Holiday Meals and Food Allergies/Special Diets

Posted by Carolyn Martin on December 6th, 2018 Posted in: Health Literacy
Tags: dietary restrictions, diets, food allergies

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Are you planning your holiday menus for when your friends and families are gathering during the holiday season?  It can be fun to plan what foods and beverages to serve until Cousin Bill states he is no longer eating gluten, your best friend is lactose intolerant, your boss is vegan, Grandma is diabetic, and your nephew announces he is bringing his roommate who has specific religious dietary restrictions. Suddenly menu planning becomes a challenge that seem insurmountable.

Providing a fun festive gathering includes being a hospitable one as well. Letting your guests know they are welcome and that you are considerate of their dietary needs not only creates a place of hospitality but one of safety. While some of these diets are voluntary and may be a lifestyle choice, others may be for cultural or religious reasons and even a matter of life or death. Here are some suggestions to help you accommodate your guests:

• Educate yourself about dietary restrictions and ask your guests for information and suggestions
• List the ingredients of each dish and save the labels of purchased items so your guests can refer to them to know if an item is safe to eat
• Stick to simple basic recipes such as roasting a vegetable with only minimal salt and pepper, the more ingredients a recipe includes the fewer can enjoy it
• Keep extra flavorings and ingredients on the side such as candied pecans for sweet potatoes in a separate condiment bowl
• Wash your hands, cooking utensils and surfaces frequently while preparing food so as to not cross contaminate
• Consider a meal where guests ‘build their own’ meal such as a taco bar where options are available

Learn more about food allergies at the FDA and MedlinePlus

Tips for in the kitchen are from FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education)

Information about food and culture are available from EthnoMed and  Culture Care Connection

For information about a variety of diets and dietary restrictions, visit the MedlinePlus food and nutrition page