While most insurance companies cover allergy testing as well as initial and follow-up visits with your allergy doctor, some of them are restrictive about the type of allergy immunotherapy that they will cover. While most will cover allergy shots (also known as...
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Thanksgiving Allergies: Alternative Recipe Ideas for Food Allergic People
Thanksgiving can be tricky for people with food allergies. Nuts, eggs, gluten, and dairy are common ingredients on the Thanksgiving table but can really set people with food allergies back on what should be a happy day.
If you are hosting someone with food allergies for this year’s holiday, consider a few tips:
1. Roasted Turkey (gluten free)
Turkey’s nothing but meat, right? Not always! Many turkeys have been soaked in broths that contain wheat products. The happy news is that many manufacturers now sell gluten-free turkeys. Confirm this with the information on the packaging or call the manufacturer if needed.
2. Green Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Salads are often a safe way to go for people with food allergies. Serve toppings on the side if you think they may stir up allergy symptoms (cheese, candied nuts, croutons, etc.) For holiday flare, serve with dried cranberries or a cranberry vinaigrette.
3. Mashed Potatoes (dairy free)
If your guests have dairy allergies or intolerances, the big stumper will be how to get your mashed potatoes creamy. Olive oil can be substituted for butter (or try buying diary-free butter or margarine). Vegetable broth can be substituted for milk. You can also try milk substitutes such as soy milk.
4. Green Beans
Green bean casserole is a favorite, but it can cause trouble for people with wheat and dairy allergies. Happily, there are many other fabulous things do with green beans: lemon/hazelnut green beans, Schezuan green beans, green beans with pancetta and shallots.
5. Dessert
Check Pinterest for a treasure trove of allergen-free desserts ( a sweet potato-based pie crust, flourless chocolate cake, and gluten-free apple cider donuts).
If you are expecting a guest with food allergies, call them in advance to see what foods they need to avoid. Ask them to bring a favorite allergen-free dish. Also, be flexible. You may have to leave out some of the old favorite dishes, but that frees you up to try some new ones you may fall in love with. For ongoing problems with food allergies, ask AllergyEasy about treatment using sublingual immunotherapy.