DS has invited nut allergic friend for play date - what can I serve?

[Bozza]

I have spoken to the little boy's mother and she suggests I just stick to sandwiches. So fine - I can do some ham and some cheese sandwiches, cut up a bit of carrot, cucumber, a few grapes etc. But it seems a bit dull. Are there any sort of crisps/nibbles that would be OK? And for pudding am I best sticking to fruit/yoghurt/ice-cream?

M&S make cakes and biscuits and chocs for nut allergy sufferers

do you like to bake? why don't you get them making muffins .. dead easy .. an activity for them and they can eat them for pudding

plus don't see why you can't cook as normal .. I assume you don't tend to use nuts / nut oil / nut derivatives in your food anyway?

Oh M&S - I never shop there! Wonder if I could fit in a trip before Monday. It is a bit out of my way but I obviously don't want to take any risks with him.

Thanks.

Hmm I did think that re the cooking. I do occasionally use almonds or whatever in certain dishes but not as a general thing, so I make all sorts of things (spag bol, meat loaf, stew, pies etc etc) without them - so probably 95% of what I cook is nut free. I was just trying to keep them both happy and comfortable.

I do like baking (Saturday's Christmas cake - made with nuts btw is in the cupboard) but do not think DS would be impressed at an enforced muffin-making session on a playdate! He would be expecting a bit of that benign neglect that you recommend. But DD and I could make them during the day.

M&S for chocolates but be careful with their cakes cos they all seem to say that they're not suitable for nut allergy sufferers (grrrrr!). They do great children's biscuits (teddybear shaped) which are free of nuts. TBH, if I were you I'd cook what I usually do for dinner just taking care not to use any nut oils, sesame etc ... or why not give them sausages with chips or mash as a treat? Oh crisps ... Pringles are fine (for my DS anyway) and kids love them.

Happy catering!