Guest Post: Lindsay MartinNez of Gluten Free Girl MS
Planning a menu for a wedding reception can be challenging enough. Bring food allergies into the mix and that is when it gets all kinds of confusing. Do you plan food that everybody can enjoy, even your gluten free or dairy free relatives? Do you pick and choose menu items so that some of the food is safe for guests with allergies, while the rest is not? What if you suffer from food allergies yourself?
 |  |
As a gluten free bride, I can tell you that I struggled with this decision when planning my own wedding. Most of my female relatives suffer from Celiac Disease, an auto-immune disorder that affects your body’s ability to digest gluten. Both my husband and I are gluten intolerant; if I eat even a sauce with gluten in it, I will sometimes be down for the count for days at a time. So when planning time came around, I had a decision to make. How would I plan a menu that all of our guests would enjoy, gluten free or not?
Here are some menu options that everybody on your guest list will enjoy, with or without food allergies:
{QUESADILLAS} These classic, easy to eat finger foods are super easy to serve at a wedding. For a gluten free version, offer quesadillas made with corn tortillas rather than flour. This is an easy substitution without sacrificing deliciousness!
{QUESADILLAS} These classic, easy to eat finger foods are super easy to serve at a wedding. For a gluten free version, offer quesadillas made with corn tortillas rather than flour. This is an easy substitution without sacrificing deliciousness!
{MASHED POTATO BAR} If you love potatoes as much as I do, then this option will be a no-brainer for you! Plus, potatoes are gluten free! Consider placing add-on items at your mashed potato bar like cheese, sour cream and bacon for guests who want to load their potatoes with goodness.
{CHEESE } It is not a great option for dairy free guests, but for those of us who just avoid gluten, cheese is always a great pick-up food at a wedding. If you serve with crackers, you could consider having gluten free crackers as well as regular “gluten-y” ones. Just be sure to keep them separated and well labeled so guests know which ones to choose!
{BACON WRAPPED FOOD} First, let it be said that I love some bacon! So when you wrap another item in bacon, I am all about it. Especially when those items are served as small pick-up appetizers. Cute and yummy! Gluten free options include scallops, shrimp and even pineapple. (Bet you didn’t see that last one coming!)
 |  |
{MEAT CARVING STATION} Just like cheese, meat is always a delicious option for gluten free guests. Even your dairy free guests will enjoy it! (Though the vegetarians will probably stick to the cheese and potatoes). Turkey, ham and roast beef are pretty standard options. Consider having miniature rolls available for those guests who eat gluten to enjoy a mini sandwich with their meat.
{THE CAKE} With gluten free lifestyles becoming more and more common, there are lots of bakeries that cater to the gluten free community and offer delicious gluten free cakes and cupcakes. If you want a traditional wedding cake, consider having your bakery make a small gluten free version for you so you can actually taste your own cake at your wedding. Or, for those less traditional brides out there, why not opt for a rice krispy wedding cake? They are gluten free and easy to make and all of your guests will enjoy it, whether they are gluten intolerant or not.
 |  |
At the end of the day, your wedding is still all about two people: you and your soon-to-be hubby. If the two of you decide to serve a completely vegan, dairy and gluten free menu, that’s okay! If you decide to disregard allergies completely when planning your menu, that’s fine too! The reality is, you’ll be so happy you just married the man of your dreams that you won’t even be thinking about food by the time the reception rolls around!
RSS Feed