Free professional chef for your lunch club

Would you like a VfL chef to come and cook lunch for you and your diners, free of charge?

Our experienced team of Roving Chefs can prepare nutritious, delicious, plant-based meals to be enjoyed at your venue. A chef can take charge in the kitchen, alongside your volunteers, and prepare an lovely luncheon. If you have anyone with special dietary requirements, we will make sure they’re covered, too – just tell us in advance.

So, how does it work, and what’s the catch? We have just two requirements. First, the food we make is vegan and vegetarian. Second, your group or lunch club should be for people aged 50+. The cost of the ingredients will be covered by payment from your diners, but if your lunch club is in a position to donate towards our work that would be very much appreciated.

Earlier this year Maggie, our Roving Chef in the north of England, cooked up a storm for a healthy heart group in Wythenshawe, Manchester. With the help of five volunteers, Maggie prepared and served a nutritious two-course lunch of lentil shepherd’s pie with roasted vegetables, kale and gravy, finished with a rich chocolate tarte and fresh fruit. Last year, she worked with volunteer chefs at Trinity House and put together a hearty meal of rich vegetable lasagne with fresh vegetables and garlic bread… all vegan and gluten-free!

The number of older vegetarians and vegans is increasing. Many people are reducing the amount of meat they eat for a myriad of reasons: ethics, health, and changing dietary preferences, to name just a few. With this in mind, you'll likely start to get more requests for meat-free meals soon, so we are here to help.

Lunch clubs are invaluable for many older people across the country. They are a lifeline for people who might have lost the energy or motivation to keep making nutritious meals, and they are a direct challenge to social isolation. Over half of people aged over 75 in the UK live alone. Bringing people together to enjoy a hot meal can mean so much to one person. We find that lots of older people love trying vegan food – it's all over the newspapers; neighbours or grandchildren might be trying it; and this is a chance for older people to be part of things, too.

Why not give it a go? We can stick to traditional British food, soup and sandwiches, or switch it up for a more adventurous group: spicy daal, fruit tagine, creamy pasta dishes, or whatever you request. 

If you’d like help improving your vegetarian and vegan offerings at your luncheon club, to ensure you can cater well for special diets, please get in touch with training@vegetarianforlife.org.uk or 0161 257 0887.