Serving Holiday Guests with Food Allergies
Tips for the Hostess for Food Allergic and Food Intolerant Guests
Allergic ingredients are easier to find in the new labeling systems food manufacturers have created; however there are frequently "sneaky" ingredients that may not be spelled out in black and white on the back of the boxes.
Learning how to cook for a food-allergic individual can take years. Here are a few simple ways to make a holiday meal go smoothly.
Ask the Individual About His Allergies
Some food allergies and food intolerances are severe, and can cause adverse reactions in even the smallest doses.
- Get a list of ingredients to avoid from the food-allergic individual
- Ask the person to provide his own substitutions, or to bring a dish to share that he is certain he can eat.
- Talk about easy substitutions for key ingredients. For example - a wheat or gluten intolerant individual will probably be able to use gravy made from cornstarch, and the rest of the family will never know the difference.
Plan Ahead to Make More from Scratch
The longer and more complex the ingredient list is, the more likely there is an allergen hidden in the jargon. Monosodium Glutamate (also known as MSG) is made of corn, but corn is not usually listed in the allergy information at the bottom of many labels containing this ingredient.
Many convenient pre-prepared foods, such as frozen pies, boxed stuffing and ready-to-bake rolls are likely to be off limits for a food-allergic person.
Even if you choose to use some pre-prepared foods, it's best to try to make a few things that the person can eat along with everyone else. Mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables and roasted turkey are a few examples of items with fewer ingredients, but plenty of flavor!
Read Ingredients on EVERYTHING - Don't Assume You Know
Soy sauce contains wheat, white sugar can contain corn, and anything that reads "natural flavors" usually contains soy ingredients, including most forms of chocolate! Even if it's organic, and from the natural foods store, it can still include allergens.
If you have doubts about anything in your recipes, be sure to save the ingredient labels for the allergic person to double check before he sits down to eat.
Learn a few Simple Substitutions
Pure heart-healthy olive oil can replace soy, dairy and margarine in many recipes. If you want to try wheat-free baking, there are a number of flour substitutions available.
Family favorite recipes can often be revised with a simple change of ingredients. Frequently these substitutions can be found with an online search. Be sure to review all of your recipes far enough in advance that you can research ingredients and purchase them before the big day.
Provide a Few Alternatives
If the whole family is counting on Pumpkin Brownies, and your guest is allergic to the ingredients, why not find him something small of his own to enjoy with his coffee?
Allow your guests to apply their own seasonings for extra flexibility. Salad dressing can be swapped at the last moment for oil and vinegar, the whipped cream could be skipped and allow the person to enjoy your homemade dessert.
It does not have to be nerve wracking to serve a guest with food allergies. Frequently, the simplest foods solve the problem - steamed vegetables and oven-roasted meats can't go wrong!
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