Dietary Restrictions when Meal Planning a Retreat
The human body is a phenomenal thing and has proven to be resilient in countless ways which have been a testament to our innate tenacity. Despite this, there are all kinds of allergies that we can be born with or even develop later in life, which need to be managed to protect our health. Here at Orange Spring Retreats, we know that when it comes to hosting events with groups of people, it’s important to understand the different dietary requirements and how to respect them.
Planning a retreat can seem like a lot of hard work, but with some support, it’s easy enough to break up the different elements. Of all the elements that make up the success of a retreat, the meals throughout may not be considered the most important, but it is vital to work. As a retreat facility, we know that this is even more important to consider when hosting youth group retreats or other retreats with young people.
Get Info About Attendees
Doing this can depend on the type of retreat you’re doing, as children attending youth group retreats don’t typically know exactly what they’re allergic to.
Ask the Parents
If you’re planning a youth group retreat, when you send out the initial registration letter for the retreat, you should also include a section in which parents can tick or note their children’s allergies. This is of the utmost importance and should be completed well ahead of the scheduled retreat to allow meal planning to be done appropriately.
By collecting information about their allergies ahead of time, you can plan their meals accordingly. The most common allergies in children are:
– Peanut allergies
– Tree nut allergies
– Dairy and egg allergies
– Fish and shellfish allergies
– Pet allergies
– Soy allergies
– Wheat allergies
You may also want to consider checking if any of the children have seasonal allergies that might make it hard to spend extended periods outside. Here at Orange Spring Retreats, we have plenty of outdoor spaces away from trees, as well as plenty of indoor spaces.
On top of these, if any of your children eat a vegetarian or vegan diet then this should be respected as much as allergies.
Different Allergies Should Be Managed Differently
Not all allergies are severe, nor does the existence of allergies mean that you can’t serve any of the aforementioned food products. Instead, if you can find out the severity of them, it’ll be easier to deal with each allergy on an individual level.
Peanut Allergies
These are usually quite severe, and while peanuts are relatively common in some cuisines, they can be easily omitted. Due to the typical severity of peanut allergies, we do recommend that no peanuts be included in any of the meals and that things like peanut butter and peanut-based snacks be left at home.
Tree Nut Allergies
Again, these aren’t the most common thing in cuisine, and chances are that most kids haven’t even developed the palate to even appreciate them. As with peanuts, simply forgo tree nut allergies if anyone has any allergies towards them.
Dairy and Egg Allergies
This is much harder to manage than the previous two, as both dairy products and eggs are common to most kinds of cuisine. For those kids who have dairy and/or egg allergies, you will need to make alternative meals just for them, and maybe even have a preferred form of plant-based milk on hand.
This is also important for adults who have these allergies, or those who adhere to a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Fish and Shellfish Allergies
As your retreat will likely take place over a weekend, these are also easier to avoid and can just be omitted entirely.
Pet Allergies
These shouldn’t be much of an issue on most retreats, as pets will have to stay home while the kids are away. Although there may be instances where either adults or children bring an emotional support animal. If that is the case, ensure the animal is kept far away from where food is being prepared, and away from those who suffer the allergies.
Soy Allergies
Another relatively easy allergen to avoid is soy, as it is common in Asiatic dishes, it is easy enough to remove soy and soy-based products over a weekend. This is also an important allergy to note when coming up with vegetarian or vegan alternative dishes.
Wheat Allergies
Most commonly manifesting as gluten intolerance, several kinds of wheat allergies can have a pretty big impact on the meal planning process. Wheat is most common in breakfast foods such as bread and cereals, but can also be found scattered throughout cuisines in the form of flour, bread, pasta, etc. This can be managed by serving gluten-free options to replace staples, or by the replacing wheat elements in dishes.
Remember that, while it’s important to make food that people like, it’s more important to make food that people can eat. If you want more inspiration coming up with allergy-friendly dishes, check out YouTube for plenty of videos.
Let Us Host Your Youth Group Retreats
If you’re looking for a venue to host youth group retreats or any kind of retreats in the Florida area, then look no further than Orange Spring Retreats. We have an idyllic venue with plenty of space for all kinds of activities, and years of experience in supporting people who host life-changing retreats. Check out our website to learn more, or contact us today for more details.
