Birthday party tomorrow - how to cater to child with nut & dairy allergy?

[Sarahjsxx]

Hello,
Hoping for any advice, my sons 5th bday party tomorrow, one of the children has a nut & dairy allergy, I'm not sure what to do about food for him, I am doing a buffet type food but was wondering should I make a small lunchbox for him? (But would that make it awkward I'm not sure)
I am doing cheese sandwiches, pepperoni & cheese/tomato pizzas, popcorn chicken, crisps popcorn, fruit & vegetable platters, biscuits etc, how can I choose soemthing suitable for him/everyone?
Thanks for any advice!

[Forgottenmyphone]

Could you make up a lunchbox for every child?

[Doggymummar]

Surely the parent will provide their food. I wouldn't trust my child's food allergy to anyone but myself.

[noblegiraffe]

Ask his parents what they would prefer. They might select food for him from what's on offer.

Party rings and Oreo's are nut and dairy free so good biscuit choices.

[megletthesecond]

The parents should be providing food. There's even dairy in some crisps.

[CCLCECSC]

Garlic bread good alternative to pizza. Just check the ingredients on packaging before buying. You'll need one with no milk so oil based instead.

[Iwishiwasasilentnight]

@Doggymummar

Surely the parent will provide their food. I wouldn't trust my child's food allergy to anyone but myself.

Only if it’s been agreed.

I would try and make more food which is suitable for all rather than a specialists lunch boxes eg platter of ham sandwiches, make sure all biscuits are suitable (bourbons and party rings).

[JanewaysBun]

I would really appreciate a lunch box and DS doesnt feel weird when provided with one. The main disappointment he has had is not getting any cake whilst everyone else has theirs so i always appreciate that when provided - m and s do nice little free from cake bars

[JanewaysBun]

Kids with allergies often self regulate do DS would do better with his own lunch box vs coming to you with stuff from the buffet checking if he can have it multiple times

[ginsparkles]

My DD has intolerances, when I accept an invite I always discuss food with the parents hosting and offer to bring food or give them options for things she can have if they prefer to sort themselves.

There are some fab diary free pizzas around, DD has them often. But I second the cake thing, please make sure there's some kind of cake for them, it's the bit that always makes me gluten and diary intolerant daughter sad!

[NameChange30]

My kids used to have dairy allergies (outgrown now). If you provide some safe food it would be much appreciated.

Keep all the packaging so the parent(s) can double check it.

1. Can you get a vegan pizza to provide alongside the other pizzas? They are easy enough to find.
2. Why are you doing cheese sandwiches, could you do a different filling as well / instead, like ham or jam?
3. YY to party rings and/or oreos
4. assuming the birthday cake will not be dairy free, you could buy a small cake option for the allergy child (for example you can usually get a 2-pack of vegan / "free from" cupcakes)

As an allergy parent I would always take some dairy-free treats to give my child, when the others were having birthday cake, so if you can't get anything then I'm guessing the parent will have something.

[NameChange30]

This pizza is nice

https://groceries.asda.com/product/vegan-frozen-pizza/dr-oetker-ristorante-margherita-pomodori-vegan-pizza/1000289851200

But there should be plenty of options (more now than there were when my oldest was dairy-free)

[GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut]

If we're talking anaphalactic allergies I would be proving shop bought, still in the unopened packet, so the parents can check the ingredients themselves and they and I can be sure it's not been contaminated in my kitchen.

If you do a buffet with some cheese, you can't expect the dairy free child to eat from it after rhe kids cross contaminate everything. That's without worrying about 'made in a factory with nuts' etc.

I've found it much easier to do lunch boxes for everyone, rathe than a buffet btw. Doubles up as a party bag too, put some glow sticks and a mask or something they can wear at the party in and some haribo. Then just give some cake when they leave or let them eat it at the party.

[NancyJoan]

Ham/jam sandwiches w non-dairy spread, let him know the pizza is a no-go. Find some free from cakes of some kind. Cocktail sausages instead of popcorn chicken.

[LightSwerve]

Buy some good pre-packaged food so it is contamination free, including an individual cake. Make sure this food is separate. Get in touch with the parent, say you have done this and ask them to bring anything else they think.

