Have you ever noticed that people with food allergies and sensitivities very rarely get invited out for lunch or dinner? The reason is simple — it is very difficult to cook and cater for those people! There is always the fear that you might cook something that can trigger a severe reaction or anaphylacticAn acute allergic reaction with rapid and severe onset that can lead to respiratory failure and life-threatening symptoms. shock. Most people don't want to have that responsibility and it's much easier to just not invite them.

Many of my family and friends have various food intolerances and allergies. I'm not talking about allergies to nuts, eggs, dairy or honey because they are generally more straightforward to avoid since manufacturers of foodstuffs are particular in stating these on labels. Possible lawsuits and consumer or media backlash tend to have a strong motivational effect!

For our dinner guests the main sensitivities tend to be with colours, preservatives (nitrates, salicylates, amines, sorbates, and propionates), MSG, and some artificial sweetenersA sugar substitute that tastes like sugar but with less food energy. Only a small amount is needed to create a sweetening effect.. While manufacturers in most countries are required to disclose regulated food additives, sometimes these can be listed with different names or confusing information. If you have a specific need you usually know what to look for, but as a person cooking for some else it's all mumbo jumbo. This is where the having a handy pocket reference like our Foodditive iPhone application can greatly help.

Cooking for my family and friends has been a real challenge for me. Even with the knowledge that I now have in regards to food additives and what they can and can't eat, I still find it difficult at times. Everything takes a lot longer to prepare, from doing your research into allowable foods/products, to buying the ingredients, and in some cases the preparation. The hardest thing I find is actually designing and coming up with recipes that will not only be suitable but also be flavoursome.

When you do invite food-challenged family and friends over for a meal they are far more appreciative of the extra time you have put in and you can truly brighten up their day. For you and me it's not necessarily an easy task but it does get better the more experience you have with it. But for them it shows that you care and makes them feel special!

Some quick cooking tips in planning your dinner:

• instead of asking your guests what they can't eat, ask them what they can eat
• be sure to ask about cooking oils, butter, spices, and other general pantry items
• always check the labels if you're buying a new brand of product as each manufacturer may have different ingredients
• it's also a good idea to periodically recheck the labels for the “safe” brands as occasionally formulations may change
• if you regularly cook for guests with food sensitivities be sure to have some of their products on hand
• if you're grilling on the barbeque, be careful not to share utensils or grill space between food that your guests may not be able to eat (for example, sausages or marinated meat)
• plan ahead and allow extra time for meal preparation
• choose fresh products and those with little or no colourings and preservatives (they're better for everyone!)
  
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