Dietary Requirements Tracker

In the UK, around 5-10% of the population is vegetarian and 2-3% is vegan, but this varies hugely by age group and location. For younger crowds (18-30), expect 15-20% vegetarian/vegan. Always ask guests directly rather than guessing, but these percentages are useful for initial planning.

Not necessarily. A well-planned menu can cover multiple requirements. For example, a vegan and gluten-free main course covers vegans, vegetarians, dairy-free and gluten-free guests in one dish. Aim for 3-5 menu options that between them cover all requirements.

The overlap factor accounts for guests who have multiple dietary requirements — for example, someone who is both vegan and gluten-free. A factor of 1.3 means the raw total of requirements is divided by 1.3 to estimate the actual number of people. The 1.3 default is a PartyCalcs planning estimate (roughly a 30% overlap), not a measured statistic; adjust it in Advanced Options if you know your guests, or set it to 1.0 to treat every requirement as a separate person.

Order 10% extra portions as a minimum. This covers last-minute guests, guests who change their mind, and dietary requirements not declared in advance. For allergen-specific dishes (nut-free, gluten-free), order at least 2 spare portions regardless of numbers.