Entertaining Guests with Dietary Restrictions

Food allergies are rampant in a family that is very near and dear to me, so in response to their suggestion, I have decided to write a post dedicated to entertaining guests with dietary restrictions, with particular focus on allergies.

1. Rule number one is to know the restrictions.  With these particular friends, off limits foods include gluten, soy, nuts, seafood, dairy, and more.  It is vitally important to thoroughly understand what is and is not safe.  Nothing ruins a party like a medical emergency!  Once you know what is okay to eat, then you can proceed with planning a menu.  It's easier to start with whole foods when planning menus for those with dietary restrictions than to look at processed foods, as it is important to know what is in the food.  This is a good approach in general, but more so when dealing with allergies.  I was able to make a delicious dairy free butternut squash soup that was a major hit with the kids and adults alike.

2. It is also extremely important to read labels.  There are some foods you might think are safe, but there are plenty of these allergens that are hidden. For example, a lot of vegetable oil contains soy, so anything made with vegetable oil must be looked at closely.  I recently went to a Tex Mex night hosted by these friends and when I went to the store to get a few items, I found that most brands of tortilla chips contain soybean oil.  So for anything that is processed (anything that has a label with nutrition facts), check those ingredients!

3. Know what substitutions you can use.  Although they are a bit different and more expensive, those gluten free, soy free, and dairy free options are out there.  Plenty of things can be found an a regular grocery store, like rice milk, but some items require a trip to a specialty store.  Knowing what can be used in place of an off limits food is very helpful and can greatly expand what foods you are able to make.

4. When it doubt, ask.  It is far better to be safe than sorry, and your friends will appreciate this.  Also, people with dietary restrictions know very well what substitutions work and what doesn't work, so if you are stuck for ideas or if you run into a snag in a recipe, they probably know a solution, or at least have a good suggestion.

As food allergies gain more public attention, there are more recipes and products out there for people with dietary restrictions, so take advantage of their availability.  There are plenty of resources at your disposal, thanks to the visibility of gluten free eating in particular.  Have fun taking on the challenge!  Your friends will enjoy relaxing and knowing they are able to eat the lovely things you have prepared for them.

Safe snacking,
Jillian