Special Diets and Food Allergies: Vegan, Kosher, Halal and Celiac
The dietary needs a cook or a host should know about. Vegetarians eat no meat or fish, and vegans no animal products at all. Kosher and halal are Jewish and Islamic dietary laws. People with celiac disease cannot eat gluten; people who are lactose intolerant struggle with milk sugar; and an allergen, like peanuts or shellfish, can cause a dangerous reaction.
Keto and paleo are popular low-carbohydrate eating styles, and organic describes how food is grown. Vegan and vegetarian both start with VEG, and both are diagonal.
Dietary Needs Vocabulary: 10 Words to Find
Words run across, down, and diagonally; 6 of the 10 read backwards. The longest word is Vegetarian, with 10 letters.
- Allergen: A food that can cause an allergic reaction in some people, like peanuts, shellfish or milk.
- Celiac: Celiac disease, in which eating gluten damages the gut, so people must avoid wheat, barley and rye.
- Halal: Food allowed under Islamic law, including meat prepared in a specific way.
- Keto: The ketogenic diet, very low in carbohydrates and high in fat.
- Kosher: Food that follows Jewish dietary law, which, for example, keeps meat and dairy apart.
- Lactose: The natural sugar in milk; lactose-intolerant people cannot digest it well.
- Organic: Food grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, following certified rules.
- Paleo: A diet based on foods thought to be eaten in the Stone Age: meat, fish, vegetables, fruit and nuts.
- Vegan: Eating no animal products at all: no meat, fish, eggs, dairy or honey.
- Vegetarian: Eating no meat or fish.
How to Solve the Dietary Needs Word Search
"Vegan" and "vegetarian" both start with VEG and both lie on diagonals. "Paleo" has the only P and reads backwards, like "celiac" and "organic". "Keto" and "kosher" both start with K.
Inclusive Menu Planning Activities
- Plan a party menu that works for a vegan, a celiac and a kosher guest.
- Read food labels and find the allergen warnings.
- Ask students the difference between an allergy and an intolerance.
Dietary Needs Word Search FAQ
Who is the Dietary Needs Word Search for?
Students aged 12 and up, hospitality staff and party hosts.
Which directions do the words run in?
Words run across, down, and diagonally; 6 of the 10 read backwards. 5 of them are diagonal.
Is there an answer key for the Dietary Needs Word Search?
Yes. Download it from the printable section above: it is a separate PDF with all 10 words marked. Online, each word is crossed off the list the moment you find it.
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