A Christmas Feast for Everyone!

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

It was Christmas Eve, and a couple had invited us over. Our families were close, and their young daughter struggled with a gluten intolerance. I had never heard of that term until the girl’s mother explained how her twenty-year-old daughter could not eat anything containing gluten. I was too young to fully understand. As kids, we often didn’t understand allergies and intolerances. It was our parents who noticed these and helped us navigate them. We sat down for dinner that night, and a loaf of oat bread was specially prepared for her. She couldn’t eat the crusty white bread made from wheat flour. The girl’s face lit up when she saw the bread. It was a simple gesture, but it made her happy, and the Christmas meal was a delight that night.

During another celebration, my sister bought a box of sugar-free sweets made from dates and nuts for my dad. He was thrilled as he liked sweets and wanted to reduce his intake of white sugar. Feasts almost always involve food, and it is important to include something for everyone. The art of inclusion is a gift. Making each person feel special and wanted is an act of sacrificial love, much like the love that Jesus, whom we celebrate at Christmas, portrayed. While preparing the Christmas meal, it would be nice to be mindful and consider dietary restrictions if any. Swap foods or provide alternatives. There is no greater joy than watching the ones you care about smile and eat their meal with gladness and without reservations.

Prepare these delicious dishes this Christmas. Who doesn’t love beautifully roasted lamb shanks? I tasted parmesan polenta at a local Italian restaurant and loved the flavors and texture. Serve it as an alternative to mashed potatoes. Merry Christmas!