Wristband for food group

[samialabed]

"X Color for Vegetarians, Vegans, Halal" As attendee I really dislike this, I don't like being labelled; other attendee see that label and identify me by it.

Preferably all food is labeled and volunteers are aware of what is what, attendees should be given the benefit of the doubt and they should have the choice in what they want to eat; even meat eater would like some vegetable you know.

[wilhelmklopp]

Just to expand on this:

• Physical Identification
  • Ensure that the names on IDs match the name on the tickets.
  • Security to deal with those that don't.
  • Ensure different colored wristbands / lanyards to cover the following:
  • General attendees
  • Sponsors
  • Volunteers
  • DBS-Checked Volunteers
  • Vegetarians, Vegans, Halal
  • Lactose Intolerant, Gluten-Free and allergies.
  • Under-18s
  • They must be worn IMMEDIATELY and not taken off until leaving the event

Doing all of these is together is pretty hard.

An Under-18 vegan, halal, lactose intolerant sponsor is gonna need a looooot of wristbands.

Not trying to at all say that wristbands don't work, but if this guide mentions them it should either:

• lay out a pretty good structure of how to do them

OR

• say that wristbands are very hackathon specific and that hackathon organisers need to independently think about how to do them best

[kpchi]

@SamiAlabed what if I used wristbands solely for identification as a general attendee vs U18? Another point is that giving the benefit of doubt is fine - but what about the effort gone into ordering food specially for those with dietary concerns? Buffer ordering isn't necessarily going to hack it.

Also, the onus will be on us organisers to ordering balanced meals that contain vegetables. That alone should combat the "we don't have veg so lets steal the vegetarian's food" issue.

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@xoneco Thats a good reminder that no one system is going to cover it all. Would it then be better to simply state:

• Use the identification system you have developed. For more info see here

Where here is a link to the identification system topic in Pre-Event Logistics Section?

[maisieccino]

I'm not so keen on being labelled with a different wristband (and had comments all weekend about it), I know at least it means that I can get the correct food, rather than at a hackathon that shall remain unnamed, where the vegetarian option was just salad leaves in a bread bun.

[samialabed]

@kpchi if you have a very specific dietary requirement; like diabetic for example then you order those and keep them away until someone ask for them, that's how it is dealt with in conferences and professional events. you can email them and let them know in advance that they can do that.

Wristbands for u18 si important for safeguarding yes.

@mbellgb the salad in a bun isn't the the wristband fault more like vegetarian option wasn't thought of, no wristband will fix that.

[kpchi]

@mbellgb Not sure what your point is. Y/N to the identification system or?

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@SamiAlabed for specific requirements such as those (Diabetic, Peanut Allergy etc) definitely yes. But for food, the only worry will be the buffer not being enough for vegan/vegetarian.

That said, this is the proposed change I have for your part 1) Wristbands for U-18s to be added to Pre-Event/Logistics under the Identification System Section

2)

Current On-Day/Food.md

• Wristband Identification:
  • X Color for Vegetarians, Vegans, Halal, Kosher
  • Various other colors or one color for Lactose Intolerant, Gluten-Free and allergies.

Proposed Changes to On-Day/Food.md

• Where food for attendees with very specific dietary requirements is kept until attendees ask for them.
• Whether or not attendees can grab either non-veg or veg meals. (Note this assumes you have purchased a buffer % of vegetarian / vegan meals)

[samialabed]

For food that kept specifically for an attendee: I would either provide an example of very specific dietary requirement, or (need phrasing) if someone required an outliner food dietary (e.g. if you only have 1 halal in your event).

As for the buffer % of vegetarian; it is always good to have more vegetarian food than less, as I have messaged you, meat eater are ok with eating vegetarian food as well. Also it should be noted that vegetarian food isn't just grass, there are really good vegetarian/meat free food out there and organisers should order stuff that would fill a person not only tick a box.

[maisieccino]

@kpchi I'm personally for wristbands, but if a better solution exists I'll be happy with that as well.

Definitely agree with @SamiAlabed though, more vegetarian food is better than less, and gives you an excuse to experiment with the catering rather than the standard burritos/pizza/etc. :+1:

[kpchi]

Proposed Changes to On-Day/Food.md

• Where food for attendees with very specific dietary requirements is kept until attendees ask for them.
  • For example if the attendee is diabetic or is the only one with halal/kosher/other food requirement, keep their food away from distribution until requested for.
• Whether or not attendees can grab either non-veg or veg meals. (Note this assumes you have purchased a buffer % of vegetarian / vegan meals)

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@SamiAlabed, @mbellgb I'll add in a part to Pre-Event/Food.md about purchasing buffer amounts. The comment about filling food that doesn't just tick a box will be used as well - its a fair comment.

Just remember during discussion that the guide is covers before the event in Pre-Event and during the event in On-Day Execution. The whole point is that you don't overwhelm the reader immediately.

[maisieccino]

Awesome stuff, and yeah, the second point might be better off in On-Day Execution. Your call :)

[samialabed]

Nice one, will be closing this :)