Summer is a great time to get together with family and friends for outdoor gatherings. Yet it is not always easy when you have a mixed group of people with particular food sensitivities. Here are a few suggestions that can help you accommodate the regular foodies and also consider those who cannot have gluten or other foods they are sensitive to.
Smorgasboard Style Allows Guests to Choose.
First of all, find out about any food sensitivities your guests may have when you are making your invitations. Some family and friends you may already be aware of, but always ask, just in case. It is a kind thing to mark which items are gluten-free or not. Sometimes, you can provide a list of ingredients for those with additional food sensitivities.
If someone has a food allergy to things like peanuts, sesame, or shellfish, it is a good idea to exclude any of these items entirely.
It is not as hard as it looks when it comes to feeding gluten-free guests. Most celiacs know how to pick and choose foods that are ok for them. However, when food items appear similar, it is a good idea to put up a neat little sign to signify what is actually gluten-free. Another idea is to have a menu posted with a platter number so people can readily see what is safe for them. For instance, crackers and bread items may look similar. There are so many good gluten-free items available these days; you need to specify which are which to avoid anyone choosing wrongly just by looking.
Another way to differentiate is to have different sets of serving bowls and plates. For instance, everything on the glass plates could be gluten-free, but everything else is not. It is also a considerate idea to keep packages with ingredient labels where they can be referred to if needed. Unfortunately, many who are gluten-sensitive are also sensitive to other common ingredients. Here is a list of some things that you might not consider.
- Are there eggs in the recipe? Some people are very allergic to eggs. Potato salad can be made with or without eggs.
- Are there sesame seeds?
- What about dairy? Alternatives are available.
- Are nightshade plant flours included in the baked goods? Potatoes are a nightshade plant.
- The list can go on, but don’t fret; it becomes less difficult once you know what people can eat.
Planning Your Menu Ahead is Always Good
Planning your menu ahead of time and taking just a few precautions means that you and your guests can enjoy the meal without a lot of gluten-related questions. It gets really hard being centered out. But it is equally as difficult explaining things at the party. Best to deal with this ahead of time. After all, you wouldn’t want your favorite Aunt Ellen to be afraid to eat anything!
Another party strategy to avoid you doing all the work is to enlist the help of other family and friends. Especially those who have food sensitivities will be happy when asked to bring an item or two that they can eat, and so can everyone else. This prevents Aunt Ellen from just bringing her own sandwich and feeling awful because she can’t eat anything else. We all love foods prepared by someone else, and it is fun to taste new dishes and feel included.
If you are preparing food yourself, make sure to follow safety guidelines. Use only clean utensils to prepare food for gluten-free guests. Never go from wheat prep. to gluten-free prep. in order to avoid cross-contamination. There is more information in this blog post called, Eating Out Gluten-Free.
Like traditional potluck meals, cooks love to bring and show off their best recipes. Cheese and fruit platters with gluten-free crackers mean everyone can enjoy them.
Books to Enjoy!
- Serving People with Food Allergies: Kitchen Management and Menu Creation, by Joel J. Schaefer
- Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You’ll Make Over and Over Again, by Ina Garten
- The Taste of Country Cooking: The 30th Anniversary Edition of a Great Southern Classic Cookbook, by Edna Lewis
- The Made-from-Scratch Life: Simple Ways to Create a Natural Home, by Melissa K. Norris
- Gluten-Free, You Can Do It, by Trina Astor-Stewart – Blend your own gluten-free flours from scratch, make delicious bread, and enjoy life.
for mentions of products, people, places, or businesses mentioned in this post. Image ©Trina, Eggs+Mix+Water=Bread
