Holiday Hosting + Food Allergies? We got you.
Our top tips for allergy-friendly cooking at Christmas
It’s showtime!
Your in-laws arrive in three days. You love their company, but you know juuuuust how particular they are about what they eat, when they eat, and who they eat with.
Your son’s food allergy results just came back - and it turns out that gluten and strawberries are no-go's.
Your husband has been complaining about the belly aches he gets after eating dairy.
Oh, and your sister-in-law just posted on IG that she’s vegan-curious.
Uffda.
Preparing for the holidays is tough enough. Between shopping, prepping, gift wrapping, and party planning, it’s enough to make Frosty lose his cool ❄️
But then ya add food sensitivities and dietary restrictions into the mix?!
Now, before we whip ourselves into frenzy, let’s keep this one crucial thing in mind …
Pro tip: You need to care for your guests before you entertain them!
Sweet friend, you could throw the most beautiful party in the world, but if you haven’t met the true needs of the people around you, you will have missed the entire point of gathering people together.
Many of you struggle with food allergies yourself, and there's some good news! You can grab your dose of Uncommon Encouragement in Gluten Freedom! For those of you who don’t have strict dietary restrictions, here’s a little taste of what it’s usually like …
When someone with food allergies gets invited to a party, it can bring up a LOT of feels. Often, we can feel ignored, like we’re an inconvenience, or worse, we can feel physically ill because of something we consumed at a party. Let me tell ya, it’s the absolute pits!
So let’s start here when you're planning your gathering: Put yourself in the shoes of anyone attending your party.
How can you ensure that your guests with food sensitivities feel safe, secure, included, and cared for? Let’s get into it.
How do you create an allergy-friendly menu?
Step one: ASK! Ya gotta ask your party guests about their food allergies in advance.
You’ll never know how to serve the needs of your guests if you don’t ask about them ahead of time. When you check with your people, tell any guests with allergies that hosting them and accommodating their needs is a JOY - not an inconvenience.
So what questions do you ask to keep someone with food allergies safe?
Grab your downloadable “Holiday Hosting + Food Allergies | Script Starters” to guide you through those tough conversations.
Step two: Keep food safe for all guests!
Keep in mind that the severity of your guests’ allergies will vary, but here are some basic best practices for safe food prep:
When you have a guest with food allergies, prepare their food first! You’ll need to finish cooking everything they’ll eat before you move on to prepare other dishes.
Don’t use any items that are prone to cross-contamination. You should avoid using anything that has a porous surface or is hard to fully clean. That’s where food residue can linger - and then inadvertently show up in your guest’s food! This includes cast iron, or even things like waffle makers and griddles, too.
When you’re done preparing for your guests with food allergies, clean EVERYTHING! Wash and sanitize cutting boards, utensils, dishes, countertops, cooking surfaces - we’re talkin’ the whole enchilada!
Now that your delicious dishes are prepared and ready to go, let’s make sure they’re served safely, too.
You’ll need to clearly label all food items, and save the packaging for any ingredients. In other words, keep all boxes, wrappers, and ingredient lists - it’ll give you and your guests peace of mind.
You may want to designate a separate area to serve allergy-friendly dishes. Talk about this with your guests, and make sure it’s not so far out of the way that it’s an inconvenience for them!
Make sure that all of your guests know not to use the same serving utensils for different dishes. Again, it’s all about limiting cross-contamination!
Step three: Stay on budget!
If you’re worried you’ll burst your budget on extra menu ingredients, keep your most essential party-planning tools handy (like your budget and element boards) so you can stay on track.
Need help creating your party-planning tools? Get in on Host + Gather, the online party-planning master class!
You can jump to the lessons on budgeting and serving food before your Christmas party guests arrive. Then, once the holiday craziness is over, you can come back and learn the whole step-by-step party-planning process, The Uncommon Way. You’ll get lifetime access to the course, so Host + Gather will always be here for you.
Pro tip: Remember to snag your Script Starters for free!
Can gluten-free people eat … ?
Because of my experiences with gluten intolerance, I can offer you some firsthand pointers on how to keep your gluten-free guests safe and comfy.
Our friends at Celiac.org have put together some helpful info for people with gluten allergies or celiac disease. You can dive into their resources on their website!
Here’s a snapshot of what to consider:
Most commonly, you’ll find gluten in wheat, barley, and rye.
In the average kitchen, gluten is often found in foods like bread, crackers, cereal, and pasta.
Remember that gluten can also hide in some unexpected foods like caramel, sauces, dressings, and seasonings. Even licorice is known to include gluten!
One more curve ball? Some foods, like oats or fried foods, may not contain gluten. However - they are often prepared with other foods that do contain gluten, so cross-contamination could be a concern.
The best way to know if your gluten-allergic guest can eat your dish? Ask! Use your “Holiday Hosting + Food Allergies | Script Starters” download to ask the questions you need upfront. It’ll help ease your stress as a host - and it’ll help make sure you keep your guests safe and healthy.
Pro tip: Pre-packaged food? Life saver!
If you have a guest with a severe allergy - or someone who would be extra sensitive to cross-contaminants, pre-packaged foods may just be your best bet. Here are our favorites:
These foods are prepared in dedicated kitchens and have a much higher chance of giving your guest a safe food option. But again, be sure to check with your guest to know how you can serve their specific needs!
What gluten-free recipes will please a crowd?
Oh, you know your girl’s got your back on this one! Here are a few gluten-free go-to's!
My favorite soup recipe for holiday gatherings is this Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup (Gluten Free + Dairy Free)
Prepping a salad?! Check out my favorite homemade vinaigrette dressing! I drizzle this on a kale salad with Craisins, sliced almonds, and quinoa - YUM!
And then for dessert, try this classic Gluten Free Vanilla Bundt Cake!
Alright, there you have it! Your guide to allergy-friendly holiday hosting!
Now tell us - what has your experience been when you host guests with food allergies? What’s your favorite gluten-free recipe? How has someone shown you the gluten-free love you needed?
Can’t wait to hear from you!
All our love to you and yours,
The Uncommon Team
Kommentare