Gluten-Free Birthday Ideas because sometimes making a birthday party inclusive for everyone can be a challenge. #CompromiseFree birthdays = parties where you can have fun while still accommodating the diets of all your friends.
Note: the following giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.
Gluten-Free Birthday Ideas
And I’m throwing in some lactose-free birthday party ideas as well…because food sensitivities can include lactose too. But you don’t need to fret…you can still have a flavourful (and easy) party.
When putting out your foods…keep the compromise-free foods (gluten-free, lactose-free) in their own section of the table (you could even put a little flag in them to mark they are compromise-free). That way you can steer your guests with food sensitivities to food choices which are for them.
Let’s start with snacks…have you tried PC® Gluten-Free Pretzel Bites (pictured below left)? Highly addictive. Plus, you can put them in soups and salads in place of croutons. And if you don’t have a gluten sensitivity…you would still love to crunch these pretzel bites. Really good!
Next, main course: Gluten-Free Mac N’ Cheese. Ready in just 20 minutes this homemade gluten-free macaroni and cheese serves 6 (psst…substitute lactose-free cheddar cheese in the recipe if you need to).
Blow out the candles on a delish cake made using a PC® Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix. It used to be sourcing special flour for food sensitives was so much work…now it’s as easy as a cake mix. And if you only have one or two guests with food sensitivities you can make your life even easier and just pick up PC® Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes (chocolate or vanilla) in the bakery section of your local Loblaws or Real Canadian Superstore.
Aside: Watch for the step-by-step how to make rainbow icing post soon (it’s vegan icing and delish!)
$100 President’s Choice Gift Card Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a $100 President’s Choice gift card – this will go a long way to making your next birthday party, family meal or get together truly #CompromiseFree.
Disclosure: #ad This post is brought to you by PC. All opinions are my own.
we are fortunate in that we do not have any food allergies or sensitivities in our family – it must be very difficult and scary!
We have someone with an allergy to shell fish/peanuts and another lactose free it can be difficult sometimes in meal preparing to keep everyone happy.
I really appreciate how restaurants are beginning to post and identify special diets on their menus!
We are lucky to have no food allergies
The only one who has a food sensitivity is myself, and its tough sometimes! Especially when we eat at Restaurants!
my son has egg allergies
I have a lot of food allergies. luckily it’s not gluten. Going out or for family dinners is hard, and I often end up just bringing something for myself to eat. Family members tend to forget and often say “there’s a little bit in there but I thought it would be ok”. even a little bit is not ok when it comes to food allergies.
So very lucky that none of my kids has allergies but there are many kids in their classes who do have (some life threatening) and it would be so scary to be a parent of those kids. Thanks for the ideas, this will come in handy for birthday parties.
Luckily no sensitivities in the family but I do have a friend who has to avoid lactose so have to make adjusts to recipes when she visits.
My wife has celiac disease. It is sometimes a struggle to find great gluten free options for her.
We have friends who have to eat gluten free so we try to include food they can have.
I’m highly allergic to almonds and BF is very finicky about gluten free options
I have to eat gluten free, i’m not too impressed. It’s tricky in restaurants. Luckily I don’t eat out very often
It’s easy to become creatures of habit when it comes to dealing with food sensitivities (sticking to the same brand and product because you know it works for you). Whenever my husband (gluten-free) feels like switching things up, we have to make sure to allow adequate grocery shopping time so that we can explore the aisles and read the food labels.
No food allergies here, but I always check with my guests in advance so that they can be accommodated
I have a sister who eats gluten free. I can eat almost anything.
we have no food allergies in our home
My sister is allergic to peanut, so growing up, we were very careful about the foods we had. It’s daunting to have food sensitivities like that but it is manageable.
Love the decorate your own – so cute
I think it’s difficult to deal with food intolerance. My coworker can’t have any gluten so I can’t enter his office with my snacks.
Thankfully no one in my family has a food sensitivity. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to avoid certain foods. It would require careful label reading of everything!
Lupus has relegated our diets to a seemingly endless search for combinations of foods that work for us. Additives in processed foods as well as chemicals used in growing and handling of produce and meat are also concerns.
I find family members typically judge me more than anyone for my allergies, seeing it as high maintenance and a nuisance!
I never knew PC had so many gluten-free options~~
My fiance has, fairly recently, discovered he is allergic to yeast.
Yes, yeast. Maybe it’s more of an intolerance, but what it is (for sure!) is a nightmare. So many yummy things have yeast, lol. So now, for breakfasts, he has the President’s Choice Crumpets (which are AMAZING)
My 4 year old daughter has Celiac disease so every time she goes to a birthday party she has to bring her own snacks and gluten free cupcake, unless the host is gluten concious.
We have a family all with allergies- great article!
We don’t have any food sensitivities but my niece does (nut allergy). She comes over for play dates a lot and her mom will pack her snacks for her but we still have to be careful with the food we have in our house and the food that we eat when we are around her. I have started buying nut free snacks for my daughter to enjoy too when my niece over.
I have found that having food allergies means that I have to be careful anytime I eat packaged foods or foods that other people have prepared..
I usually deal with pain of some sort each day but if I stay away from wheat my pain level stays really low.
I work with children and we have allergies in the group to milk, nuts and fish, I find education is the key and making the allergies well known is super important.
My daughter is allergic to gluten so these recipes are great.
