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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: CommonCents on May 05, 2015, 10:05:58 AM

Title: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: CommonCents on May 05, 2015, 10:05:58 AM
I'm hosting a baby shower for a coworker with a few people.  Our challenge is the guest of honor has many dietary restrictions:
- gluten free
- dairy free
- no corn syrup
- usual pregnancy restrictions (e.g. no luncheon meat, mercury foods, etc.)

She's currently having a diabetes test done which may further restrict her food options.  And of course, it needs to be something that travels easily.  We have no kitchen here at the office - mini fridges and a microwave is it (no sinks except the bathroom).

For our office parties, people traditionally bring in food to share.  It's going to be much easier for all if I can suggest ideas for people to select from if they want to bring something.  Here's what I've brainstormed so far:
- Fruit salad
- Salad (dressings on the side)
- Guacamole or salsa and corn chips
- Hummus
- Vegetable platter
- Bean salad
- Chicken & rice (someone's already bringing this in with a curry)
- German potato salad (with oil & vinegar not mayo)

I'm not sure if these are ok for pregnant people:
- Deviled eggs (w/o a diary free mayo)
- Shrimp cocktail

Please...help me come up with some more ideas!  Thanks.
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: plainjane on May 05, 2015, 10:24:35 AM
This looks like a fair start.  Do you want this to be mostly finger foods?

fresh rice paper rolls with a dipping sauce (chicken, rice noodles, herbs, carrot, peppers) 
fruit kabobs with yogurt dip
sweet potato dip
coins of roast potatoes & horseradish sour cream dip (or goat cheese, or blue cheese if people like that) - is smoked salmon considered a 'mercury' food?
jewel rice salad with dried fruit, almonds
vegetarian sushi
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: mm1970 on May 05, 2015, 10:28:53 AM
That should do it.  I would also consider just plain grilled or roasted chicken.

Deviled eggs are fine (assuming you make them without mayo).

I missed sandwiches so much when I was pregnant.  My 2nd child was born at 8:37 am.  At 10:30 am I made it to my hospital room, by 11 my husband was out buying me a sandwich.  Good thing he was born on Saturday and not Sunday (when the sandwich place was closed).
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: CommonCents on May 05, 2015, 10:32:06 AM
This looks like a fair start.  Do you want this to be mostly finger foods?

It can also be things on a plate.  But I want a variety of ideas because when people ask me what they can bring, it's better to say "here's the restrictions and I've thought of 20+ things, does anything seem appealing?" than "please bring X".
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: boarder42 on May 05, 2015, 10:48:45 AM
Socca dough for chips or mini pizzas.  super awesome i eat this 2 or 3 times a week.
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: CommonCents on May 05, 2015, 12:04:01 PM
This looks like a fair start.  Do you want this to be mostly finger foods?

fresh rice paper rolls with a dipping sauce (chicken, rice noodles, herbs, carrot, peppers) 
fruit kabobs with yogurt dip
sweet potato dip
coins of roast potatoes & horseradish sour cream dip (or goat cheese, or blue cheese if people like that) - is smoked salmon considered a 'mercury' food?
jewel rice salad with dried fruit, almonds
vegetarian sushi

Thanks!  Unfortunately yogurt, sour cream dip and goat/blue cheese is all out for having dairy.  Salmon is one pregnant women are advised to be cautious about (it depends whether farmed, wild, and location).  It's pretty tricky...  But your other ideas I can pass on.

Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: boarder42 on May 05, 2015, 12:09:33 PM
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-socca-a-naturally-gluten-free-chickpea-flatbread-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-169513

here is a link ... i buy 1lb bags of bobs red mill garbanzo bean flour at my local grocery store for 3 bucks.  yeah pretty un mustacian for a 3 dollar/lb bag of flour ... but this dough is awesome and lets me do 4 hour body diet with out any concerns for missing pizza and crackers.
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: mm1970 on May 05, 2015, 01:37:34 PM
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-socca-a-naturally-gluten-free-chickpea-flatbread-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-169513

here is a link ... i buy 1lb bags of bobs red mill garbanzo bean flour at my local grocery store for 3 bucks.  yeah pretty un mustacian for a 3 dollar/lb bag of flour ... but this dough is awesome and lets me do 4 hour body diet with out any concerns for missing pizza and crackers.
you may have just changed my life
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: boarder42 on May 05, 2015, 01:52:54 PM
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-socca-a-naturally-gluten-free-chickpea-flatbread-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-169513

here is a link ... i buy 1lb bags of bobs red mill garbanzo bean flour at my local grocery store for 3 bucks.  yeah pretty un mustacian for a 3 dollar/lb bag of flour ... but this dough is awesome and lets me do 4 hour body diet with out any concerns for missing pizza and crackers.
you may have just changed my life

you need to be careful with it and watch it.  to make chips from it i use an electric griddle(like you're making thin pancakes) and then store them till i want to eat them... Then i toss them in the oven on a hot pizza stone under a broiler.

My favorite sauce for pizza and dipping and just all around gravy:

1 diced onion
1 tbsp Tamari
1.5 cups of Stock
2 tbsp Balsamic
garlic powder, thyme, salt, pepper to taste
pinch of crushed red pepper.

you saute the onion itl translucent and starting to brown then add everything else in bring to a boil then simmer and reduce.  depending on the thickness you want.  then just blend it up ... make sure you reduce it enough before blending b/c it tends to not like to reduce and splatter after blending. 
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: boarder42 on May 05, 2015, 01:53:48 PM
also i just let mine sit for about 20-30 mins i dont let it sit 12 hours or a day like some sites recommend i see no need.
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: boarder42 on May 05, 2015, 01:56:27 PM
sorry one more use... they also make great buns for a hamburger... and i found fries you can make similarly but havent tried it yet.
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: madamwitty on May 05, 2015, 02:00:07 PM
I don't think salmon should be a problem for an event like this, there may be a weekly recommended limit but it is not totally banned. Unless you think your guest of honor is going to sit by the snack table the whole time and exclusively eat the salmon dip...
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: CommonCents on May 05, 2015, 02:03:09 PM
I don't think salmon should be a problem for an event like this, there may be a weekly recommended limit but it is not totally banned. Unless you think your guest of honor is going to sit by the snack table the whole time and exclusively eat the salmon dip...

ha!  That was an entertaining picture.  No, it mostly just seemed to be a complicated one....farmed is better than wild, or maybe it's the reverse, you want one ocean over another ocean, you can't eat too much...  It's just seemed too finicky to deal with
Title: Re: Help w/Dietary Restrictions - GF, dairy-free, pregnant...
Post by: jjcamembert on May 05, 2015, 03:46:52 PM
If you search for "paleo recipes" or "paleo appetizers" probably most of those will fit your criteria, and there are a ton out there. Lots of vegetable dishes, etc.

A couple of my favorites:
Chicken wings
Raw broccoli + bacon + cranberry salad
Any kind of cole-slaw made w/ vinegar
Marinated vegetables (e.g. artichokes, bell pepper, onion slices)
Chili
Beef stew
Slow cooker pulled pork
Ribs
Mixed fruit salad with coconut whipped cream

Because basically the paleo diet is gluten-free, dairy-free, legume-free, processed food-free