---
title: How to Collect Guest Meal Choices and Dietary Restrictions
description: Collect and manage guests' meal choices and dietary restrictions using custom checkout fields and messaging campaigns to set deadlines.
---

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# How to Collect Guest Meal Choices and Dietary Restrictions

## Use custom fields to ask each guest what they'd like to eat and flag any dietary needs before your event.

If you're serving a plated meal or need to plan for allergies, you can collect this information right at checkout using Custom Fields. Setting it up at the Ticket Holder level means every guest answers individually, even if one person purchased the whole table.

### **How to Set Up Meal Choice and Dietary Restriction Fields**

1. From your **Fundraiser Builder**, navigate to **Custom Fields** in the sidebar.
2. Click **Custom Field List**, then select **Add Custom Field**.
3. For meal choice: 
     1. Enter a **Field Title** like "Which meal choice would you like?"
     2. Set the **Field Response Type** to **Radio Buttons,** then list your meal options.
4. For dietary restrictions: 
     1. Create a second custom field with a Field Title like "Do you have any allergies or dietary restrictions?"
     2. Set the **Field Response Type** to **Text** so guests can enter in multiple options.
5. For both fields, choose **Event Tickets** as the fundraising driver.
6. Choose whether each field is **required**.
7. Set both fields to apply to the **Ticket Holder**, so each guest can provide a response.
8. Choose whether the fields show in your **Check-In Tool**. We recommend enabling this so your team can view or edit responses on event day.
9. Click **Save**, then **Publish Changes**.

---

### **Frequently Asked Questions**

#### **Where can I see responses from attendees?**

Custom field responses for ticket holders appears in the All Transactions Export \> Event Ticket Sheet. You can also see responses on the attendee in the Check-In Tool.

#### **Can attendees change their meal choice or dietary restriction responses?**

Yes. Ticket purchasers can update selections on behalf of their ticket holders from **My Tickets** in their account.

If the purchaser has entered an email for their guests, then the guests can update their responses from **My Tickets** in their account. Your organization can edit responses from the **Check-In Tool**.

#### **Will I be notified if a guest changes their answer?**

No. There is currently no way to see when a guest changes a response after submitting it. For now, we recommend pulling the list of responses from your All Transactions Sheet close to your event.

#### **Can I set a deadline for guests to make their selections?**

No. There is currently no way to set a cutoff date for when meal choice or dietary restriction fields can be completed or changed, but this is something we are exploring for the future.

For now, we recommend setting an internal deadline and communicating that to attendees via your communication leading up to the event.

---

#### **Did this answer your question?**

If not, please reach out to our Product Engagement Team via the blue chat icon or email support@trellis.org.

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