I’m grateful that we don’t have any serious food allergies in our family but I think the most important thing is awareness. Making sure everyone that is around that child is very aware of the situation would be so important!
i have no food allergies
I don’t have food allergies
I love that there are so many gluten free options for my family
Love the idea of glutten free products.
My niece has food sensitivities and is allergy to eggs,it can be challenging at times !
We have family members who are celiac. It’s hard to find some ingredients which are gluten free.
I’m lucky enough to not have issues with food sensitivities in my immediate family but I have some extended family with some bad food allergies and it’s really hard for them. I can’t even imagine.
party planning always is having to check that no one has bad allergies etc.
I think everyone has food sensitivities but may not even be aware. I think by moving to a healthier more natural diet or growing up eating wholesome foods many food sensitivities can be avoided.
My family is fortunate enough not to have an food sensitivities or allergies! We make sure not to pack peanut butter to work and school though.
my sister is gluten free and it is a pain for her at parties to make sure there is food she can eat
My son has a dairy protein allergy that keeps us on our toes!
My brother is allergic to fish and nuts so it is always difficult to plan around that when everyone wants to eat these!
We are the lucky ones that don’t have to deal with major food sensitivity, but I know some of the kids at my son’s schools do have food sensitivity and it’s hard on the parents when it comes to birthday parties.
We don’t have any food allergies or sensitivities in my house but one of my best friends has a daughter who is celiac and another who has a milder reaction to gluten so its great that there are affordable choices out there for them as she doesn’t always have the time to bake from scratch.
I am sensitive to dairy so I’m always looking for dairy alternatives, like nut milk or soy. Soy milk in particular is delicious, in my opinion!
We are lucky to have no food allergies in our immediate families
No issues in this family, so we are lucky. I am sure it can be quite the challenge.
We are lucky that we do not have any food allergies in our family
I am prediabetic and my doctor has me staying away from gluten. My wife and I had to change the way we think about food
My daughter has countless food allergies or is intolerant to foods in the following groups: dairy, gluten, shell nuts, shell fish, berries, cucumbers, and the list goes on. We’ve had to eliminate and alter the foods we purchase and prepare to accommodate her ever changing dietary restrictions.
So many people seem to have food sensitivities now that it’s hard to keep up with them.
We have been gluten free for quite a few years. It has changed our life for the better. We found it difficult in the beginning to adjust and find ways to eat out but we have found a lot of gluten free options and restaurants in our area. Thank you for this great giveaway 🙂
I’m allergic to milk so I drink soy or Almond Milk instead.
A coworker is allergic to fish and another loves tuna sandwiches!
we are fortunate in that we do not have any food allergies or sensitivities in our family. Just pollen allergies. Ug
Lucky to not have allergies at all in the family.
No major food sensitivities but I always check ahead when company is coming. Don’t want to ruin a visit with an attack of some kind.
I have a few friends with major food sensitivities and I am always glad to accommodate them when they come over.
I have to be careful when preparing foods that will be shared with a large group as some people in the group may have food sensitivities
Carefull planning is needed when you invite people over for dinner; I usually have to make separate dishes for each individual.
We are lucky that we have none but do know that restaurants and stores can accommodate almost any problem now
I stay away from foods I know I cannot digest
I have some minor food sensitivities which gives me acne and my skin turns a little red. It sucks!
My girl has sensitivity with some lactose products. I try she doesn,t consume those.
so lucky we have not food allergies in our home
We are fortunate enough not to have any food allergies.
We are very lucky to not have any food sensitivities…yet!
My cousin’s wife is gluten intolerant and we always make sure that we make her something that she can eat when they come to visit.
I know a few friends who have food sensitivities. Some can’t drink milk, etc.
My son has severe peanut and hazelnut allergies. Fortunately, he has not had a significant reaction to date. We do inform people though when we are going to a party or eating out, etc.
I try to work with my gluten intolerant friends to serve foods they are able to eat.
Its interesting how food sensitivities have increased SO much in past 20+ years. is it environmental? or is it over-sheltering children? Likely environmental, but ….tough problem to solve!
I think awareness and kindness goes a long way towards looking after those family members, friends and acquaintances who have food allergies or sensitivities. BUT, I also feel that these people should also express the same sentiment in return for those of us who do not have these issues. I understand that small children are incapable of managing their sensitivities, but I know that they can learn as they get older (my own child for example), but I don’t like the complete removal of foods from an environment entirely and from other children who don’t have these allergies.
Several of my kids friends have food allergies, but I always keep snacks that they can eat stocked at my house. 🙂
I have had little ones in my home before with food allergies. We try very hard to be extra careful and cautious with their food choices when they are here.
I’m trying to be very sensitive in preparing food for my guests who have food sensitivities!
I am fortunate that I do not have any food allergies, but for people that do, it is important that while preparing food, that there is no cross-contamination.
my son has Celiac so its very hard cooking meals sometimes I have to cook him something different than everyone else is eating, gets to be quite expensive too, but Celiac seems to run in the males in my family
Preparing meal with food restrictions can be really difficult,we have allergies to eggs and shell fish!
We are lucky to not have food allergies
I know that when I am going to a special event to bring myself a “treat”
lucky to have no food allergies but we have friends that do.
My sister has a gluten intolerance so we try to find recipes that will suit her and there’s actually plenty out there, more and more all the time.
I have a relative who has a gluten intolerance and it used to be a challenge when dining out but most restaurants now have gluten free choices.
I do not have food allergies
We’re really lucky not to really have any sensitivities, but I do have friends that do. So I always make choices that they can eat. PC has some great options!
