Dairy and Gluten free kids party food

[TaffyandTeenyTaffy]

Hi all
I am doing a 3rd birthday party for DS soon - a couple of his friends have some allergies. One is allergic to dairy and the other two are definitely gluten but could possibly be dairy too. They have unhelpfully gone away so I cant check......

I am hoping to do mainly shop bought stuff as I am working full time and DH is working on the morning of the party. Is there anything that would fit either criteria? (or preferably both) I will be doing fruit, crudites etc which will be suitable - but also lot of crisps/sarnies/cakes etc so it would be nice if I could provide something that doesnt taste like cardboard for them!

Also - what about cake for the party bags - can you recommend anything that tastes/looks ok as an alternative?
Thanks

[InMySpareTime]

Walkers ready salted crisps (and many other types but not all) are DFree/GFree
Marshmallows
Haribo
Chips (cheap ones more likely to be GFree than expensive ones)
Ham (expensive sliced, not reformed)
Fruit kebabs
Crispy jam cakes (like rice crispy cakes but made with not chocolate but jam/golden syrup/honey and cocoa powder)
Nuts/nut butters

[tilder]

For me dairy means milk or milk product but some people include eggs. If they can have eggs, you can make brilliant birthday cakes from meringues. Swirl with food colouring or cocoa powder and dot with silver balls before cooking. They look brilliant.

If you want shop bought most supermarkets have a free from section. Not cheap but some things are free from everything. Just don't read the ingredients!

[TaffyandTeenyTaffy]

Thanks both - some great things there.
Managed to get some free from everything chocolate peppa pig lollies and already have plenty of haribo for the party bags so almost done!

[notapizzaeater]

Walkers crisps aren't gf - Pom bears are though. I always do bowls of popcorn as an alternative.

[InMySpareTime]

Pom bears are often not dairy free. The ready salted packs in the multi pack of Aldi's "mcCoys" style crisps are gluten and dairy free (though the salt and vinegar are only dairy free and the cheese and onion are only gluten free).

[tkband3]

Walkers crisps used to be g-f, but aren't any more. Kettle chips are gluten free, as are Tyrrell's (it's always the expensive ones!). I don't know about dairy, but would imagine if you got the ready salted flavour, they'd be fine.

Sainsburys and Tescos both do free from ready made cakes - victoria sponge and/or chocolate which are very nice. Not sure if they're dairy free though.

[InMySpareTime]

Kettle chips and tyrells salted crisps are dairy free (I think the salt and pepper ones are too)
Why are walkers no longer gluten free? That is annoying (DS is on a dairy free diet but we have a gluten free friend so have an interest in both diets)

[notapizzaeater]

Because walkers are idiots ! They can't guarantee cross contamination. Most of Aldi's own brand are gf and hubby says he can't tell difference between them and walkers - not sure about df as we don't have that one to worry about ...

[Charmingbaker]

Pombears are also gluten free and Tescos used to have quite a few gluten free own brand crisps but haven't checked lately. (Agree that Walkers are idiots!)

[freefrommum]

Firstly, I want to say how fantastic it is that you are making the effort to provide food that these kids can eat. I always end up taking food for mine as people never seem very keen to try to do it themselves!

Morrisons freefrom rocky road slices are free from gluten, wheat, dairy and egg and DS assures me they are scrummy! Warburton's gluten free bread and sub rolls are gluten, wheat and dairy free but do contain eggs so you need to check whether this will be ok. If you are making sandwiches for them, you will need a dairy free spread like Vitalite or Pure and make sure you only use it for the gluten free bread as cross contamination from a dirty knife can be enough to make them ill (sorry, don't want to scare you but thought you need to know). Pom-Bear ready salted crisps should be fine but check the ingredients as I've heard that they have contained milk in the past. Otherwise, Organix Goodies crisps are a good choice for young kids and the following flavours are gluten and dairy free: saucy tomato noughts & crosses, spicy tomato stars and carrot stix.

[looseleaf]

We like Genius' seeded bread for sandwiches and M&S's dairy free spread is more popular with DD than Pure.
If you wanted M&S also sell chicken in gluten free crumb (it doesn't stand out on the labelling but found near all the breaded farmhouse chicken in the fridge- this could be sliced up to share and DD thinks it a real treat as really can't distinguish it from 'normal' breaded chicken.
We tend to make our own cupcakes but tried Tesco's FreeFrom chocolate cake which was really good!
I really reiterate how nice this is of you as so few people notice the challenges for children with allergies and it's so kind when people make it easier!

[freefrommum]

Ooh forgot to mention Sainsbury's freefrom chicken nuggets (in the frozen freefrom section) - my kids love these more than 'normal' ones and they contain less fat than most!

[StillStuck]

Can I ask where you found the peppa lollies?

Also, well done for all the effort you are putting into this. I never expect people to try for DS but it is always wonderful when they do