Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

If you are having company, say a bbq or dinner party, and one person attending has food allergies, do you make sure that person can eat every single thing that you serve? Or do you just make sure that there is enough for them to eat, and serve a few things that they may be allergic to and make sure they know not to eat it?

I generally try to make sure the person with allergies can eat everything I serve, but sometimes there are recipes that I really want to make that someone can't eat. But someone got a little pissy with me once, so just wondering what others do.

Re: Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

It would depend on the nature of the allergy and the threat it bore to the person.

I would not make satay at party with a person who had a peanut allergy at all.

but I would make caponata at a party with a friend who had an eggplant allergy (hives only).

as long as there is some variety for all and no danger posed by the food, I would do whatever I wanted.

Re: Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

I think it's crazy for someone to get pissy with you because you didn't make every.single.thing something they could eat. I think as long as they have enough to eat (I would say a main dish & 1 or 2 sides, and an appetizer), that is fine. DS has a LOT of food allergies, but not the severe kind. Because I'm BFing him my diet is also severely restricted because of his allergies. So I think it's very nice of you to be so accommodating to this person.

I've been to family functions on DH's side and had only bruschetta & crostini to eat for an entire day!!! I've been to DH's cousin's house twice now for a party and she had NOTHING for me to eat, and this was upstate (and her granddaughter has allergies). Luckily I brought a banana, but I only stayed for 1.5 hours because with BFing you have to eat, but the second time I learned my lesson and brought food. Now any time I go somewhere I eat before I go or bring food along with me, because not everyone is as accommodating (and caring) as you.

Re: Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

If I know of a food issue someone has I generally try to work around it. With that said, there still may be 1 thing they can not eat. Sometime its unrealistic to think they can eat everything... take my inlaws, when they all come over I have to deal with this:
DH - diverticulosis
MIL - diabetic
BIL's GF - lactose intolerant
BIL - no veggies, plain jane, very picky, nothing remotely healthy
FIL - no veggies, nothing green only peas, nothing fancy, nothing with too many ingrededients...

its impossible for everyone to eat everything at a family dinner! haha

DH has diverticulosis and can't eat seeds or nuts or any veggie/fruite/marinade with them. He does not expect people to cater to him, he just eats what he can. Altho, some friends and our families generally keep it in mind!

Re: Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

No reason for them to be able to eat everything as long as there's a good amount of things they can eat. I have many food allergies and would never expect an entire spread to be built around my issues. As long as I am aware of which things I can't eat, I am good.

Re: Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

I am allergic to shellfish and the reaction is anaphylaxis. I always ask what is in things before I eat them. I've seen many dishes with baby shrimp in them that you wouldn't expect. I've had accidental exposure from folks not telling me they cooked the veggies in the same pan as the baked clams etc The last event I went to, I was disappointed that I really couldn't eat ANYTHING because nearly every dish had shellfish of some sort in it. But I managed, the deserts were wonderful LOL. I don't expect to be catered to.

If you choose to make a dish with a person's allergen in it along with other dishes, I would just be cautious of cross contamination so they don't have accidental exposure.

Re: Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

Generally,if I know ahead of time about an allergy or picky eater, I always try to make sure that I have at least one part of each course I'm serving that they can/will eat.

Re: Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

Depends on the allergy. Certain things are in a lot of foods so it is harder to not serve them like milk (which my DD has). I would make sure I had several things that they could eat even if I had some things with dairy that I was serving. But other things like shellfish allergies or peanut allergies those are dangerous -so I try to avoid serving them at all b/c of cross contamination. Also for example, if I know someone is allergic to strawberries - that is easy to not serve. I think it really depends on the allergy - and how many people you are having to.

Re: Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

Re: Food allergies and entertaining- WWYD?

If you're referring to something like a glutten allergy, I would have a few things for them to eat. Something like a nut allergy is a completely different ballpark IMO.