I don’t have food allergies but my doctor has told me not to eat gluten because of how fast it converts to sugar
I’ve got a friend who can’t have gluten, and a sibling who can’t have eggs. We make sure to have foods that everyone can eat when we have picnics or family dinners!
Having our child be aware of her allergies (as well as her symptoms to her allergies) for self-advocacy was one way we ensured her health safety.
It definitely is tough to navigate food sensitivities, especially with my girlfriend who needs to be gluten free. No cookies, breads, beer- but I do appreciate the movement to make it easier on us!
We are lucky with no sensitivities but I do have friends that deal with it in their families so I know it can be challenging.
No allergies, but watch salt and sugar content
I am sensitive to milk products and to wheat if I over do it.
No sensitivities here, but I coworker of mine has a serious one.
There are several members in our very large family that have food allergies, so I’m very happy that the restaurants and foods that we purchase contain lists of ingredients.
We are lucky to not have any food sensitivities or allergies in the family but some of my kids’ friends have it. It is always a struggle to know what to prepare when they are at my house for play dates or sleep over.
We are lucky no one in our family has food sensitivities.
I developed an allergy to curry, which is really inconvenient, because my husband loves it. It’s difficult to go to restaurants, as I’ve had a reaction even after being assured the dish had no curry in it. So, no curry in our house.
We are very lucky that no one in our family has food sensitivities.
My grandson is having problems and is on a gluten free trial to see if that is the issue, thankfully it is a lot easier nowadays to find gluten free products at the store!
our family doesn’t have any food allergies.
We are lucky to have no food allergies but I have to watch what I eat because I have problem with my digestion!
@ParentClub @PresChoice #CompromiseFree We have to be sensitive to other people’s allergies, some are life threatening.
Our family has been fortunate to only have 1 food sensitivity (my daughter). But my friend has Crohn’s and we need to be careful everywhere we go eat together. Some foods react quite seriously with her.
She has quite a lot sensitivities.
My youngest has an allergy to nuts; when he was younger we made sure to inform all his friends and our family of it and they were good about accommodating him. We also did some nut desensitization therapy and its MUCH better now. His lips and face tingle a little, but he no longer has a full out anaphylactic attack.
Having safe options and accommodating everyone is always ideal.
We found Out my nephew has a severe food allergy to eggs it is so hard finding foods without it
No big sensitivities in the household, but we do have someone who gets an upset stomach when eating too much sugar, so I try to be careful about bring too many sweets in the house as it is overly tempting.
I’m allergic to onions and it’s a real pain in the but to try to find food that doesn’t have onions in it.
I think it’s a lot easier now to find gluten free things.
Restaurants are beginning to offer special diets on their menus and that’s great!
We are really fortunate in our family to not have any real issues with food intolerances — just some very mild sensitivities, I suppose. We occasionally buy gluten-free products, just because, and I am thinking of trying lactose-free milk.
The stores so seem to have a lot of gluten-free products now. We have no food allergies but I still occasionally purchase the products.
Our kids are not allowed to take peanut products to school to help protect those with allergies.
Dealing with food sensitivities is very frustrating especially when you can’t quite pinpoint the problem.
I don’t have any food allergies but my oldest daughter and her sons does. They live far away so I don’t really understand it all.
I find it takes time to discover food sensitivities and to deal with them.
We use soy butter instead of peanut butter because my kids school is peanut free!
I love there are so many gluten free options
My boyfriend has an allergy to fish. Thankfully it is minor but it is difficult, especially when eating out
#CompromiseFree
I am lucky to NOT have any food allergies but my daughter’s stomach doesn’t agree with milk!
I am lucky to have no food allergies.
food sensitivities are a part of life and dealing with it is sometimes difficult.
I deal with several food sensitivities, and it seems the older I get, the more I have. It’s made eating difficult, going shopping for food an awful experience, and cooking–well, I hate that even more!
Lactose-freei s an essential in my family
I know a few people that cannot have gluten at all
Luckily I don’t personally have any food allergies, but I know lots of people who do.
No food allergies known of here 🙂
I am very sensitive to the allergies of my friends and family and make sure I always have something for them that will not cause any health issues.
No food allergies in our family.
We are lucky in that we have no one in our family with food allergies or sensitivities.
When my youngest was little, we would bake a safe cupcake and other treats for him before sending him to birthday parties. We hated to inconvenience others, so we would be courteous and bring along what was safe for him, so he could participate in all the festivities.
We don’t have any sensitivities but it is nice to know what products are out there if we ever need to use any for friends etc.
I’m very lucky, I did not have to deal with any allergies or food sensitivities, but I see some of my friends who are dealing with it and how hard it can be.
My little guy has peanut and hazelnut allergies.
My fiance’s food intolerances are really frustrating – we are going to have to do a lot of work to get over this yeast thing.
I know a few people that cannot have gluten, its a good idea to have something in your house for your guests in case they can’t have gluten
I have a family member who has to eat gluten-free foods.
There are certain foods that I love but I can’t it unless I make it at home because they always have onions which make me very sick
Lucky to have no major food sensitivities here
Be mindful of others and be flexible!
We have a new Pug puppy and I learnt the hard way that he has a very sensitive stomach!
I love the gluten free options for family
I have a gluten sensitivity that causes my joints to swell with inflammation when I eat gluten of any kind, in the smallest amounts. This food looks amazing.
