Meals suggestion for family with food allerigies

[Anonymous]

We have volunteered to provide a meal for a family at church with small kids and a new baby. They have food allergies - eggs, nuts, and shellfish. My go-to for this type of thing is typically lasagna or home made mac & cheese. Do I look for egg free pasta and do both of these (i usually do lasagna with an egg but can do it without as well). Any other suggestions of foods that are easily reheated for the family? Thanks in advance,

[Anonymous]

Wow. Are you sure they WANT you to provide them with food? Because we would appreciate the gesture but not be able to accept it, for the very reasons you are running into.

Every food allergy family is different when it comes to how they read and parse labels. Depending on how severe the egg allergy, pasta containing egg is likely out. Possibly also pasta made on the same line as egg, and that's most pasta. And if you have nuts and peanut butter in your kitchen - frequently making PBJ sandwiches, for example - your kitchen might not be a safe place to make food for a nut allergic family.

You will want to get clarification from the family on all of these issues before moving forward.

[Anonymous]

Baked ziti. Chicken parm.

Combine with salad and garlic bread.

[Anonymous]

How about chili? Chicken fajitas? Black beans and rice?

Most pasta does NOT have egg. That shouldn't be the hard part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Are you sure they WANT you to provide them with food? Because we would appreciate the gesture but not be able to accept it, for the very reasons you are running into.

Every food allergy family is different when it comes to how they read and parse labels. Depending on how severe the egg allergy, pasta containing egg is likely out. Possibly also pasta made on the same line as egg, and that's most pasta. And if you have nuts and peanut butter in your kitchen - frequently making PBJ sandwiches, for example - your kitchen might not be a safe place to make food for a nut allergic family.

You will want to get clarification from the family on all of these issues before moving forward.

OP HERE. Yes, they have given us this list of requirements for the allergies.

[Anonymous]

Do a rice-based dish with chicken.

[Anonymous]

chicken enchiladas. baked ziti with a salad. chili with rice. any of a variety of soup/stew (chicken noodle) with a good loaf of bread. rotisserie chicken with potatoes and green beans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about chili? Chicken fajitas? Black beans and rice?

Most pasta does NOT have egg. That shouldn't be the hard part.

Many pastas are produced on equipment that also processes products with egg (egg noodles). Check a box of Barilla and it has an egg allergy warning.

DeCecco pasta is safe and there are many sauces that are also fine. If you've never had to look for potential allergens you would probably be surprised at how many products have an allergen warning.

[Anonymous]

I have made meals for several families including some with food allergies. I have often given them a list of options and so far, all have chosen the same meal:
Homemade meatloaf, homemade mashed potatoes, salad and green beans

Since this is one of my family's favorites and I don't make it enough for them, whenever I make this, I make a double, one big loaf for us and one loaf separated into 6 mini-loafs for the other family. Easy meal to heat in the microwave. Always been very gratefully accepted. I've seen several of the families later and they've all been very grateful afterwards.