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Dietary Hub
Charcuterie for Mixed Diets: One Board or Two?
Plan for the strictest needs first. Allergies and celiac disease need separation: their own plate, built first. Vegetarian and vegan guests need labels. Most parties work as one board plus a small safe plate.
Plan in this order
- Ask every guest. One line on the invitation: "Anything you can't eat?" Allergies first, then diets.
- Allergies and celiac disease get separation. Their own plate or small board, built first with clean hands and knives, on a different part of the table.
- Then pick ingredients that pass every diet. Open the Diet Checker, choose all the diets at once, and shop from the Safe list.
- Vegetarian and vegan guests need labels. A card on every cheese and spread answers the questions before they're asked.
- Size it with the Party Planner. The usual amounts apply: 2 oz of meat and cheese each per guest before a meal, 3 oz when the board is the party food. Party Planner.
Where diets collide
| Diets | The conflict | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan + Nut-free | Most plant cheeses are made from cashews or almonds. | Use hummus (contains sesame), baba ganoush, marinated vegetables and olives as the vegan center. |
| Gluten-free + Nut-free | Nut-Thins and almond-flour crackers are gluten-free but full of nuts. | Use rice or cassava crackers labeled gluten-free. |
| Vegetarian + Gluten-free | Few conflicts, but vegetarian guests eat more crackers when there's no meat. | Buy extra gluten-free crackers and an extra cheese. |
| Vegan + Gluten-free | Crackers have to pass two checks: no wheat, no butter or honey. | Rice, cassava and chickpea crackers usually pass both. Read the label. |
| Nut-free + Sesame allergy | Hummus, tahini, za'atar and sesame crackers all contain sesame. | Ask about every allergy, not just the one you were told. |
Questions
Should I make separate boards for different diets?
For allergies and celiac disease, give the guest their own plate, built first. For vegetarian and vegan guests, one labeled board usually works.
How do I label food for dietary needs?
Put a small card on or next to every item: Gluten-free, Nut-free, Contains nuts, Vegetarian, Vegan. Keep the packaging nearby so guests can read the labels.
How many boards do I need for a big party?
Our Party Planner uses one station below 20 guests, two up to 30, three up to 50 and four above that. Make one station the allergy-safe one.
Sources
- FDA: The FASTER Act and sesame, the ninth major food allergen
- FDA: Have food allergies? Read the label
- FDA: Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Food Labeling Final Rule
Reviewed October 1, 2026. Brands change their recipes, so we re-check these pages every 6 months. For a serious allergy or celiac disease, read every label and ask your guest. How we classify ingredients.
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