I have an allergy to hot peppers and am very careful when eating out that they are not in my food as my throat tends to swell from the smallest amount of them..
My sisters kids have egg allergies!
One of my sons friends has severe food allergies and I know it’s very difficult for their family…I think talking about it helps and being very open about it, the more people who know and understand the better!
I do have friends who are allergic to gluten which means a lifestyle change for them.
Unless you get tested for allergies it is very difficult to avoid these demons!
no allergies in our family but I do believe everyone’s bodies respond differently to each food group. So even though know allergies we may have intolerances we are not aware of.
it would mean a complete food change
more education is needed for the public for food allergies
Having food allergies is a big challenge for my sister.
It is really hard being allergic to Tomatoes because their is tomatoes in a lot of things.
Luckily we don’t have any food allergies in our house but my friends son has very severe allergies so I have to be extra careful when taking food items there.
I’m fine eating anything but our daughter egg and gluten sensitivities.
We don’t have any food sensitivities in our family but my sister has gluten sensitivities, and I noticed that she always has to be careful with her food choices when we go out for lunch or dinner.
My family does not have any food allergies.
I’m very fortunate not to have any food sensitivities. But, because I have friends with food sensitivities, I have learned how important food labels are.
No allergies here – just strong opinions!
My family is fortunate to not have any food sensitivities or allergies but when my kids’ friends stay for dinner or sleepover it is always a struggle on what to prepare for them with their specific food requirements.
we need more gluten free products on the market
I think it’s great that their now coming out with different food lines for people with allergies
I have relatives with food allergies so I have to be careful when having them over for dinner.
I am always careful and asking about food sensitivities when I have quests.
Families are lucky if they have no food allergies!
Food allergies and sensitivities are a challenge. Fortunately there are more and more products in stores that help make meal preparation easier.
I am sensitive to milk products.
No food allergies here
I only have 1 food allergy. Blue cheese, which is pretty hard to manage, but it’s one of those things where as soon as I come against it, it’s immediate. I get red, splotchy – its not anaphalactic or anything, but if you so much as use the same cheese knife to cut bluecheese and then cheddar, and I eat the cheddar; bamo!
It’s so nice that we hear so much more about food allergies these days! Awareness is so much higher than it used to be.
Rice dishes are awesome to serve to gluten free friends.
My sister is a celiac; the initial adjustment was difficult, but now its simple and especially with all the options out there!
My son has allergies to milk and shell fish. I always have to be so careful when cooking and prepping our food
It is great that there are so many option out there right now, the odd time we have people visitor we have to deal with the odd sensitivity so it is nice being able to have the option to choose from.
we are very lucky not to have any food sensitivities in our family
We have no food allergies at our house.
I try and eat organic I am supposed to avoid foods with soy
Our childcare centre is nut free, as are most schools, I imagine. Haven’t had to do gluten free at home, just for visiting friends.
I have food sensitivities…I’m lactose intolerent and I sooo miss ice cream.
Our family doesn’t have any food sensitivities
By choice, my family is vegan so we avoid all meat, dairy, and eggs. My mother is gluten free and on dialysis so she has specific dietary needs that we have to adhere to when cooking for her.
People aren’t always mindful so you need to take charge of your surroundings and provide yourself (or child) with alternatives
We need to cook gluten and egg free for our daughter.
My niece has to eat gluten free foods.
I haven’t found a line of food that doesn’t use onions but who knows maybe some day it will happen
Food allergies can be so serious!
I have several coworkers who follow gluten free diets.
I have never experienced food allergies
I like that more and more restaurants offer gluten free food
With my son’s peanut and hazelnut allergies, it is hard to eat out in restaurants, parties, etc for fear of accidental ingestion.
I think family and friends should be flexible without judgment in regards to food allergies!
There are so many options these days to accommodate all food sensitivities, and an unlimited amount of information and education.
I have friends who have gluten problems, but I am lucky in that regard.
It is so easy to accommodate people with food sensitivities these days. There are so many options available at grocery stores.
Dealing with food sensitivities requires a lot of diligence to be sure that foods don’t contain items you are sensitive to.
Be sensitive at work when there are group events or birthday cake celebrations, etc. If someone doesn’t want to partake, then let them be. No food shaming.
It is definitely something to be aware of these days with how prevalent sensitivities seem to be getting, good thing there are more choices out there to choose from.
We don’t seem to have any sensitivities in our house but it’s good that there are alternative choices for those that do
There are many resources on the web to find information on food sensitivities. Articles like this help a lot.
I used to have a friend who suddenly became diabetic and couldn’t eat any sugar. So whenever I was with him eating, I made a conscious effort not to eat anything sweet or tempting. I would just eat sweets at other times.
Sometimes you just have to be sensitive to others when you are eating.
I’m amazed at how many people have found themselves having allergies. I know it’s hard to work around them
We have food sensitivities – we can’t eat wheat so this post was very helpful 🙂
Many sensitivities seem to be tied to processed foods. We need to get back to home-made foods again.
We have family members with food allergies so cooking is a challenge.
It is important to be creative when dealing with food allergies
It’s good that the stores offer so many more gluten free products now.
I can imagine that it could be very hard to deal with food sensitivities and allergies but it is good to see that there are more products out there to make it easier.
Food sensitivities can be difficult to navigate but with a little research and learning how to read labels it does get easier
Both my sisters sons have egg allergies!
I love that there are so many options out there for people with food allergies! This isn’t something that used to be readily available.
