This weekend we had a small family gathering with my mother's family. We have a tradition of seeing this side of the family at least once a year, and we usually get together at my house for lunch. It's a very pleasant afternoon because the adults really enjoy the conversation, while the younger ones play and get to know their second cousins better.
The meal I have to prepare is for 8 adults and 8 children, and although there aren't that many of us, I have to keep in mind that there are 3 people with gluten intolerance/celiac disease, one diabetic, and someone who is allergic to fish. Also, since there are young children, I think it's important to prepare something healthy that they will enjoy.
We serve meals buffet-style; we put the food on the table and everyone—the little ones with help—chooses what they want to eat. The children love being able to choose their own food, and since everything we serve is healthy, any choice is a good one.
Although I have served food this way on previous occasions, I want to share this meal with you because I found it easy to prepare and it was a great success.
The table had two sections, one for salad and one for soup.
For the salad:
- Salad bowl with a mix of lettuces (without dressing)
- Source of vegetables and legumes: beets, carrots, peas, tomatoes and chickpeas
- A tray of roasted and chopped chicken
- Bowl with pumpkin seeds
- 2 dressing options: apple cider vinegar with olive oil and lemon and olive oil dressing
For the soup:
- Bone broth (consommé)
- Brown rice at room temperature
- Roasted and chopped chicken
- Peas
For dessert, a fruit salad.
This meal takes time to prepare, but what I love most is that once everything is served, the hosts can sit down and enjoy the meal with everyone. We love being able to host, but also being able to chat with our guests without having to be busy in the kitchen.
What do you think? How do you manage to feed a large group with special needs?