food for the discerning

I think I figured it out. I have been allergic to nuts since forever but have not found it a big problem. If people serve nuts I simply don't eat them. I just pick them out or avoid a dish that is filled with them. This is all helped by the fact that I won't die of nuts...well unless I really try and eat myself into a full blown anaphylactic episode. Generally the worst that can happen is a good case of hives.

Nowadays people are seriously allergic or they are seriously avoiding all sorts of foods and they are  determined to keep themselves alive or pure. This means that one may be faced with guests who are avoiding meat and diary, wheat, and anything that ever drew breath, had a shell or needed sunlight. I am so proud to have a means to supply almost all of them.

I can't accommodate folk with allergies to dogs, dust and other people but I can feed lots of the others and this makes me really happy.

Here's the trick.

Instead of trying to make a vegan meal, which isn't really hard at all,( I have had guests who couldn't eat "vegan,") I have come to the conclusion that it's better to simply provide food.

I buy a raw veggie tray from the supermarket. I leave the dressing in the middle in case someone wants it.
I buy nuts.
I buy dried fruit-the kind that is considered the most natural.
I buy mixed olives-the most expensive I can find.
I buy fresh mixed fruit,
I buy wasabi peas-some people can't eat soy so expect to have some left over.
I buy soy milk and almond milk.
I buy stevia sweetener.
I buy natural coffee and untreated coffee filters.
I have herbal teas. (So far no one's been allergic to rooibos)
I buy filtered water which I keep in the store bottle so the contents can be inspected.
I buy lettuce leaves. I avoid the "living lettuce" offered in the supermarket but I make sure to get organic lettuce and run it by my guests.

I decant everything into pretty bowls and scatter them around the table.

My guests are happy and so am I.

I also provide the guests who aren't avoiding "regular" food anything I think I can cook well.
PS. I NEVER say that a person of a different dietary persuasion can't bring a dish for the table. Many such persons are excellent cooks and I may enjoy their food. If someone wants to just bring her own food, that's fine too.