Fortunately there are many more food products available for people with food sensitivities. than there used to be.
I would like to see more lactose free products in my area.
Going gluten free is hard.
With so many people suffering from food sensitivities and allergies, I always ask my dinner guests if there are any I should be aware of before planning my menu.
So far my child hasn’t shown any food sensitivities, but I know they can appear at any age, so we keep an eye open for them.
I have friends that must live gluten free, so I see how tough it is.
Our daughter is eating gluten free so glad to have more products like these available.
Having someone in the house with a food allergy can be very difficult!
We buy lactose free milk all the time for our family
I have a freak beer allergy, that I discovered about 5 years ago. It’s not all beer, but there’s no real way for me to know, so I’ll probably be drinking Corona, Grolsch, Peroni, and Stella for the rest of my life, lol
I think it’s great that they’ve made a lot of gluten free foods for all of the sufferers
Some of our family members have food allergies so I have to cook accordingly.
My son was diagnosed with allergies to egg and peanuts as a baby – luckily he grew out of them!!!
Every once in a while we have a gluten free pot luck lunch at work because there are several coworkers who are on gluten free diets.
My sisterinlaw has food allergies
it’s always tough when someone has food allergies and they don’t tell you BEFORE they come to the party, my sister in law has allergies but makes sure to either tell before or bring something herself to not bother anyone
We have no food allergies in our home. But, I do find it difficult when I need to make my kids lunches for school. I am always worried about what I pack and if it gets in the wrong hands. I try to make peanut free but, it is really hard. We have their friends that have allergies and they are great with reading the labels and working with me on what they can and cannot have.
My oldest son and I have mild lactose intolerance and it can be really difficult to enjoy some of our favourite foods.
I’m learning new ways to bake – for example, to avoid using dairy products, I can use vegetable oil instead of butter or margarine in some baked goods.
I am fortunate that my family doesn’t have any food allergies but it becomes a struggle for me when I invite friends who have food sensitivities.
Lucky no immediate family with issues but I do have friends that do, love that there is more to choose from these days for when they visit.
My oldest daughter has a peanut allergy and it can be difficult sometimes but I find Canada is pretty good with labels. We have a much more difficult time when we are in the US for vacation.
I do find it interesting the findings about food sensitivities potentially being us avoiding foods in babies.
I’m thankful that my family can eat most things, as I have friends that are gluten and dairy free. It’s harder.
Our family is very fortunate not to suffer from any food related allergies
We find that gluten-free items seem to be much higher in price in Canada than in the U.S.
Our daughter is gluten, dairy and egg free so we always have to be aware of her sensitivities.
I have no food allergies
My nephew is allergic to nuts and my daughter has a gluten sensitivity so our family is conscience of what ingredients are in foods we eat.
I was in my early teens when I finally figured out I was allergic to onions and it’s extremely hard to find foods that are onion free
My niece is gluten intolerant.
i am lactose intolerant but it doesn’t stop me from eating too much as I can just take lactaid pills before I eat 🙂
It is great there are gluten free options
My 4 year old nephew is very allergic to tree nuts, so we have to read the food labels very carefully to avoid products containing them, plus products that state that they “may contain tree nuts”.
The grocery stores seem to have more gluten free options now.
I am sure it is pretty scary to deal with food sensitivities/allergies but it nice to see that there is more awareness about it and more products out there to help people deal with it.
It’s sometimes difficult to remember who has which food sensitivity. It’s important to label foods (at bake sales, potlucks etc.) so people know what’s in each food.
I take enzymes to help digest certain foods so I understand sensitivities
Multiple issues compound the search for solutions and really challenge the budget.
I think that it’s easier to shop for specialty foods now than it was ten years ago.
It’s easy to avoid certain triggers when foods are labelled properly
my son has lactose intolerance but it took a while to figure it out. glad there is many new lactose free products
I have a reaction to food colouring.
I sometimes have a reaction to sea food, but usually its only at restaurants… i can eat the stuff at home… go figure!
It is a real challenge for our family to eat out as my son has peanut and hazelnut allergies.
Be sensitive to people at work who have gluten intolerance. When making or bringing treats to office, keep them in mind and make something that works for everyone, or bring something especially for them
My aunt is allergic to seafood and she has to carry an epipen because she can’t breath
It’s hard to find foods that are suitable for family members with food allergies.
I read food labels a lot more now with so many people having allergies or sensitivities.
From what I have seen it can be very hard to deal with sensitivities/allergies when it comes to food can be very hard but I am glad that companies are stepping up and coming out with more options/choices.
We’re fortunate not to have any food sensitivities in our family. It must be difficult to have to be so aware of everything you eat.
One of my sons has lactose intolerance and he’s the only one of 7 children to have any food sensitivity thankfully. It took a while for the Drs to discover what the problem was and back in those days there were few products that were declared lactose free, thankfully that has changed a lot over the years and now there are products for all kinds of food sensitivities.
Our family has egg, dairy and gluten sensitivities so we always have to read labels.
Menus need to be more clear on their ingredients so people can make better choices when it comes to food sensitivities
Luck to not have any allergies or sensitivities
My daughter is on a gluten free diet and it’s easier than I thought to cook healthy meals.
Although I felt I had no gluten issues, I think my gut is working better than before.
It can be easy once you are used to it
Artificial colouring is my problem.
There are some very nasty food sensitivities, some can be deadly.
