Managing varied dietary needs - question for hosts who provide breakfast or other meals/food items

[Michelle53]

Hi all

This is something that's been on my mind since I'm considering booking an Airbnb for an overseas trip next year. 

I happen to be Vegan. Which means I only eat plant-based, no animal products at all. 

Would you consider it to be a reasonable request, if you are offering breakfast included in your pricing,  if I asked for soy or almond milk for cereal rather than cow's milk ?

Or perhaps replacing eggs with fresh fruit, as another example ?

I would probably, given the choice, book a place without a meal offering, and just make my own plans, because it's really frustrating to go to a restaurant, for example, that does not have a plant-based option,  and get offered the chicken and ranch salad "without the chicken and the dressing" i.e. naked lettuce, with a slice of lemon, but still get to pay the full price for the salad.

What do other hosts think ?

By the way, I do not provide any meals to my guests, but a range of pre-wrapped items that might appeal to a range of interests.  There is a grocery-shopping option 3 blocks away. 

[Benjamin836]

Just ask the Host if they can provide you with “Vegan Food” if available.

[Michelle53]

@Benjamin836  It's the "if available" that I'm curious about, and whether asking would be viewed as grounds for not taking my booking. Or whether folks would be willing to accommodate that, as a "special request", if it came as an inquiry, rather than a trip request, which they could just respond  to without consequence. 

i.e. is that kind of food request (inquiry) viewed as: reasonable/unreasonable/we charge more for substitutions/picky/entitled ?

[Till-and-Jutta0]

We've had vegan guests asking for soy milk, as we are vegetarian only. IMHO that's OK. 

[Linda108]

I do offer a breakfast to my guests which is often  complimented both to me and in reviews.  I provide fresh fruit and juice, bagels and muffins, yogurt and hard boiled eggs.  Sometimes I have avocado instead of eggs.  I do check with the guest prior to arrival if there are any food allergies or sensitivities such as lactose or gluten intolerance, which I will accommodate.  While I have had many vegan/vegetarian guests, I don't recall any asking for me to provide anything specifically for them.  Often I have couples and only one is vegan while the other is not.  I think your asking would depend on long you are planning to stay or whether you can enjoy a satisfying breakfast.  I know I would want any guest to feel cared for and would't mind some accommodation.  I suggest you communicate with the host about your dietary needs and see if they can accommodate.  You might need to educate the host about what is acceptable to your diet.  Or, you can negotiate a small reduction in the nightly rate and forego the breakfast.

[Michelle53]

@Linda108    Your last point hits the nail on the head.  Breakfast is already costed into the room rate.  The question is whether a food substitution like soy milk in place of cows milk (assuming no difference in the price or availability in the local area) would be considered acceptable. 

It would seem reasonable if I was going to go and buy food for that stay anyway, in which case I would change out cows milk for soy/almond milk. 

If it was a shared situation, with several guests in residence, and just myself expecting something different, or if everything was bulk-purchased in advance, a substitution might not be possible. 

I'm wondering if folks who pre-purchase in bulk already include a plant-based option automatically, or whether it is still viewed as out-of-the-main-stream. . 

[Laura2592]

@Michelle53I don't offer breakfast but we do a snack basket for every guest. We ask prior to check in-- do they like wine (we leave some if its a yes.) Do they have allergies/restrictions or preferences for snacks? It really helps us to shop. The last thing we want to do is spend money on something no one wants.

We have accommodated guests who are vegan, allergic to dyes, vegetarian, lactose intolerant, allergic to nuts, you name it. I honestly think that hosts should be asking if they are offering food. With as wacky as some guests are, I don't want a claim for a hospital bill for an allergic reaction after my act of kindness leaving food. Some hosts I have stayed with have given me baked goods and I always think about the people who are germaphobes and can't tolerate unwrapped foods, or those who might just throw it out because they are frightened of an ingredient that causes allergies. I wouldn't make that kind of effort myself if there was the possibility my work would go straight into the trash.

I would simply write the host and say " Hi-- I wondered if you could possibly have some soy milk/vegan options in your breakfast array? If not, I am happy to bring my own. Thank you so much." Letting the host know you are prepared to provide your own specialized food is the best way to go, rather than seeming like you are making a demand.

[Michelle53]

@Laura2592   It's really much appreciated for me to see that hosts can make accommodation for various dietary needs. And today, there are many, especially when it comes to allergies.  I would never put anything out that wasn't extensively labelled with the ingredients. 

I would feel really bad if I went somewhere where a person spent hours preparing baked goods for me that I couldn't eat. 

Actually, I wouldn't offer to bring my own, if the host was offering a full breakfast included.  That would be like taking my own salad dressing to a full-service restaurant 😉

I would just not book at the place where no substitution was available, or I would pick a place where no breakfast was priced in, and just make my own way, with the food. 

[Laura2592]

@Michelle53yes I feel really badly for hosts here who spend time baking. Its such a kind thing to offer, but about half the time it probably gets thrown out. Judging from the number of guests who give me a list of can/can't eat when I am only offering snacks, I think it would be really smart for hosts to inquire ahead of time.

In your case, I don't think it hurts to ask. If someone can't provide it, they can't provide it.

[Michelle53]

@Laura2592  Do you put in anything in your listing description ? Just curious.   I don't mention anything other than no meals are served, but it's appreciated if folks support local restaurants, and I have a guide.  A few arrival snacks are a surprise.

It would be lovely if a host was proactive. I would, of course, inquire ahead of time, if I was planning to travel. 

[Laura2592]

@Michelle53  I don't mention it in the listing, but I do say at the time of booking that I will be in touch closer to their stay because we leave a curated treat basket for each guest. Because its individualized and different every time I don't want to advertise or put up a pic and get a low score for accuracy 🙂 I do think hosts who leave any food really should proactively ask. There are just too many ways it can go wrong and why throw away the money and time spent?

[John5097]

@Michelle53 

I think host who include food, like a breakfast, can expect .02 % lower ratings over the course of a year. Some people, or most people, are just really picky eaters. 

I don't think it would hurt to just inquire if plant based options be available or just not have any food. I think host are just tying to make guest happy and provide something extra so shouldn't mind simply not providing food. 

Before starting I was going to include some fresh baked muffins but now don't think guest would touch them. I think guest understand this is something they aren't paying for. I include a lot of other odds and ends that guest use and love, and they have plenty of napkins, dishwasher, laundry, detergent, hand soap, etc.  

[Michelle53]

@John5097  Food has become very complicated, now.  My snack basket gets positive comments all the time, because it's a surprise extra.   But I'm super careful now about labeling expectations. 

I read a really interesting article about how products are dated.  It's en eye opener !

https://www.vox.com/22559293/food-waste-expiration-label-best-before

[John5097]

@Michelle53 

Just providing food without any guest input would create mostly food waste and lower ratings. I meant 5% lower overall, and .02 off the five star system. 

Only very young children don't have a choice what food they eat, so host may not realize that some guest will see it as a control issue. 

I'm glad I got rid of my induction cooktop. There are so many other issues with food. Even chicken is loaded with antibiotic resistant bacteria. 

I've considered adding this kind of info to my listing, and think I got it now, that they are getting a discount for not including these extras. $5 or $10 a night is a big deal to anyone. 

[Yas6]

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