From a dietary perspective, my family used to be "normal." No one had food allergies, and we all ate meat. Then suddenly everything changed. Now two family members who are gluten-free, three are diabetic, two are vegans, one has an allergy to specific fruits and several are spontaneously picky eaters (probably because they felt left out). Awesome. It's hard to bring dishes everyone can eat to holiday gatherings, but more so, knowing who can eat what is even trickier. This year I am considering labeling all the Thanksgiving dishes, and these photographic tags are rather clever!
We checked in over at Photojojo where there's always some photo based project happening. This time around it just happens to coincide with the dinner table. Sure there's little card holders or other retail based labeling systems out there, but there's just something funny about making a sign that says meat... from meat.
Sure you could just make a label on the computer, but if you're looking to take things one step further, this creative set up is easy to make and fun to throw together. Plus, since they're laminated, once you make them, you'll never have to do so again. Just tuck them in a drawer and use them for dinner parties and other social events.
• Read More: Photo Food Tags: A Thanksgiving DIY Project from Photojojo
Related: Vegan & Gluten-Free Recipe: No-Bake Sunflower-Oat Bars
(Image: Photojojo)
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"... and several are spontaneously picky eaters (probably because they felt left out)."
Confession: Totally giggled out loud when I read that.
I don't want to sound like a big meanie, but since WHEN did having a dinner party mean having to cater to the individual desires of everyone you invite? Surely this is going too far. What happened to being thrilled someone invited you to share a meal with them and partaking of what is offered with as little fuss as possible? Even a typical meal of meat, potatoes and a couple of vegetables should take care of the medical issues. As for the picky eaters/vegans, they could perhaps bring something suitable with them to add the table or just plain make do.
wow *Carolyn'sKitchen* doesn't live in a big city or have a very diverse group of friends. yes, i am vegan, and would never fuss (i pre-eat often) but my friends range from other vegans, just vegetarians, meat lovers, celiacs... we have the most interesting dinner parties where there is something for each person to enjoy and no one complains or leaves hungry.
Actually I think a dinner party is the perfect time to cater to your guests - whether their diets are by choice or necessity. I cook to show I care and providing fare compatible with someone's diet, to me, is a matter of respect. Why would I invite someone to dinner and knowingly provide them with food they don't eat?
The article we are commenting on was discussing Thanksgiving and family, as was I. Our family includes my husband's mother and six siblings, their spouses, our nieces and nephews and their partners and children, our own children, etc. We serve turkey (raised by a friend), stuffing, mashed potatoes, 3 vegetables, homemade rolls and pies and cookies for dessert. Anyone can bring an additional dish if they desire but there is no way I would cater to specific tastes. Dinner is served buffet style so people can help themselves to what they find acceptable and ignore what they don't. An intimate dinner party where specific people are invited would be a different story of course.
However, I still believe that food and holidays should be about being together and should not become divisive because of specific food choices that our affluent society can afford to indulge in. I like to buy food responsibly but I don't expect others to cater to that and will happily eat whatever they are kind enough to provide when I am in their home. The obvious exception to this would be medical necessity if that was an issue.
Who's divisive in this conversation?