Having to read the labels on all processed foods to make sure there’s no onions can be a real pain, but not reading it is not an option for me
I don’t have food allergies but I have horrible seasonal allergies.
I don’t have any food sensitivities, but I think that the new products for people with food sensitivities must make life much easier for them.
There’s so many more choices for gluten free options when we dine out now. Some restaurants are better than others.
I am sure it can be quite the challenge but it is nice to see more companies trying to help out with making it easier.
Food allergies weren’t a thing when I was going to school in the mid-80’s and 90’s. I wonder what’s changed in the past 20 years that they are so common now. I’m glad that schools are taking the time to educate parents on what kids can safely bring to school.
I like there are so many gluten free free options around
I am fortunate enough to not suffer with food sensitivities, however, I have many friends who do and it is just terrible for them to try and find foods in restaurants or at home that will be 100% safe in regards to their sensitivities.
Have a friend who is lactose intolerant, so great to see these products.
Good to see an increase in products that can benefit individuals with allergies
We love it when food companies have food options for allergies and sensitivities. It makes it easier to buy food for our daughter with egg and dairy sensitivities.
It’s simpler now to get allergen friendly foods.
i appreciate how much more available gluten free options are these days making it much easier for those with allergies or intolerances.
I saw a comment, on another thread, claiming that people with celiac disease are the only ones who can have gluten sensitivity. Seems we need to do more education.
My son has a very bad milk sensitivity , it’s a daily struggle
I’m thankful that I don’t have any food sensitivities
We have no food allergies in our home but I personally have sensitivities. Shellfish is a favorite food of mine but I Know that i can only eat a small amount or i will pay for it! I suffer from Crohn’s disease so there are some foods that will cause a bad flare up as well so I do consider many of these things when I grocery shop.
Dealing with allergies to food colouring is straining.
Luckily there are no food allergies here, just one son who is lactose intolerant. It must be very worrying & frightening for those who have real food allergies. I was only reading recently that on a plane it can be enough if someone opens a bag of peanuts to cause an allergic reaction. How dreadful is that?
We have family members with food allergies.
It’s hard to find processed food when you have allergies are to something that is used regularly for a main ingredient and it provides flavor
I only have one relative with known food allergies so it isn’t too difficult to adjust our choices.
We are lucky with no issues in our house, very grateful because I am sure it can be quite the challenge.
I always appreciate when I go somewhere and the host asks me in advance if I can eat what they are serving. It makes planning the night so much easier.
I had quite a few food allergies in my early 30’s but now they have lessened or disappeared.
we always make a habit of, when inviting people over, ask if there are sensitivities/allergies that need consideration. thanks
There are a very few allergies in our family
my MIL is GF and DF, and it is hard to find products suitable for her outside of specialty food stores.
Restaurants are beginning to add special diets to the menu and it’s nice to know we can go out and enjoy a family meal and feel safe doing it !
Good to see more GF availability on grocers’ shelves.
Another good thing to do is research products before you go to the store to help you shop smart
I have a friend who is celiac, so these are great.
My son has severe milk allergies
Any type of allergy must be hard to deal with!
We are sensitive to dairy so try to avoid it.
I cook for family members with food allergies.
I usually have to have most of my meals at home because I have to avoid onions
A lot of people have food sensitivities.
Few of the people I know have food sensitivities and it can be an issue to them
it can be really challenging but luckily there are lots of new products and even bakeries serving more options for those with intolerances and allergies
I often wonder why I seldom heard of anyone having food sensitivities (except diabetes) 40 yrs ago and whether it has increased or whether it’s a case of there wasn’t as much known about it in the medical field. It certainly seems to be on the rise.
I am so well my granddaughter does not have food sensitivities .
Eating out can be difficult for people with allergies.
It’s good that people are becoming more aware of food sensitivities.
I always feel badly for children with extreme food sensitivities; they are often excluded from activities and events. But I think that if parents make the effort to make things easier for them (i.e. having the child take their own “safe” cupcake to a birthday party for example) and not making difficult for other parents, there would be more inclusiveness. Just saying… Its difficult for parents who have no experience with food sensitivities to accommodate a child that has them at an activity or event.
Great article on gluten free
We check ingredients on everything. Lots of disguised additives to look out for!
it’s great there are so many more food choices. thanks
Allergies suck!! I have seasonal allergies and am suffering right now!
If hosting a party you should ask the guests ahead of time if they have any food allergies
It can’t be easy for a family where food sensitivities are involved, sometimes more than one in the family.
Dealing with food allergies is a real pain in my gut, literally. If I eat onions I end with either severe abdominal cramps or vomiting profusely. It’s definitely a pain in the butt (figuratively) too
i have friends with allergies and it looks tough but luckily there are becoming more and more options
Food allergies can be serious condition for many people in our community
It’s nice when you dine out that so many restaurants have more gluten free options now.
I can only imagine how scary and hard it can be for those with food allergies, nice to see more products out there to help. Plus it makes it easy for shopping if you have people visit with sensitivities/allergies.
It is nice to know that those with food sensitivities can find many more options in stores and restaurants these days.
I know a few people with allergies.
No one in my family has food allergies
At this point milk is my only food sensitivity.
I was at a convention recently. We had two people with food sensitivities at our table. Although the convention hall had been informed of their needs, and the servers were very pleasant and polite, these two people were the last to receive their food at all three meals that we were served. The rest of us were almost finished before they received their first course. It must have been very difficult to have to wait so long.
