As I said in this post, it’s difficult to make everyone happy around the holidays, especially when your guests may have dietary restrictions. These restrictions can be allergies or self-imposed, like vegetarianism or veganism. It’s important not to designate between the two; people with dietary restrictions take their meals seriously either way. It’s important to be prepared for those who are coming to visit.
In the aforementioned post, I listed 22 recipes for people with various dietary restrictions, such as grain-free (paleo), gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan. I know that to some people it may seem like common sense, but I’m going to give you a brief run-down of each diet:
*Grain-free/Paleo: These people do not eat any types of grains; this includes, but is not limited to: oats, rice, wheat, and corn. Seeds are allowed on this diet. An option for this diet is quinoa (which is considered a seed).
In addition to this, Paleo people do not consume milk, refined sugars (like white, brown, or powdered sugar), or legumes (beans and peanuts). Double check with your guest to see exactly what he or she will eat. Almond milk, natural almond/cashew butter, and maple syrup are good alternatives for these people.
*Gluten-free: These people do not eat any type of gluten; gluten is a staple ingredient in wheat. This eliminates many traditional breads, pastas, cereals, etc. Unlike the grain-free diet, this diet allows for rice and corn. Options for this diet include quinoa, rice/corn pasta, and gluten-free breads. There are many options for gluten-free diets today.
*Dairy-free: These people are usually lactose intolerant; lactose is a staple of milk, butter, and cream. Although you should check with your guest, eggs are usually considered okay, as are some yogurts and other fermented foods. (But PLEASE check!) Options to eliminate dairy include coconut oil, palm shortening, and coconut milk.
*Vegetarian: By definition, these people only eat vegetables; many are open to eating eggs, butter, honey, and milk. (But again, CHECK!) Please do not assume that vegetarians eat fish or chicken - because that’s not what strict vegetarians eat. Everything on this blog is vegan and vegetarian-friendly.
*Vegan: Vegans eat no animal-based products; this includes honey, milk, eggs, butter, and other products with animal ingredients. Some vegans are so sensitive that they do not want their food prepared in the same dish as animal products.
Be sure to check with him or her to see the level of his or her vegan-ness. Everything on this blog is vegan and vegetarian-friendly. There are many options for the holidays.
*Disclaimer: I am in no way an authority on people’s diets; I’m simply trying to demystify these buzz words for the common man. Please be sure to consult the individual to see what his or her needs and preferences are.
Everybody’s crunched for time during the holiday season. I wanted to make a listing of allergy/lifestyle friendly breakfast and brunch options for all of your out-of-town guests.
1. Bourbon Spice Granola with Dairy-free Yogurt {Acceptable for Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Vegetarian, and Vegan} -
This recipe fits the aforementioned diets as is. For the dairy-free yogurt, I would choose coconut yogurt (vanilla flavor), but check to see if your guest is allergic to either coconut or soy. Make sure that you buy certified gluten-free oats for this recipe if someone is allergic to gluten.
To adapt this recipe for grain-free and paleo diets, simply omit the oats; perhaps you can replace the oats with cashews or almond slices. Paleo people may not like that there’s bourbon in it, so double-check with them.
To make ahead - A few days before your guests arrive you can make the granola. Boom. It’s ready to go, as a snack or breakfast!
2. Boozy Baked French Toast With Blueberry Syrup {Acceptable for Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Vegetarian, and Vegan} -
If you use gluten-free bread, this recipe is good for the aforementioned diets.
If you’re feeling adventurous and bold, you can try to bake Danielle Walker’s grain-free bread and use it in the recipe for grain-free and paleo diets.
To make ahead - the night (or two) before serving, cube the bread and pour the casserole mix over the bread. It’s ready to go the next morning in the oven with minimal prep.
3. Pumpkin Spice French Toast {Acceptable for Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Vegetarian, and Vegan} -
If you use gluten-free bread, this recipe is good for the aforementioned diets.
If you’re feeling adventurous and bold, you can try to bake Danielle Walker’s grain-free bread and use it in the recipe for grain-free and paleo diets.
To make ahead - Buy or make the bread and have it sliced and ready to go; the night before you plan on serving the toast, mix the batter and leave it in the fridge overnight. You can just dip the toast the next morning. You can also make the French Toast and keep it in the fridge and warm it up as needed for guests.
4. Boozy Bourbon Apple Butter {Acceptable for all aforementioned diets**}
This recipe fits all diets, as is. You can prep it in the slow cooker days (weeks) ahead of time and stick the finished apple butter in the freezer (or seal/can it). This can be eaten on grain-free/gluten-free free bread (like Danielle Walker’s grain-free bread), bagels, etc.
You can also make my coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, and pancakes with the apple butter. These three recipes are vegetarian and vegan friendly.
**People who follow Paleo diets may not approve of bourbon in their apple butter. Check with your guest on this.
5. Pumpkin Spice Bagels With Bourbon in the Bread Machine {Acceptable for Dairy-free, Vegetarian, and Vegan} -
This recipe fits the aforementioned diets as is.
To make ahead - It’s easy to make these bagels ahead of time and have them ready in a Ziploc baggie for guests. If you make them a few days ahead of time, you can freeze them and defrost them as needed.
I hope that this post helps you all out with your breakfast planning. Make the most of your time this holiday season and plan ahead 🙂
Cheers!
-Aileen
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