Halal-help!

middle class according to another thread, none of us are middle class
Lots of us aren't English

Just no meat or geletine.
Meat and meat products are fine (not from swine) as long as they are killed by the halaal method.
Cheese should be halaal

I am not saying Muslims are vegetarian, of course not. Just no meat or geletine......It is easy to so. No jelly sweets like Haribo. Anything needing geletine. So chocolate is fine .

I think go for subtle and don't make too much fuss really.

From what I have read, food divides up into "halal" (acceptable to Muslim dietary laws) and "haram" (unacceptable) so it is not a case of looking out for specifically "halal meat".
M0nica, , I appreciate what you say but if anybody, 4 or 40 is of a religion or cultural background which precludes a food type ("haram") I will respect that just as I would expect his primary school to respect ethnic differences.
So while we and his Scottish Greatgranny may tuck into what pleases us, I would not dream of giving him sausages, burgers, jelly and ice cream -all of which my DGSs would have loved, if that is not suitable. To me this 4 year old's needs must be taken into consideration, just as if he suffered from coeliac disease, or was diabetic, so I don't actually agree with your final sentence that you would "expect a 4 year old to eat the same food as adults and not require separate catering".
What I am realising, though, is how European, white, middle class, dare I say "English" the majority of members must be for nobody to say what they give their 4year old Muslim/mixed race/whatever DGC to eat!
(I realise I expressed myself badly, perhaps making it look as if DH's cousin as well as the little boy was Muslim, but he is the son of her late husband's daughter from his first marriage, also Scottish, but married to a N African. Cousin is on half term "Granny duty" and the little boy and his family live just 12 or so miles away from us, so a good opportunity for DH and cousin to meet up. )
Sorry about that.

The only vegetable mine refused yesterday was parsnips (a bit strong-tasting).
Otherwise they ate a variety of veggies. And if the veggies are in soup he might not realise
Just be careful of using meat stock or cubes that are not halal.

It is also how any animal is slaughtered.

The main thing to absolutely avoid in any form is PORK or anything derived from the pig. I have otherwise quite happily served Muslim visitors beef lamb and chicken. Muslims are not usually vegetarian. They are strict about how the animal has been slaughtered, but PORK in any form is totally forbidden as it is also for Jews.

I know Jewish people have dietary restrictions involving shell fish. I do not think this applies to Muslims, but probably best avoided.

I would expect a 4 year old to eat the same food as adults and not require separate catering.

My 2 year old DGS would both love the soup option too. And they usually want to eat what the grown ups have anyway.

I was thinking that a four year old would probably be fine with soup, too. I used to give it to my GDs when they were that age and they loved it!

No sweeties either, or be very careful if you do buy any for him as many contain gelatine.

My DGDs both love soup; he may surprise you and ask for some

Just stick to vegetarian and you should be fine. To keep it simple salad, humus, good bread and veggie samosas. Fruit for pudding.Nothing with geletine..or animal fat..... Sounds delicious.

Trouble is with going down the halal route it depends how you feel about it. Stick safe with vegetarian.

Thank you all,but it is just the little fella who needs Halal food so I am not going to go getting Halal meat etc for a soup and sandwich lunch.( Cousin is from Ayrshire!!)

Yep our Tesco has an entire section devoted to Halal chicken and meat ...

Any really large supermarket will probably have halal meat on sale.

A lot of meat in supermarkets nowadays is actually Halal so you could go in and ask.

I make a pasta sauce with red peppers and onions, because husband won't eat tomatoes. Cook slowly in a little oil then liquidise.
You can get vegetarian cheese. Youre right about Jelly as the gelatine is usually an animal biproduct.
Most Muslims will eat kosher meat, if there's a kosher butcher where you live. And some supermarkets sell kosher products.