How to Eat At A Summer Party When You Have a Special Diet

Summer is the perfect time to throw a party and you're probably receiving lots of invites as a result. But if you have a special diet (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free etc.) the first thing on your mind is what you're going to eat. Even though your friends are probably used to the way you eat by now, it can still feel a little awkward to be the one who has to ask what's in everything. Here are some tips on how to confidently attend a summer party no matter what food you choose to (or not to) consume.

1. Bring your own - It's courteous and sometimes required to bring food and/or drink to a party, but it's especially important if you have a special diet. This is also a great opportunity to introduce others to your favorite foods and wow them when you explain that they don't contain typical ingredients like meat, dairy, or gluten.

2. Tell the host about your diet in advance - Many hosts want to be accommodating to all and the last thing they want if for you to feel left out because you can't eat the food they've prepared. It's also helpful for cross contamination purposes - for instance, if you're a vegetarian you probably won't want meat touching your veggie burger!

3. Ask about the ingredients in other dishes - There will likely be a few dishes brought by others that you can eat, but of course you should double check the ingredients first. If the person who brought it is unsure, it's up to you if you want to take the risk. Keep in mind, this food may have been cross contaminated with ingredients outside of your diet, and there's always a chance something relatively minimal may be included (such as casein or honey).

4. Find a fun way to talk to guests about your diet - It's inevitable that your diet will come up in conversations if someone overhears you speaking about what you can and can't eat, so use it as an opportunity to talk about why you make your choices. Occasionally others can go on the defense about their own diet, but in most cases they're curious about the benefits so be prepared to educate them in a fun, kind, and non-judgemental way.

5. Have fun - Remember that the main reason you go to parties is to enjoy yourself and socialize, not for food. Worst case scenario you can wait to eat before or after, so put that aspect aside and simply have fun.