I’m constantly trying to make my littles experiences in life memorable, exciting, but also safe for our allergy life. Parties and celebrations throw me for a loop sometimes because things are unpredictable and often times a tad nerving since most are food-centered. I always try to do a couple of things before attending or hosting any event.
When Attending:
Always provide your littles own food; this can vary with your comfort level, but for me it means bringing a homemade safe cupcake and as close as I can get to what the hostess is serving for the meal/snacks if they aren’t a safe option for us.
Call the venue/hostess ahead of time and let them know you will be bringing your own food (and why!). Chances are your family and friends know you well enough that they understand you’d be bringing your own goodies, but in the beginning you’ll have to explain and call until everyone gets the gist.– This also eliminates the stress of the hostess trying to accommodate or forgetting to. Also, you are fully covered under American with Disability Act (ADA) and can bring your food with your wherever food is permitted. If at a venue, chances are they will not heat the food for you, so plan accordingly!
Meal Plan. I try to bring the same safe alternative as what the party is providing. This means I make batches of cupcakes and freeze individually then pop out when needed for the party. I like to put icing on the day of the party but you can definitely ice them then freeze as well. — Rubbermaid sells small round tupperware, these work perfectly for transporting individual cupcakes!
Bring your own wipes for yourself and the other children too. My kids are still toddlers and they are soooo messy!!! Messy isn’t always bad, but when it has milk food it can be a recipe for disaster for us. I always bring a new pack of wipes with me and have the hostess let the other moms know why we are wiping up the kids after food/candy. (No lady, I promise I’m not that germ obsessed Mom!- ok maybe I am a little #truth)
Hosting:
Hosting events means lots and LOTS of cooking and crafting! No pre-made cupcakes or tray platters, making everything at home insures you know exactly what went into each food. This can be stressful and costly, but it can also be so much fun! I LOVE crafting and party planning for Brayden and Harper is absolutely one of my passions. I love with hosting parties they can be over-the-top fun, thoughtful, and silly, but also SAFE and delicious!
Couple of pointers:
Have a trail run or allow PLENTY of time for making whatever you are planning to make. Using dairy-free ingredients can affect how the end product “turns out” if you’re altering a regular recipe. This is especially true when it comes to adding dairy-free milks, so give yourself plenty of time to experiment with.
For my own sanity I choose to make everything completely dairy free for any event we have. This again can vary depending on your needs and comfort level. For us, doing this eliminates the need for lots of wiping and cleaning, and to be real it’s such a relief to know all the food is safe and I don’t have to worry about the thousands of milk hands touching our things or littles.
Look for Vegan recipes. These are recipes completely free of any animal based products. When googling, it is MUCH easier to find ‘vegan _____ recipes’ than it is to find ‘dairy free____ recipes’.
Break it up. I plan for the whole party week and have a couple of task items I get down each day so it’s not so overwhelming the day of the party/event.
Look for a vegan bakery near you. This could seriously save you lots of time!
Keep it simple. Everything does not have to be food based! You can make the music, games, and experiences the basis of the party!
Stuck and need to know what to make or bring?
Check out our ‘What’s Safe, What’s Not’ and ‘Favorite Finds’ sections
Have tips for celebrations? Comment below!