Just discussing my friend is lactose intolerant, great she has options
We have to avoid dairy, eggs and gluten because of our daughter’s sensitivities.
It’s nice that you can find so much good food for special diets.
we eat everything, but we are sensitive to other kid’s allergies when we have them over
Many food allergies can be attributed to additives, not the foods themselves.
I had to go for a food allergy test once, and it showed nothing!
My son has bad peanut and nut allergies so I am always reading labels to make sure that the foods that I serve are safe.
Not so much a sensitivity, but my SO is diabetic so we have to be very careful with our meals!
I really sympathise with those who have very high sensitivity to certain foods. When I used to look for foods that my son, merely lactose intolerant, could eat I often found it very time consuming. Every label had to be read and with fresh meats etc I always had to ask. For salami I’ve stood for 20 mins whilst they tried to discover if it contained lactose – sure enough it did. I was amazed at how many different foods contained lactose where I had never really thought about it.
We have a family member with food allergies.
Going to restaurants can be difficult for food allergy sufferers like me because they all tend to use onions for flavoring
My son had bad allergies when he was young,but has grown out of them.My daughter has developed allergies as a teen.
My granddaughter has allergies to foods and it makes it hard to go out to eat.
Luckily we don’t have to deal with this but I am sure it is pretty scary and hard for those that do. Love that PC is trying to make it easier.
Glad they have these products
Thankfully have no issues here.
I’m lucky that no one in my immediate family has food allergies or sensitivities.
I know someone personally who has had a terrible time going through the process of pinpointing the allergies he has. He has had several instances where he needed to go to the ER for treatment after eating at a friend’s house or at a restaurant. So scary
my heart goes out to those with allergies especially severe ones, so much to think about and always pay attention to
I have ibs, so I do have sensitivities to certain foods, especially dairy.
I’m really happy to see more products that address food sensitivities on the shelves. It means that some dishes that we had to give up can now be eaten again.
I have had a life long struggle dealing with food sensitivities. I am just happy that companies like President’s Choice are recognizing that the struggle is real!!
Food sensitivities can be a lot of work to accommodate.
I’m fortunate not to have food sensitivities – it would take a lot of vigilance and self-control not to eat the “wrong” foods.
Luckily my family has no food sensitivities, but we always make sure our guests eat appropriately.
Nice to see gluten free products
I’m grateful to not have food sensitivities, I’ve even been tested, but our daughter has issues with eggs and dairy.
Grocery stores now seem to have more gluten free products
We’re lucky enough to not have anyone in our family or circle of friends that are dealing with food sensitivities or allergies.
I have some friends that have common allergens.
With my aunt being allergic to shelk fish and me allergic to onions we often commiserate with each other because other family members don’t understand
Some family members have lactose intolerance.
Good to see that these products are available for people with allergies
Having a gluten free potluck lunch at work gives us a chance to try new recipes.
i was very lactose intolerant growing up, it’s been getting better now especially in my pregnancy
I do know a few people who have gluten sensitivities and follow a restricted diet.
Most of my friends who have food sensitivities bring their own snacks wherever they go,so that they have something to eat when what is offered is not what they can eat.
Having food sensitivities or allergies makes eating out difficult.
I have to be extra careful when my sons best friends brother comes over as he has a lot of food allergies.
I can only imagine how hard it is to deal with food sensitivities and allergies, must make it very hard at times.
I have many health issues, however, I consider myself pretty fortunate that I have not developed food sensitivities or allergies (knock on wood).
I am luck not to have any food allergies
With all the chemicals added to processed foods, intended to enhance appearance, flavour, or shelf life, it’s a wonder more people don’t suffer reactions. Maybe they do, but attribute stomach aches, diarrhea, etc. to some other cause.
My wife can’t eat gluten so it makes going out to eat tricky. More and more restaurants are starting to have gluten free options which is nice.
There are so many gluten free options
It’s easier to find gluten free foods now.
My aunt aunt and I discussed how dangerous it is if we eat something we’re allergic to. We have to be really careful with everything if it’s not prepared at home
Few family members have food sensitivities that requires them to manage what they eat
I can definitely see it being a challenge to have to deal with this but it is nice to see companies like PC stepping up and trying to help out.
My daughter reacts to any tomato based sauce & tomatoes, but otherwise that’s the only food sensitivity in our family. I do have to modify some of our meals because of it.
It’s good that the stores have so many more choices for gluten free now.
im glad there are so many more options out there now and awareness
Because I have friends with food sensitivities, I’ve learned to make a few different desserts that I know they can eat.
I worked with a woman and we shared and office. She had a very severe peanut allergy and so I had to tell her anything that I was bringing into the office to eat or eat it away from her. I always worried so much that I might accidentally bring something that could set her off.
Nice to see so many products available.
It can be challenging dealing with food allergies
Our daughter has food sensitivities that she deals with so we have to watch what she eats.
Remember the old days, when no one had to worry that our food might be anything but nutritious?
It must be very stressful when a member of the family has a life threatening sensitivity to some food or other.
I have to cook gluten free for my niece.
If everyone could feel what an allergic reaction was like we might have better resolutions to the problem
i have never had to cook gluten free but it seems tricky
I find the gluten free recipes taste a lot better than they used to a few years ago
My biggest food allergy is Gluten, which is a sensitivity to the stuff, all of it. My joints get inflamed and swell, as well as my sinuses and everywhere for that matter. The only other is spicy foods for my hernia.
