If you are getting ready for Thanksgiving this week, keep in mind that your special group of friends and family could include at least one allergic person! As many as 1 in 6 Americans may suffer from either allergies, asthma or both. So, if you are having 10 people over, someone likely has a specific dietary, allergic or asthmatic need.
What can you do?
First of all, don’t panic. Make sure that you ask guests about food allergies, and honor their needs when planning your menu. The easiest way to ensure that all guests can safely enjoy their meal is to ensure that any offending ingredients are absent from the “main” dishes. There are so many tasty substitutions for common ingredients, you might find accommodating allergies is much less work than you’d think. You still may want to have some old favorites on the table with all the “bad stuff” in them: have these items as side dishes and clearly mark them.
Snacks should be safe for everyone, unless you want to “police” them. (Policing should not be part of anyone’s holiday!) Ideally, buy snacks that are clearly free of your guests’ allergens. Nut allergies should mean snacks that are marked as nut-free. Wheat allergies should mean snacks that are marked gluten-free. Brands such as Enjoy Life promise food that everyone can eat without concern because they avoid all the top food allergens.
Food allergies aren’t the only obstacles to an allergy-free Thanksgiving. Many people have environmental allergies of various sorts, including dust mites, animal dander and pollen. While pollen season is over in most parts of the northern hemisphere, dust mites and animal dander aren’t limited by season. Frequent cleaning in the weeks leading up to the holiday will ensure that you help keep your guests comfortable. Don’t just vacuum the floors; vacuum your furniture and other soft surfaces. These will all hold allergens that can be released when disturbed.
Another tip to cleaner air is changing your furnace air filter. If you buy a HEPA filter, you ensure that circulating allergens that encounter the filter will be trapped there.
Got overnight guests? Your best bet is to wash all bed linens in the hottest water possible. Make sure any family pets are kept out of the sleeping areas and clean again the day before guests arrive.
Of course, there are other ways that chemicals and allergens can be released into the air. Limit your use of fragrant candles and potpourris. Let the aroma of your food speak for itself!
Asthma can be triggered even when guests are not allergic. Consider making your home smoke free for the duration of the holiday. This means all cigarettes are smoked outside your home and wood fires should be limited.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