The main thing is not to poison the child, if you make an effort any half-decent parent will understand if it is not michelin-starred.

[PurpleQualityStreetDress]

I personally would make the entire buffet dairy and nut free because allergies are seriois potentially fatal and because they are kids!
The party is less about food anyway, children will be excited to be together so I wouldn't worry about having different 'dairy free' pizza or dairy free chocolates from a taste point of view.
As for cake I would make a but free vegan cake.
Eg:
Vegan chocolate cake decorated with milk free chocolate buttons or shavings and fruit
Dairy free chicken strips or vegan pizza or hotdogs or burgers
Or sandwiches: margerine ham, jam, tuna and vegan mayo
Dairy free crisps, oreos
Juice
Fruit platter
Veg platter
Guacamole and tortilla if they like it
Indian snacks and spring rolls, cocktail sausages if serving hot food.

[LightSwerve]

Or yes, make the whole thing dairy/nut free, but that is hard at short notice.

[Shf]

Don’t go overboard on the vegan pizza without checking. DS was dairy free and hated vegan cheese, we never introduced it at a young age as it smelt vile and so he never got a taste for. Lots of dairy free kids just avoid foods that are overly dairy (pizza, mac & cheese, lasagne etc) so you could just be wasting money.

Just check with the parent what you’re offering and what could be added - trust me, they and the kids are used to it.

[NameChange30]

@NancyJoan

Ham/jam sandwiches w non-dairy spread, let him know the pizza is a no-go. Find some free from cakes of some kind. Cocktail sausages instead of popcorn chicken.

Oh yes good point about non-dairy spread.

[ColleenDonaghy]

Check in with the parents. Dairy is tough, and if the allergy is severe they may not be comfortable with sandwiches produced in your kitchen in case you used the same knife or board etc.

A lunchbox is a lovely idea if you can manage it, my DD has a peanut allergy and is always fine with this and I'm very touched when parents go to that trouble as it isn't really necessary with peanuts as they aren't in many things.

If you don't know their rules, also steer clear of anything that says "May contain/may contain traces of/produced in a factory that handles milk or nuts", some parents allow them and others don't.

[ColleenDonaghy]

Edited as I misread the post!

[EarringsandLipstick]

@PurpleQualityStreetDress

I personally would make the entire buffet dairy and nut free because allergies are seriois potentially fatal and because they are kids!
The party is less about food anyway, children will be excited to be together so I wouldn't worry about having different 'dairy free' pizza or dairy free chocolates from a taste point of view.
As for cake I would make a but free vegan cake.
Eg:
Vegan chocolate cake decorated with milk free chocolate buttons or shavings and fruit
Dairy free chicken strips or vegan pizza or hotdogs or burgers
Or sandwiches: margerine ham, jam, tuna and vegan mayo
Dairy free crisps, oreos
Juice
Fruit platter
Veg platter
Guacamole and tortilla if they like it
Indian snacks and spring rolls, cocktail sausages if serving hot food.

Crackers!

The parents need to advise OP / provide food.

OP does not have to change the entire menu to cater for one child with allergies.

[NameChange30]

Agree about not changing the whole menu, but it's easy enough to get a vegan pizza alongside the others, use dairy-free spread for sandwiches, and buy a couple of dairy-free things like party rings etc.

[EarringsandLipstick]

@NameChange30

Agree about not changing the whole menu, but it's easy enough to get a vegan pizza alongside the others, use dairy-free spread for sandwiches, and buy a couple of dairy-free things like party rings etc.

I agree - but I'd ask the parents to be specific, then do this. It's one child who might not necessarily eat what is purchased. Better to be specific & get it right.

[megletthesecond]

Do you know if the child has epi-pens? If so I really wouldn't be impressed if their parents are expecting you to deal with this. I would also assume they will stay.
My DS has fewer allergies and even I stayed and provided food until he was older and I could trust the parents.

[PurpleQualityStreetDress]

Err, better not to have anyone ill and have thag on my conscious! The parent won't dare ask for the entire menu to be safe but I'm sure they would be delighted and a bit relieved. It wouldn't be a burden for me to do this.