CHRISTMAS should be a time for joy, celebration and laughter and for many of us that means inviting family and friends over to feast and make merry.
However festive gatherings can quickly turn to tragedy if one of your guests has an allergic reaction and even a mild allergic response can turn merry into miserable.
A staggering one in 10 Aussie children and many adults suffer from allergies.
Nuts, gluten, eggs and dairy, fish and shellfish can really make life hard when preparing for the holiday feast. Add the pain of summer hayfever and it can turn festive cheer into a frustrating sneer.
It's always worth checking with guests to find out if they have any allergies or food intolerances and to remind them to bring any medications - particularly epipens with them. Epipens are single use injectors containing epinephrine which is administered to someone having an anaphylactic reaction (severe allergic reaction which may include swollen lips and a sensation of the throat swelling, wheezing, problems breathing etc) after consuming or coming into contact with a food or substance they are allergic to.
Epipens are easy to use and can be life-saving - here are some facts on anaphylaxis and epipens from the Sydney Children's Hospital Network.
Allergic reactions can also include wheezing, rashes and nausea.
Nuts
Christmas treats often include cakes, stuffing, puddings and other goodies which can be loaded with all sorts of nuts. Many recipes can be replaced by substituting nuts for dried fruits like cranberries and apricots. Remember some people may be allergic to the sulphites used as preservatives in foods such as dried fruits.
Gluten
There's nothing silly about being a coeliac, and Christmas time is another occasion where it can be difficult to keep the gluten gifts away. They're in everything from cakes to sausages. Thankfully gluten-free snags, flours and cakes are more readily available now than year's previous. Also, try using buckwheat and quinoa, which are both great alternatives and completely gluten-free. Other options include legumes, lentils or chickpeas.
Eggs
While most kids are allergic to the egg white rather than the yolk, there's still no safe way to separate the two. The small traces of egg white can trigger an allergic reaction. Also, be wary of egg substitutes, many of which contain egg ingredients. Instead, look for quality egg replacements.Eggs are often used in cooking and baking as a 'binder' to combine ingredients together. Some possible replacements that work as a 'binder' are half a banana, gelatine mix, or a tablespoon of ground flax seed mixed with three tablespoons of warm water. One tablespoon of xanthan gum can also be used to bind and add texture. If eggs are needed as a leavening agent in a recipe, try using a tablespoon of vegetable oil with one teaspoon of baking powder.
Dairy
Milk, chocolate, ice cream, puddings and other treats are all staples of the silly season. Thankfully there's plenty of substitutes available. There's plenty of alternatives to lactose, such as soy, rice or almond milk.
Fish and shellfish
Quite a common allergy so watch for cross-contamination of foods if any of your guests are allergic to fish or shellfish. Make sure plates and utensils are kept separate. Be aware if you cook these foods on the barbecue, that you need to clean the hotplate throughly before cooking anything else on it.
Meats
Beef, chicken, mutton, and pork can also trigger food allergies.
Other culprits
Corn, gelatin, seeds such as sesame, sunflower, and poppy spices, such as caraway, coriander, garlic and mustard.
Hayfever
If you haven't started taking your hayfever medication yet, it's a good idea to start as soon as you can. Professor Mimi Tang said that it was best to start treatment before any symptoms appear. "The best treatment for hayfever is a topical nasal steroid spray because it begins as inflammation of the nasal lining," she said. As the allergy capital of the world, Australians should act now and continuously through the allergy season.
Thunderstorm asthma
A high pollen count and thunder make for a dangerous mix for people with asthma or hay fever. The unique thunderstorm asthma event can happen from October through December, causing severe asthma symptoms that make it difficult to breathe.
If you have asthma and develop symptoms such as wheezing and chest tightness, follow your asthma action plan. If you haven't experienced these symptoms before, see GP and get yourself checked out. Most of all, avoid being outside during a thunderstorm - close your doors and windows!
