Meeting a partner’s family for the first time is intimidating enough without throwing a gauntlet of food sensitivities into the mix. In a thread on r/WhatShouldICook, one redditor shared that they wanted to make a great first impression while navigating a tricky list of dietary restrictions, including no gluten and no raw veggies, though cooked carrots, cooked potatoes, and eggs are allowed. That’s where this dinner dilemma begins:
I’m going to meet his family on the 12th and I wanted to bring a dessert or a dish to not show up empty-handed. His mom and sisters have a few dietary restrictions on the foods they can eat and I wanted to make sure I’m abiding by those guidelines.
In the comments, redditors offer up some tasty recommendations, harsh truths about baking for allergies, and advice on when to bring a non-food gift instead.
The safe and savory route
For a family dinner, commenters suggest sticking to side dishes and proteins that fit into most dietary frameworks without feeling restrictive or heavily modified.
Dessert workarounds
When it comes to sweets, the community notes that you don’t need dairy or gluten to produce a crowd-pleasing dessert, offering a few alternative recipes.
The cross-contamination warning — and options for offerings that aren’t food
Other redditors warn that cooking for severe sensitivities on a first meeting might backfire. They suggest avoiding the stove and bringing along a nice drink or flowers.
Trying to cook for people you barely know is stressful, but sticking to safe recipes or just bringing a bouquet of nice blooms can save everyone a headache.
What would you do in this situation? Read the full thread in r/WhatShouldICook, and find more conversations like this in r/Cooking, r/relationships, and r/AskCulinary.
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