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I’m Allergic

By Kayla
6/7/2021

Meals are probably the hardest, most vital aspect of your event.  Cooking for the masses while trying to fill and please everyone’s appetite is a major challenge.  Throw in food allergies and the menu turns into a real math problem.

“A food allergy is a condition in which certain foods trigger an abnormal immune response.” (Healthline)  Essentially, eating a certain type of food makes a person sick.  While monitoring at home is doable, going to an event where there aren’t a plethora of choices can make mealtimes rough.  Now, don’t get me wrong, there will be choices, but not every place will be able to make an entrée, side and dessert that is acceptable for all allergies. 

Some of the most common allergies include:

  • Dairy
  • Tree Nuts
  • Peanuts
  • Eggs
  • Shellfish
  • Gluten

The best way to deal with these allergies is to plan ahead.  Put a food allergy section on your registration form so that guests can share their allergies.  Then communicate with the venue/caterer about the allergies so that they can prepare meals that fit everyone’s needs.  Waiting until the actual meal can cause some unavoidable problems.  For example, I recently hosted a meal in which I knew I had one gluten free person.  We were serving sandwiches and various salads (pasta, fruit and potato).  I saved some of the sandwich meat for the one person listed as gluten free.  But, not five minutes later, another guest came up to me and said she was gluten free.  Luckily, I still had some of the meat left.  We had also prepared a few of the sandwiches without cheese in case someone didn’t prefer it, when in fact there was a guest that was dairy free.  We successfully made the meal work, but knowing ahead of time makes the process easier and ensures those with allergies do get to eat.

Matthew 25:34-40 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then the people who have God’s approval will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes or see you in need of clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “The king will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me.’



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