Beth from Bon Aippetit shares her tips and tricks for navigating food allergies around the holidays. Whether you suffer from food allergies or have a guest with food sensitivities joining your celebration, this episode is for you.
Today's episode is all about how to navigate the holidays with food allergies.
You may have started to notice a theme in the last few episode - we're well and truly getting ready for the holidays! Thanksgivings is just a few short weeks away for our American friends, and Christmas is also only 5 weeks away.
Celebrating the holidays with a feast can be a bit of a minefield for allergy sufferers and no one understands this better than Beth from bonaippetit.com. That's aippetit spelt with an AIP, as in the AIP diet which aids in healing from autoimmune related diseases.
Beth is mama to a beautiful boy, self-taught cook and photographer. Besides the kitchen, her favorite place is her backyard where she chases her kiddo and is attempting to turn her black thumb green. She struggles with chronic health issues and uses the AIP diet and natural remedies to find stability in her health. She finds joy in eating to heal and sharing her recipes and wellness tips with others over at her blog.
I had the opportunity to pick Beth's brain about not only how to deal with holiday events as a food allergy sufferer, but also how hosts can help include food allergy sufferers in the meal with ease.
Recipe of the week
This week's recipe of the week is Chocolate Covered Almonds. They are so unbelievably easy to make. I love to roast my almonds before covering them in chocolate, which is simple to do in the oven or in the air fryer if you have one. These are a great treat to bring to holiday parties.
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Episode 16 - Navigating Food Allergies Around the Holidays
Food Allergies Vs Sensitivities Vs Intolerances
Food Allergies are an immune response to certain food (e.g. nuts, eggs, gluten) and the reactions can range from mild to severe and life threatening.
Food Sensitivities or Intolerances are not life threatening but reactions can be quite severe.
All need to be taken seriously as reactions can last days, can make the sufferer very unwell and uncomfortable.
AIP Diet
Beth currently follows the AIP diet, or the Autoimmune Protocol Diet, which is designed to help people with autoimmune diseases to heal by following an anti-inflammatory diet similar to paleo.
How to Prepare to Eat Out with Food Allergies
- Call ahead and talk to chef / host and ask questions about the food and inform them of your food allergies. If they can't serve you that's ok, at least you can be safe.
- Be firm and don't let people let you feel guilty for being sick. You don't need to apologise for being sick.
- You don't owe anyone your story. You can let people know you have allergies but if you don't feel comfortable going into details you don't have to.
- Be kind and patient. Say thank you when people have been helpful.
How to Prepare to Host Guests with Food Allergies
- Take your guests health seriously. If someone tells you they have food allergies or sensitivities take that seriously.
- If you can't cater to those food allergies just let them know. Tell them what the menu is and that way if they can't eat what you're serving they can bring their own food.
- Ask them to bring either their own meal or a plate that they can definitely eat to be safe.
- Don't be offended if they don't eat your food. They need to look after themselves and be extremely careful with their health.
- Be kind. Suffering from food allergies can be exhausting. Don't draw attention, make a big deal about it or single them out, just welcome them and include them in the party.
Beth's Favourite Holiday Recipe
How to find Beth
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