Adding special dietary needs into holiday meals

Thursday, November 20, 2014

For many Oklahoma families, a succulent turkey or juicy ham paired with perfectly seasoned dressing is the centerpiece of the traditional holiday meal. But, what do you do when you are hosting guests with special dietary needs?

It is not a recipe for disaster, said Barbara Brown, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension food specialist.

“If your family has any special or favorite dishes you enjoy during the holidays, definitely keep them on the menu,” Brown said. “It’s certainly possible to incorporate dishes that cater to vegetarians, those following gluten-free plans, diabetics or other palettes, too.”

If you know one or more of your holiday guests have special dietary requirements, begin by asking them not only what they can eat, but also what they like.

This is key information for a number of reasons. For instance, there are different types of vegetarian diets. Also, lots of foods made for vegetarian diets contain either soy or wheat protein, which is gluten, so those dishes could pose issues for individuals with certain food allergies.

Armed with some basic, but important, information, holiday hosts can confidently move forward with cooking up a meal that incorporates something for everyone. At that point, it is a good idea to keep it simple and avoid dishes containing unfamiliar foods and ingredients.

“You’ve got enough to do over the holiday. It’s probably not the best time to experiment,” Brown said.

Soup is a good option, and so is winter squash, which can usually be stuffed with wild rice, cranberries and other ingredients appropriate for a vegetarian diet. Or, you can try roasting winter vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.

Other ideas for sides include roasted mushrooms, risotto and sweet potatoes. Pasta dishes without meat or salads with greens, toasted nuts, dried cranberries and homemade croutons are viable choices, as well.

Hosts can make some broader substitutions, too, such as using nonmeat ingredients when possible, cooking with vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and exchanging margarine for butter.

Of course, as families and friends grow more diverse and tastes vary widely, there is always potluck.

“As the host of a potluck style holiday meal, simply provide a few basic main dishes and invite others to bring sides,” Brown said. “That way, everyone knows there will be at least one dish they like and will eat.”