Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and other holiday events should be a time of celebration and joy for you, your family and your friends. But those with children who have food allergies also see the holiday season as a time when the possibility of exposure to food allergens, and potentially dangerous reactions, are more likely. But you should know that you don't have to stop holiday fun! The following tips can help you, your child or holiday guests who may be at risk have an enjoyable, allergen free holiday.

Hosting A Holiday Gathering

If you are the host of the party, friends and family will often ask to bring something to share with the group. Be ready with simple and safe suggestions. Be sure to let every guest know that your child has dietary restrictions, so that there are no surprises. You could ask that instead of food, they could bring holiday themed plates, cups, napkins or safe beverages. You might also consider asking the wine lover in your family to bring a bottle that will compliment the meal, or that friends bring fruit that can be served as dessert. You could even ask the music lover in the group to create a custom playlist of holiday favorites for the occasion!

And be sure to save the ingredient labels from the "safe" food you are serving, so that guests with other food allergy concerns can review before their own children dig in.

While holiday traditions differ between families and cultures, Christmas can offer more flexibility in main dish options as opposed to other holidays such as Thanksgiving. Hanukah has a more traditional menu, but most of these dishes can be made allergen free as well. As the host, things are obviously made easier by doing the cooking yourself, though some holiday food traditions - candy or chocolate, cookies or beverages - can be a little more difficult to manage.

For main dishes, poultry (especially turkey, geese and ducks) and ham are probably the most traditional Christmas entrees. These and many other options are available that can be made allergen free, such as roasted meats (like roast beef or pork loin) or vegetarian main dishes like stuffed vegetables.

Hanukkah celebrations usually feature traditional dishes that involve a lot of oil (to signify the one day's worth of oil that burned for eight), such as potato latkes, or sufganiyot (jelly donuts). But there are many recipes available that avoid "big eight" allergens and gluten. Some great holiday examples:

Allergy-Safe Duck with Sage Sauce is a great main course for Christmas celebrations, and free from all "big eight" food allergens; also sesame-free, and optionally corn-free, sulfite-free, citrus-free, and free from most other common allergens.

Or maybe try Allergy-Safe Roast Chicken for Hanukkah this year, also a "big eight" safe main course; and also free of corn, sesame, sulfites, and most other common allergens. A great Kosher alternative could be Brisket in Wine Sauce, which can be made safe for all "big eight" allergies. Always be sure to use allergen free condiments too, like Nomato Tomato Free Ketchup for this particular recipe.

For your side dishes, you might consider some of the many vegetarian options available, most of which can be prepared to avoid any specific food allergen(s).

Attending Holiday Gatherings

When attending holiday festivities away from your home, be sure to let your host know about your child's food allergy before or upon your arrival. Also be sure to educate your host about cross-contamination issues, and if possible, make yourself available before the event for ingredient questions that may come up.

You can offer to bring a safe dish or treat that both you and other guests can enjoy. And you can help out even further, and make it less likely that you will experience potential problems, by offering to cook one or two of the dishes that are most likely to contain allergens. If the holiday party is at school, church, temple, etc., volunteer to provide the snacks for the party.

If you're attending a party or gathering where you're not sure whether safe food will be served, curb the temptation to explore the buffet by eating before you arrive. You'll be less likely to try something out of hunger just because it seems like it should be safe. This is especially useful for children -- serve them a snack first, and also pack them a favorite and safe treat.

And as always, be prepared with emergency medicines in hand, just in case unrecognized food allergens are hiding in holiday dishes or treats. By following these tips, you can ensure that you and your family have a joyous and happy holiday season!

Labels: big eight, christmas, food allergen, food allergy, hanukkah, holiday dining