Success requires planning, food safety, and reasonable care for the guests. A great hostess will have a check list and guest allergy list to follow up and make the necessary decisions for a successful party.
Allergy Safe Party Planning and Tips
- Make a list of the guests
- On the invitation include a RSVP line for Guest name and type of food allergy
- Follow-up with the guests that have an allergy a week in advance to discuss menu accommodations or changes
- Suggest the guest also bring a dish that is allergy free
- Check all store labels of the food products used in preparation of the menu item for food safety
- For a casual party use paper products and plastic eating utensils
- Place all products to be used in preparation of the allergy free menu item together for cross contamination ingredient avoidance
- Clean all cooking utensils, pot and pans, counters, and table tops prior to cooking to avoid cross contamination residue from the previous meal
- Prepare all allergy free menu items first to avoid cross contamination with cooking utensils, counters, and pot/pans
- Arrange for the allergy free items to be on the top shelf of the refrigerator and label the dish if preparing in advance. Examples: “No Dairy”, “No Egg”, “No Nuts”, “No Seafood”, “No Soy”
- If it is potluck and people are bringing a dish have allergy free cards on the table so the dish can be labeled: “No Dairy”, “No Egg”, “No Nuts”, “No Seafood”, “No Soy”
- If you are preparing all foods, make a menu that lists the ingredients used in the dish. Give the dish a name and label the dish with that name
- Have a different table with allergy free menu items
- If a child has a food allergy don’t allow them to make their own plate. Have their parent make their plate if possible
- If it is summer, an hour before the party, adjust the air conditioning temperature down by 4 degrees prior to the party so it won’t be to warm once everyone is there
- If it is winter and it is cold outside but too warm inside, you can always slightly open a window or two. Set your heater in the winter at 68 – 70 degrees once everyone is there it will feel like 72-76 degrees especially if there is dancing
