side of the page is eye opening.

    ~ Recent blog post: Sep 16, Vegan Dessert Recipes at http://www.VeganCoach.com ~

  6.  Sassy commented on Sep 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    Oops! Wrong link. (Although that Quinoa/Beet Salad ROCKS.)

    Here is the correct one to the Vegan Chicken Divan:

    http://www.vegancoach.com/200808.html#e74

    ~ Recent blog post: Sep 16, Vegan Dessert Recipes at http://www.VeganCoach.com ~

  7.  CARIVEGAN!! commented on Sep 21st, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    Thank you for posting this! I am also a fan of you breaking it down by time. We are trying out (gulp!) our first vegan pot luck in Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico! Wish us luck!!

  8.  Ryan McReynolds commented on Sep 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 am

    In retrospect, I guess it’s obvious KFC mashed potatoes wouldn’t be vegan. Just the first example that came to mind, and a poor one.

    ~ Recent blog post: The Asymmetry of Bailouts at http://ryanmcreynolds.blogspot.com ~

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