The holiday season is now upon us! Along with shopping for gifts and pulling out your ski gear, this means holiday gatherings throughout the upcoming month and seeing family and friends. So often these events revolve around food which can be stressful for those of us living with food allergies. Here are some of the guidelines I’ve put in place for myself to help ease any uncertainty I may have in these environments and allow me to enjoy the event:
- Find out what type of event it is in advance. I find cocktail parties much easier to navigate as there is less focus on the food and whether or not you are eating. I try to speak to the organizer in advance and, if the event is at a restaurant, I will often contact the restaurant directly. I often end up not eating at all at these events, but it’s helpful to know if any of my most severe allergens are being passed around.
- Offer to host a dinner yourself! While this can be a lot of work, it will ensure that you know exactly what is being served and what you can eat safely.
- Get involved with the planning. For work parties, I have often been on the organizing committee and involved in the venue and menu selection. The ability to influence the decision on where the event is held and what will be served is key and you can also be an advocate for other people with dietary restrictions to ensure others are comfortable asking questions about the menu.
- Bring your own meal. If it is a gathering revolving around a meal (ie. a sit-down lunch or dinner), speak to the host/hostess about bringing your own food. I typically try to match my food to follow the same theme as what they are planning to serve and bring it in my own container that I can easily heat up.
- Eat first! If you are going to an event where food will be passed around, be sure to eat beforehand so that you don’t end up hungry by the end of the night.
- Be first in line. While it may appear rude to some, I have always felt more comfortable dishing my food early in the serving process when the serving utensils are not being passed between dishes and there is a smaller chance of cross-contamination.
- If you are attending a lunch or dinner, offer to bring a dish that is substantial enough that you can just eat that, if necessary. Also bring along a set of dedicated serving utensils to ensure that they are clean and not being passed between dishes.
If you feel unsure about something, don’t feel the need to eat or drink it. Those of us who are hyper aware of cross-contamination will know that guests or servers often pass around different food trays, mix & match serving utensils and even touch drink glasses without thinking about what they’ve previously touched or eaten.
The holidays and all the events associated with them can be a real time of stress and anxiety for those of us with food allergies, but if you can plan ahead, communicate well, and are comfortable with the fact that not all gatherings will revolve around the food, then you can enjoy them safely!
– Alison M.
Tags: Alison M., Anxiety, Attitude, communication, Food and Drink, Holidays, Party, Preparation, workplace