Hosting Made Easy: Quick Food Tips

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It’s the holiday season, and oftentimes that means it’s the hosting season! Thinking about holiday get-togethers may feel overwhelming, but that doesn’t always have to be the case! 

Here are a few tips on how to make this season’s mix of hosting and attending the least stressful one yet:

We all love good homemade recipes, but sometimes our busy lives just don’t make room for the time to make them. However, that shouldn’t stop you from hosting and having great holiday treats! Despite what you may think, you can give people just as enjoyable an experience with less time and stress on your part! Your friends and family will be just as excited for delicious sweets, and you’ll have a lot less clean up to do! 

  • For easy baking recipes or treat swap ideas, play it safe by sticking to using pre-made Certified Gluten-Free cake or muffin box mixes or packaged treats!  
  • Grab some delicious Certified Gluten-Free break-and-bake cookies in the refrigerated section and just line them on the tray & throw them in the oven before guests arrive! 

Already a pro at gluten-free living? Share your favorite Gluten-Free shortcuts or recipes with guests to inspire others!

Add Fun Without the Fuss

Maybe you’ve got the food covered, and that’s not the issue. Could it be that hosting stresses you out because you don’t know what to do besides serve food? Do you dread the awkward silence or small talk and would rather not host at all? We’ve got good news – you can actually serve up fun, too, with very little stress! 

  • A few fun group games that everyone can participate in and are bound to get people laughing, smiling, and feeling are things like fishbowl, mirror charades, and spoons. Just look these up online, read them, or watch a quick tutorial! 
  • If you want to do some holiday games that may require a few props and a little more prep work, just look up a few holiday minute-to-win-it games on YouTube or Google and do 2-3 of those with your guests!
  • You can ask your guests to wear the best ugly sweater, the most festive attire, the best holiday hat, etc.! Not only will this add an extra oomph to the party that requires no effort on your part, but it’s also a built-in game for when they arrive! You can have a best dressed contest where everyone can shout for their favorite while you hold your hand over their head. Then have a special GFCO Certified Gluten-Free treat to give the winner! 

Kids love being part of the fun—let them decorate cookies, help with games, or vote for the best ugly sweater!

These ideas make everyone feel included—because connection matters most during the holidays.

Attending Without Anxiety

Maybe you’re all good with hosting because that means you’ll be in control of the food, but when it comes to attending, you don’t even consider it. Do you hesitate to go to holiday get-togethers because you don’t want to deal with the hard conversations of telling people you can’t eat their food? We totally get it. But connecting with others is sometimes worth a little extra effort. Consider a few of these ideas before turning down your next invite:

  • Eat before you go! Then you won’t be tempted to sacrifice safety because of hunger. 
  • Bring at least one  Gluten-Free dish/side/dessert that you can enjoy there and make sure to bring some sort of label so others who may be gluten-free can know that it’s safe for them too!
  • Ask the host of the party if any dishes or items are completely  Gluten-Free. If they aren’t completely confident that they’re safe, then just forego it and tell them you’d rather be safe than sorry.
  • When people offer you anything, just explain that if there is any gluten at all in something, it can make you sick, so it’s not worth the risk. When people understand how severe it is, they usually won’t press you to have something.

Enjoy the Season and Stay Connected

Whether you’re hosting or attending, holiday get-togethers can cultivate connections in your life, which is something we all need! So, this holiday season, consider how you can stress less to really enjoy the time you have to spend with the people you love!

Happy Holidays!