nutrition
safe party snacks With the increase in allergies you’re likely to have at least one guest who can’t eat certain foods. ANÉL LEWIS looks at ways to keep everyone happy, and fed.
t
he best way to avoid tears and a possible medical situation is by planning ahead and knowing what you can serve. Common allergens for children include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, shellfish and fish.
your party If you’re hosting, ask parents to include allergy information when they reply to your party invitation. This will give you time to plan well in advance. You can also discuss snack food options with parents. • Bonnie Bester, entrepreneur and mother to three children, one with food allergies, makes sure she always has fruit to serve at parties. “I also do my best to find party ‘sweets’ that are allergen-free. • Sandwiches with honey, a meat-extract spread or cucumber are usually a safe bet and can be cut into fab shapes with cookie cutters. Bonnie gets allergen-free chocolate, which she uses to dip strawberries and other fruit into. • When setting up, put food containing allergens on separate tables and have different serving bowls and spoons. • Be mindful that children with allergies may feel left out, or be sensitive about their condition, so don’t make a big scene of putting out their food. • Keep the labels and packaging of foods that you do serve, in case concerned parents want more information about the food on offer. • Assure parents that they are also welcome to bring their own party snacks, if that will make them feel more comfortable. You could also invite parents to stay for the party, if they want to monitor what their child is eating. If they’re happy to leave their child in your care, make sure you have their contact details should a medical emergency arise. They may also leave emergency medication with you if their child is at risk of anaphylactic shock.
chocolate chip and orange biscuits Egg free; nut free; alternatively dairy free Makes 25–30 • ¾ cup butter or margarine at room temperature (or a dairy-free option) • ¼ cup icing sugar, sifted • 1 cup self-raising flour • ½ tsp salt • ½ -1 tsp grated orange zest, with no rind • 60g plain chocolate chips (or a dairy-free option) 1 Mix all the ingredients, except the chocolate chips, in a bowl until just blended. Sprinkle over the chocolate chips and mix them in. 2 On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until pliable, form into a ball and cover with clingfilm. Chill in the fridge for one hour or until you are ready to bake. 3 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Roll out the dough onto a lightly floured surface to about 0,5cm thick. Cut into shapes using a variety of cookie cutters and place on either sheets of greased baking paper or baking trays sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. 4 Bake for 10 minutes, keeping a close watch as they burn easily. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
PHOTOGRAPH: matthys van Lill
as a guest If you are going to a party with a child who is allergic, keep a stash of beautifully decorated allergen-free cupcakes or cakes in the refrigerator so you have treats on hand to take with you. Bonnie also prepares a snack pack for her daughter, filled with her favourite treats that she can eat. • Take your own food, and some extra that your child can share with others at the party. • As soon as your child is old enough, make sure he knows which ingredients he may not eat, and how to ask an adult to check that these items are not in the food being served. Explain in detail to the host what your child can’t eat, what would happen if the food is eaten, and how to respond. Leave your contact details and any medication with the host. • Try these chocolate chip and orange biscuits from Tammi Forman’s Cooking for an Allergy-free Lifestyle (Random House Struik). Sufferers of a food allergy can’t “take a chance” when it comes to being offered food, not even at a party. Tammi provides recipes that are safe, delicious and easy to make.
more recipe inspiration • Allergy Proof Recipes for Kids by Lynne Marie Rominger and Leslie Hammond (Fair Winds Press) • Sugar-free Gluten-free Baking and Desserts by Kelly E Keough (Ulysses Press) • Ultimate Allergy-free Snack Cookbook: Over 100 Kid-friendly Recipes for the Allergic Child by Judi Zucker and Shari Zucker (Square One Publishers) magazine cape town
May 2013
29