Catholicism: there are holy days and periods on which devout Catholics will fast. For example, meat is not allowed on Fridays during Lent. And fasting is expected on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday.

Eastern Orthodox Christians: if practicing, there will be weekly fasts that require abstention from alcohol, eggs, dairy, fish, meat, and olive oil. There are other fasts that are longer and are more exclusionary in their food choices.

Seventh-Day Adventists are what’s called lacto-ovo-vegetarians. This means they avoid alcohol, fish, poultry, and other meat, but will eat some animal products, such as eggs and dairy.

Islam: Halal is what is considered permissible under traditional Islamic law and is the guide under which we understand dietary restrictions. There are a number of restrictions, but in general, foods that are kosher are also acceptable under Halal. Meat should be slaughtered under Halal guidance and pork is forbidden. Consumption of alcohol is also prohibited.

Hindus generally avoid foods they believe hinder spiritual development—for example, garlic and onion and other foods that stimulate the senses. While eating meat is not prohibited, many Hindus avoid it. Eating beef itself is prohibited (cows are sacred), but dairy products from cows are acceptable and considered spiritually pure. Many Hindus do not eat eggs, fish, meat, or poultry, but do eat dairy. For this, they are considered lacto-vegetarians.

Jainism practices non-violence and has strict rules for the protection of all life. For this reason, they do not eat eggs, fish, meat or poultry. They also avoid most root vegetables because the entire plant is usually killed when harvesting the root. Honey is also prohibited because it is eating off the labor of honeybees and the collection of honey often results in violence to the bees.

Sikhism: Although dietary practices vary from person to person, most eat meat as long as it is not prepared according to Kosher or Halal methods. Alcohol is prohibited

Rastafarians have dietary restrictions relating to clean eating. Their rule is l-tal, which means eating natural and clean. Lightly cooked meals are okay, and fish is permitted as long as it is less than 12 inches long. Pork, scavengers, and shellfish are prohibited, although meat, in general, is not a common food. Salt, alcohol, milk, and coffee are also on the restricted list.

Judeism:  The religious dietary restrictions guide regarding what can be consumed by practicing Jews is called Kosher. Foods labeled kosher are prepared under strict guidelines to the entire supply chain, from harvest and slaughter to preparation, packaging, and food combinations. Pork and shellfish are famously not allowed. Religious holidays have additional restrictions and also food traditions.

Buddhists’ dietary practices are varied. While many Buddhists are vegetarian, it is inaccurate to assume all are. Whether a Buddhist is vegetarian depends on individual choice, the sect to which they belong, or the country they’re from. For example, vegetarianism is rare among Tibetan and Japanese Buddhists. Some may abstain from meat and eat only fish

Know your crew: Whenever you arrive on a vessel as a chief cook, find out who has which restrictions. Ask the chief cook that you replace as much details as possible. Take notes to avoid misunderstandings.

Stay up to date: whenever a new crew member arrives on board, find out instantly about his food restrictions  and adjust your notes accordingly.

Find common ground: when you have to deal with multiple religions and/or cultures, it makes sense to search for common ground to limit the quantity of different dishes to be prepared.

Diversify: even when there is a big common ground,  make sure everyone has at least one moment every week where he can totally feel at home. Make every day something very typical for at least one person or cultural group

Stay in touch: get feedback, talk to your crew and adjust your offering if necessary