Q I love to host dinners for family and friends at the holidays, but it seems like every year there are new dietary restrictions to work around. What’s the best way to accommodate all these dietary restrictions without going crazy?
A I feel your pain! Last year, I hosted a dinner party for a group in which one person couldn’t eat wheat, another was allergic to garlic, a third didn’t eat meat, and a fourth had to avoid cheese. I thought I would tear my hair out trying to come up with a menu that everyone could enjoy.
These days, it seems like almost everyone under 40 is following some sort of special dietary restriction. Some, such as the need for those with Celiac disease to steer clear of gluten, are medically necessary. Others, such as the desire to avoid animal products, arise from religious or ethical convictions. And some, such as the insistence that everything must be cooked in coconut oil — or nothing should be cooked at all! — seem to be passing fads.
In my experience, it’s best not to question the validity or necessity of a dietary preference. However, I also think it’s unreasonable to expect a host to accommodate a dozen different special requests. Here are five tips for keeping your sanity; choose whichever combination feels most comfortable for your entertaining style and family dynamic.
1. Ask in advance about any special dietary restrictions.
This allows you to take these into consideration when planning your menus. I’ve found that people will often hesitate to say anything out of fear of “inconveniencing” the host. But, as a host, nothing feels worse than finding out a guest can’t eat what you’ve prepared when it’s too late to do anything about it. Ask for clarification and extra guidance if needed, especially when dealing with medical conditions such as Celiac disease or severe nut allergies. Often, foods that don’t contain forbidden ingredients can still be off limits due to cross-contamination.
2. Harness the power of the Internet.
As special diets have become more common, so have recipe sites devoted to them. Many have sections devoted to dietary restrictions, along with search engines that allow you to filter recipes by individual ingredients. Pinterest.com can be another great resource for finding recipes for just about any dietary consideration (or whim) you can imagine.
3. Suggest they bring a “safe” dish to share.
This is especially useful if you are dealing with lots of different dietary restrictions in the same group. Usually, those on restricted diets are happy to know that they’ll have at least one thing to eat. It can also be a great way to try new things.
4. For house guests, propose a quick trip to the store.
If you’ll be hosting house guests with special dietary needs, leave a little extra room in the fridge and propose a quick trip to the grocery store so that your guests can grab a few breakfast and snack items that fit their requirements.
5. Don’t take it personally.
If you love to cook for people, it can feel like a personal rejection or even an insult when someone turns down your apple crumble — or brings their own gluten-free crackers to dip in the crab dip. But, of course, it’s neither. Although it can be a little tricky to host those with dietary restrictions, it’s also a drag to be the one with all the special needs. When dealing with special diets, be as flexible and understanding as you can — and hopefully your guests will return the favor.
