(Note: This post contains affiliate links)
The festive holiday season is just around the corner and you have been invited for a party (or maybe several). What are your options, food-wise? Before you start panicking, take a deep breath and remember that there are many ways to navigate the holidays, AIP-style. You can do this!
If the party is at a restaurant:
- Contact the restaurant ahead of time with your dietary requirements to work out a menu for you.
- If that’s not possible, order a plain green salad or AIP-compliant vegetable side dish. Ask for steamed plain vegetables and tell them to leave out the nightshades featured commonly in restaurants such as tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers.
- Bring your own protein (e.g. grilled chicken/ steak etc) and vinaigrette/ tapenade (I’ve been to restaurants that don’t stock olive oil, so don’t assume they have it in the kitchen!). Mini stainless-steel containers are perfect for storing dressings. Jazz things up with this pinch tin of Morton Sea Salt Flakes. I just love the portable size!
- Eat a filling meal before heading for the event if you don’t feel like eating at the restaurant and order sparkling water with a spritz of lemon juice. Take the opportunity to be the event photographer!
Suggested recipes
- This Hickory Garlic Olive Tapenade from Enjoying This Journey would be a perfect match for a nicely grilled chicken.
- Loads of dressings (31!) to choose from in my roundup of dressings.
- For a little portable dessert, how about some cool Peppermint Fudge by Grazed and Enthused or Don’t Eat the Spatula’s adorable Blackberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies? For more Christmas cookie ideas, check out Adventures in Partaking Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange for a fantastic roundup of recipes.
If it is an informal cocktail buffet/ potluck party:
- Offer to bring a potluck dish (A one-pot dish would be great, e.g. a casserole or stew).
- Bring easy to eat foods that preferably need not be heated up (e.g. finger foods like meatballs, bacon-rolled dates, etc). Bonus points if it can be eaten off a plate with one hand if it’s a standing room only party! No steak here, people.
- Bring your own drink. Some good options include sparkling water (e.g. La Croix) or kombucha.
- Bring your own dessert or offer to bring a simple dessert to share: e.g. jelly or gelatin.
Suggested recipes
- Italian Chicken Casserole by Hold the Grain (guest post at Meatified) which is chock full of vegetables!
- Rainbow Faux Rice by Heal Me in the Kitchen. With ground pork, purple yam and other vegetables in it, this is a complete meal!
- Creamy Chicken Casserole from Balancing BRCA. The ultimate comfort food! (Note: ghee is an AIP reintroductory food but you can use other AIP-compliant fat)
- Tasty Garlic and Herb-stuffed Mushrooms from A Squirrel in the Kitchen. Perfect little bites!
- Bacon-wrapped Dates from Sweet Potatoes and Social Change. Major meat-eating crowd pleaser here.
- Panna Cotta’s always an easy dish to make and enjoy. Try this festive Maple-Pumpkin Panna Cotta with Gingered Pears from Eat Heal Thrive!
Speaking of one-pot dishes, my AIP blogger friend Christina at A Clean Plate has an e-book called 28 Days of One-Pot AIP. Worth checking out if you want meal plans and recipes to follow!
If you don’t want to cook:
Paleo on the Go offers frozen AIP meals that come with reheating instructions and they even have a complete holiday menu!
- Truffled Cauliflower Cheese Soup
- Beef Brasciole & Nomato Sauce
- White Sweet Potato au Gratin
- Herb Roasted Mushroom Medley
- Spiced Pear Cobbler
If you happen to be a regular at a particular restaurant that you know can make you AIP-friendly food, consider placing a takeout order with them.
Check out my second post coming up in the next few days for more tips on how to navigate the holidays, AIP-style!