So it’s that time again where you’re going to holiday parties and dinners. Getting together for social gatherings where most people expect that you do eat what they serve.
How to avoid coming off like a jerk and politely telling the host you can’t really eat what they serve because you’re not sure how it was prepared and you don’t want to risk the chance of becoming ill? Would they rather have you happy or sick to appease their sense of duty to feed guests?
As much as I know my parents are aware of Mat’s gluten intolerance I know my mother can be forgetful. There are only a few handful of people of whom I trust to fully comprehend how easily food can be contaminated. Gluten is in everything, it’s in the most unexpected places: toothpaste, hand soap, hand cream, to name a few. It’s also easy to contaminate a dish with spice pinch bowls, or spices themselves, it’s like a battle field to avoid bread crumbs etc.
On top of the gluten issue, try explaining being vegan; that goes well with relatives. ”Oh, it’s just a little chicken, can’t you pick it out?” No. “Now, you’re just being difficult.”
The best solution is to bring your own food and explain you’d like to ‘lessen’ the burden of food preparation. It avoids a sticky situation and it relieves the host of trying to make something suitable. Often, I find the dish I bring is the first one consumed.
In the end the host is trying to please everyone and feels a certain amount of expectations to provide. It’s all in how you say things that make the difference. They ought to be able to accept that there are special exceptions and you are in no means trying to be difficult, but allergies are something you can’t really change. It’s safer for you and that’s what they care about anyway, that their guests don’t end up going home ill; that would make for a very sad gathering indeed.
Happy eating!
2. Circle tray with moulded compartments
