Hosting the Holidays: Family, Fun, and Food Allergies

One crisp December night, at an annual family party, I gathered around a dessert table with a group of my cousins. We munched on cookies and chocolates as we laughed about the time Uncle Greg launched me and Kate ten feet in the air on an inner tube being towed by a boat. Without warning my cousin Conrad and his wife, Tesiah, disappeared out the door without saying goodbye. When I questioned my uncle, he said that Tesiah had an allergic reaction to one of the desserts.

The holiday season is a time of joy and cheer, but for over 12 million Americans the holiday season is a time for caution. Food allergies contribute to more than 50,000 emergency room visits per year. Are you hosting a party for someone with food allergies this year? Don’t run for the brown paper bag just yet; you can easily host a wonderful party for everyone including guests with food allergies.

Food Allergies 101

“Most people with food allergies know what foods they need to avoid; having a SURPRISE allergic reaction to a food is not common,” says Christie Benton, a Community Wellness and Nutrition Services Dietitian at Dixie Regional Medical Center. So breathe easy! Your guests will inform you about any allergies. But, as the host, it is helpful to understand what an allergy is and how it affects your guest.

There are eight foods that account for 90% of allergies: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnut, cashews), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. An allergic reaction is trigger by the immune system in response to a specific type of food. When the offending food is consumed the body releases chemicals, including histamines, which result in allergic symptoms—rash, hives, swelling, etc. Depending on the severity of the individuals’ allergy, symptoms can appear within minutes or hours.

Most allergy suffers will carry their own medication, but it is a good idea to have Benedryl on hand to quell symptoms if a guest has an allergic reaction. If a guest has a severe allergy, he should carry an EpiPen, a self-injectable device with medication that controls a severe allergic reaction. That being said allergies are not scary when everyone takes necessary precautions to avoid the offending food.

Communication

As a host, one of the easiest ways to avoid an allergic reaction is to communicate with the person who has the allergy. This person understands his allergy and will be the best resource for information. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. In fact, good questions to ask are:

• What is the severity of your allergy? Sometimes people can eat foods that are cooked because cooking breaks down the elements of the food that cause the reaction. Also some people have a mild reaction to foods, so they might not mind consuming small amounts. Food preparation as a host is determined by the severity of the allergy.

• What are good substitutions for the food you’re allergic to? Since you’re not the expert, it’s easier to ask the person who is. Your guest will have helpful tips and know food substations that will make your job easier.

• Will you bring a dish? If the stress of preparing food for someone with allergies is too much, then ask them to contribute. Most of the time the allergy sufferer won’t mind, and when he prepares his own food, he will have something safe to eat.

Communication should also extend to the other guest at your event. Inform every one about the food allergy so that the specific food can be avoided. When all your guests are aware they will be able to accommodate the special circumstance, especially if it’s a potluck party.

Food Preparation

The only way to avoid an allergic reaction is to avoid the offending food, but this doesn’t have to be a daunting process. There are many ways to accommodate food allergies with delicious and indulgent recipes. Benton assures that “a variety of non-wheat products and baking mixes are now commercially available; many of these are dairy-free, soy-free, and egg-free . . . . Milk substitutes are also available, like soy, rice, coconut, and almond milks . . . . Many allergen-free cookbooks are available, and great holiday meals can be prepared without wheat, milk, eggs, soy, nuts, etc. Indulging during the holidays is possible, even with food allergies.”

A Recipe for a Successful Hosting Experience

Avoid risky food types Again it depends on the type of allergy, but certain food choices are a trigger for specific allergens. For example if you want to have shellfish for a party and your guest is allergic, you might want to rethink the menu. Kylie Peterson, tree nut allergy and Utah mother of an allergy sufferer, also warns, “I'd be careful with chocolates, and some holiday drinks [egg nog]. Double check salad dressings as well, kind of weird, but there are things you may not think of in them. Remember mayonnaise and miracle whip have eggs in them. Also some baking/cooking sprays have flour in them which have wheat and gluten.”

Beware of Cross Contamination The most common way allergy sufferers have a reaction to food is through cross-contamination. So be mindful of the utensils and surfaces you’re using as you prepare the food. Also be mindful of fried foods. The grill and oil used for this process are especially prone to cross-contamination

Go Simple Use simple recipes, the fewer the ingredients the better. If the guest wants to know what’s in the dish it is much easier to recount the ingredients of a simple recipe.

Check Food Labels Check the ingredient list on food labels for anything that might cause a reaction. Benton explains, “If the food [allergy] is one of the ‘Big 8’ food allergens (cow’s milk, chicken egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat), these are declared on the labels of commercially prepared items—this is law.”

Happy Hosting

If you happen to be hosting a food allergy sufferer this holiday season, don’t sweat it. Instead of thinking about what you cannot make, think about all the new recipes you can try. The holidays are all about friends, family, and food, so remember to have fun! Happy Holidays and Happy Hosting!

Helpful Resources

Utah Food Allergy Network

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network

The Kid-Friendly Food Allergy Cookbook: More Than 150 Recipes That Are Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Egg-Free, and Low in Sugar