Are family dinners and holiday receptions synonymous with light nightmares for you? Talk to those living with food intolerances and allergies! Or to those who receive them…
I begin by indulging myself (I know that you welcome me without judgement): I haven’t eaten gluten for three years because it makes me sick. Sick enough to be followed by a gastroenterologist.
Food restriction is therefore real and, above all, new. I’m still looking for my bearings, especially when I’m invited to dinner… Should I bring my meal? Offer to cook for the group? Risk offending the host by asking him to name each of the ingredients he intends to use?
I feel vulnerable and rude.
On the other hand, when I receive guests who deal with an allergy, I panic. I drown them with questions to ensure their survival.
I feel stressed and overwhelmed.
With the holidays approaching, I thought it would be nice to finally clarify the etiquette of group meals that involve health risks. I turned to knowledgeable women, I named: Katrine Paradis (co-founder of K for Katrine, a gluten-free and dairy-free recipe platform) and Valérie Vaillancourt (dietitian-nutritionist who collaborates with Allergies Québec) .
Step 1 — Have a response plan
Whether we are host or guest, a good way to reduce our anxiety is to know how to intervene in the event of an allergic reaction, believes Valérie Vaillancourt.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Valérie Vaillancourt, dietitian-nutritionist who collaborates with Allergies Québec
“It’s good to remember that you know how to use an EpiPen, for example. Because it must be specified that zero risk does not exist! »
Moreover, everything hinges on one question: how prepared are we to manage the risks?
It was while becoming a mother that Katrine Paradis began to explore the fabulous world of complicated food. Her daughter Margaux suffered from many serious allergies, to the point where Katrine had to prepare all her meals when she wanted her grandmother to look after her. It is that the latter did not want to take any risk for the health of her granddaughter…
“And I understood! says Katrine Paradis. Sad to say, but allergies bring personal responsibility. It’s your problem, you have to manage it! Except that you can help your child have a positive attitude from the start…”
When a friend celebrated her birthday, Katrine explained to Margaux that she could be there without any problem. She just couldn’t taste the cake… What she could eat, however, were her favorite sweets. A blessing in disguise, right?
Step 2 — Prepare (but really)
“What is difficult when you have allergies is that you cannot eat spontaneously,” admits Valérie Vaillancourt. You have to take the time to validate several pieces of information. »
Besides, is it okay to question our host about the ingredients he intends to use? The response from the co-founder of Référence-nutrition surprises me. Not only can we do it without embarrassment, but we should do it to test our knowledge…
She explains to me that many people are unaware that the mention “may contain” is not mandatory. If a product contains an allergen, it is indicated on its packaging. However, if there are only risks of cross-contamination, the manufacturer is not legally obliged to write it down.
You have to call the company, if you have any doubts. When we receive, we must be realistic: do we have time to validate all the ingredients?
Valérie Vaillancourt, dietitian-nutritionist
Moreover, as a good guest, we can slip a guilt-free sentence to our host. A little “I won’t hold it against you if you tell me it’s too complicated” never hurts.
Katrine Paradis takes the lead. To prevent others from breaking their heads, she takes care of the meals.
“There are people who like to receive instructions, but there are some for whom it is more complicated. You have to take the stress off them. They shouldn’t be afraid to invite us into their homes. »
For Valérie Vaillancourt, one thing must above all be clear: “The person who absolutely wants to receive someone who has allergies wants to prove their love, but there are other ways to do it. »
Step 3 — Take precautions
If we embark on the great adventure of the shared meal, it is then a question of being careful.
Good news: you can find various tools on the Allergies Québec website, including a guide for hosts and a reminder to reduce the risks.
“In addition to ensuring that all the ingredients are allergen-free, you have to be careful about cross-contamination, illustrates Valérie Vaillancourt. This means washing your hands and not using the same utensil to stir several sauces, for example. The toaster can also be a transmission vehicle, like butter…”
Once hosts learn about all these challenges, they are sometimes put off, notes the nutritionist. Why not turn to a caterer who offers an allergen-free menu, then?
“We give our guest a cooking break anyway! (And that is precious.)
Step 4 — Be Open
Despite all the good intentions of the hosts, it happens that we experience small disappointments. That we have to do without one of the dishes or even one of the services, for example.
This is why Katrine Paradis recommends bringing a dish, even when the hosts claim to take care of everything… In the best case, we will be happy to share it with the guests and in the worst, it will prevent us from dying of hunger.
Can we go as far as bringing our lunch?
“Oh yes! answers without hesitation Valérie Vaillancourt. It takes nothing away from the love we have for the person who receives us. The important thing is not to eat the same meal, but to spend quality time together. »
Here is a phrase that can save us a lot of trouble (or nothing but a sandwich).