Serving Meals to Guests with Food Allergy

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In a restaurant or even in a normal party, the palatability of the food should be just a second priority; the main concern should be its nutritional value and content. Foods may satisfy hunger but it may also take lives if done without being concerned with other people’s lives. Guests with food allergy may become ill or even die because of eating foods they do not know. Even if you are not responsible for people’s lives, you should at least be concerned.

In a party, there are many ways to handle and satisfy the guests with allergy. Here are some:

Ask your guests if they have food allergy. If they do, ask them what particular foods that they have allergenic reactions. To adhere to this, recommend the foods that are not containing any allergens.
If a guest wants a certain kind of food but in your recipe it includes ingredients that may harm him or her, try to make a replacement on that harmful ingredient.
Get the ingredients that you are going to serve so that you can show it to the guests and make a confirmation whether he or she can eat it or not.
Learn to anticipate; search for substitutions before the party.
Talk about substitutions or replacements on ingredients. In this case, allergic persons may still enjoy the food with the other individuals who do not have food allergies.
Be knowledgeable about substitution or replacement. Here are few of it:
1. soy – pure olive oil
2. wheat for baking – any other flour
3. dairy and margarine – olive oil
You must also know that even organic or natural flavors may also contain allergens.
If you have doubt if your recipe has an ingredient that should not be taken by the guest, show it to him or her. So, he or she could double check.
You must also know that garnishes like food colorings may also contain ingredients, which can be harmful to the allergic guest.
Try to serve dishes made for allergic guest only.
If there are pre-prepared foods served in the party try to warn the allergic guest. Pre-prepared food should be off-limits to the one with food allergy.
Try to make foods that have fewer ingredients such as vegetable salads or mashed potatoes, which are also delicious and surely everyone can enjoy.
Try to know all the ingredients and do not assume that you already know. Be reminded that the more complex the ingredients are, the more chances they have allergens. So, stick to simple yet palatable ingredients.
In case of accidental intake of the food that has caused allergic reactions, the host must prepare an epinephrine.
Guests should also be asked to confess if they feel unwell so that they can immediately be taken cared of. As a host, you must ask the allergic guest whether he or she can take epinephrine or not.
Offer your allergic guest an antihistamine so that if he or she accidentally has eaten foods, which are not good for him or her, the reaction may be counteracted immediately.
In cooking foods for the allergic guest, try to use different knife so that the other foods will not contaminate the food that you are preparing for the allergic. Even a small amount of the harmful substance may still cause severe allergic reaction.
There are specialty shops that offer food for the allergic. You may have the ingredients purchased there and have it served to your dear guests.

It is true that it is not easy to handle a party with allergic guests. However, you should bear in mind that it is just a matter of careful planning, scheduling and preparation. Then on, all will be enjoyable and a lot fun.

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