I have an Aunt with celiac disease, she’s glad there are better products.
Thank goodness there are so many options for gluten-free foods these days.
Some members of my family have had short-term sensitivities to milk products, but fortunately the sensitivities went away (I wish I knew why they started and why they stopped).
Many of the family events I attend have gluten free options
Humans are the only animal species whose adult members drink milk.
My wife can’t eat gluten so she often packs something for herself to eat just in case when we go out somewhere so she always has something she can eat.
My little guy has peanut and nut allergies so eating out can be a real challenge.
Our daughter has sensitivities to gluten, dairy and eggs.
I can only imagine how hard some people have it when it comes to allergies and food sensitivities.
I do like the fact that all stores are getting more into the food sensitivity problem, not just the expensive stores. Products are actually grouped together according to sensitivity and it’s widely broadcast on the package making shopping much easier plus there’s a lot more choice these days.
I like that it’s easier to find alternative foods in the grocery stores now.
Eating in restaurants or even buying processed food that meets a persons allergy requirements is usually next to impossible. Which is why I usually have to eat at home with food I’ve prepared myself.
Although many restaurants make an effort to provide for special dietary needs, the results often are poor if the staff don’t know about cross-contamination or other requirements.
I am sure it can be very hard to deal with this in your family, we are so lucky that we don’t have to. Nice to see that there are more companies like PC trying to help out.
My sister in law avoids gluten so I pay more attention to what I am cooking when she is visiting.
We have to be careful with allergies as my sister in law has allergies, so family gatherings can be a challenge.
We have to be careful when friends are over as a few of them have food allergies
It is a crime that the maker of Epipen tried to jack up the prices in the US. Probably just because they knew so many people need it in case of encountering an allergen.
It’s nice that they have options for people with allergies
I am lucky I have no allergies. It is nice that some restrauants are identifying triggers on thier menus
I have seasonal allergies and unfortunately most good antihistamines are expensive!
Dealing with food sensitivities would be a challenge, but worth taking the extra care to avoid having a bad reaction to a food.
Dealing with food sensitivies is challenging. Our niece is gluten free and it takes a great deal of reading of labels and food preparation to achieve this
A while back it was thought that one of my grandsons was sensitive to gluten, for 6 months he had to live on a gluten-free diet. I tried one of the special cupcakes that my daughter bought for him to take as a treat for someone’s birthday, I didn’t like it at all. I’m happy to say that the Drs have now decided he can come of the diet and eat normally again and boy is he happy too.
I had a friend ask about food allergies because her daughter just found she has allergies and it’s hard explaining all the ways you have to change things from shopping to preparing etc.
It is helpful that there are so many products and recipes for people with food sensitivities.
I’m happy that there are so many gluten free choices now.
My daughter and I are sensitive to a few foods. I think it’s only considerate to make sure you have food options to offer guests with food sensitivities. I host play dates regularly and I make sure I ask about this in advance.
We have no food allergies or sensitivities in our immediate family so there are no restrictions when shopping.
When we shop we think of our guest and purchase the items accordingly
It is rather annoying to see products which obviously have no gluten-containing ingredients loudly proclaiming they are gluten-free, It makes me want to boycott all of their products!
It’s nice to see these options for people with allergies and sensitivities
I think it is really great that there are now more options out there for people who have to deal with this.
I was sad to watch a report on TV about how many gluten-free foods are often pumped up with sugar, salt, or fats to fool a person’s taste buds. Such a shame.
It’s great that there are companies making foods for people with sensitivities like PC brand. Makes it a lot easier to cook for our daughter.
I always ask guests if they have special dietary concerns and accomodate them
There are a lot of options these days; no one needs to suffer through food allergies.
i love how many options there are now a days, makes things a little easier for those with allergies and sensativities
Ugh. My fiance’s yeast allergy is super annoying – we are starting to manage it well, but sometimes it’s not exactly a walk in the park, when something has yeast in it you don’t think of.
My niece goes to school with someone who is allergic to fish, so they cant have any type of fish at school
No one in our family has food sensitivities. I would expect it would be very challenging to deal with, if we did.
I remember having a couple around for a meal, she was worried since she normally can’t eat chinese food. However it went well and it seems that she’s allergic to MSG which of course I didn’t use.
It’s challenging to cook for family with food allergies.
As hard as it is to have allergies to onions, the one thing in my favor is I never stink like onions. Lol
I have a gluten intolerance and my husband was allergic to many foods as a child, some which still cause him some issues. Our daughter had a rice intolerance as a baby and our son is showing signs that some dairy products might be bothering him.
My sister is celiac; she has suffered through tremendous pain for decades. But with the education and information out now, the last 5 years have been amazing for her. Especially with all the food options available now!
I am very happy that none of my kids have food allergies!
I find that more people I know are getting food allergies later in life
You have to be more careful when sending the kids to school now with all the allergies that we see now.
Glad to see so many great choices for people with allergy
I wonder if the increase in food sensitivities has something to do with the fact that certain foods aren’t fed to children when they are little. I know that in Europe the case of early infancy death was put down to lack of contact with germs whilst young. Back in those days, babies were kept sterile in hospital and you had to keep them like that at home so the poor babies didn’t have a chance to build up any resistance and as a result illness were deadly for some.
glad to see so many more options out there for people struggling with allergies
With allergies to peanuts and nuts, my son has to attend all parties and activities where food could be present with my husband or I.
We always offer options on Halloween for those with allergies