How To Cater To Guests With Allergies

Hosts always want every guest to have a great time at their party. The only solution for anyone is to create a menu that meets the needs of guests with food allergies. No matter how large or small your party is, there’s a good chance you’ll find at least one guest who has food allergies, dietary requirements, or intolerances. With a little experience in catering, you’ll be able to make sure everything runs smoothly. In this post, we’re going to share with you some ideas on how to serve food allergies at your next party.

Plan for an accommodative menu

Most professional caters have decades of experience with the food industry because they’ve catered at hundreds of events over the years. They’ll be able to provide a wide range of options based on feedback you receive from guests who have disclosed their food allergy severity. It’s important to give your caterers as much detail as possible about your guests’ food allergies so they can easily accommodate them on your menu. If you’ve got a big meal that’s safe to eat for people with food allergies, everything else is just a bonus.

Ensure every dish is labeled

People with food allergies are always looking for info about what’s in their food and what options they have to eat. They’ll be extra careful, so make it easier for them by labeling everything. Be as specific as you can on every food label because it’ll help them decide if they should order something from the menu. Make sure to include a note that says if a meal is vegan or gluten-free. If it’s nut-free or dairy-free, make sure to label that too. It’s a good idea to include warnings if the meal was prepared near any of these allergens.

Provide separate meals if necessary

Another great way to cater to food allergies is by making a few changes to the dishes you already have on hand. Because it can be hard to do this in extreme cases, you can ask your caterer to prepare multiple, or individual, meals for people with food allergies. By labelling the food items, it’s easier for people to select what best fits their dietary needs without losing out on their favorite foods.

Avoid cross contamination

In catering, cross-contamination occurs when food items that contain allergens are served on cutting boards, served on serving dishes, and served on separate utensils. People with severe food allergies can develop symptoms after consuming foods that have cross-contaminated surfaces. To prevent cross-contamination, it is important to wash hands before and after handling foods. There are other ways to prevent cross contamination, such as cooking the food to the proper temperature or serving immediately after cooking the food to kill or delay the growth of bacteria.

Don’t forget about drinks

We’re all used to hearing about food allergies and intolerances, but it’s really important to remember that most dietary needs can also apply to drinks. Your caterer should offer alternatives like egg-free cocktails or gluten-free beer, as well as non-alcoholic drinks and soft drinks for guests who don’t drink. If you can, make sure you have a separate selection of soft drinks that don’t have added sugar.

Hiring professional services though doesn’t seem necessary, it takes the most stress away from hosting a party for people with health concerns. Want to keep all your guests safe and satiated at your parties? Click here.