Julia is an adult with PKU who has been on the low-protein diet all her life. In 2020, she gave birth to a sweet little girl named Margaret Joan, who also has PKU.
“When I was growing up on a low-protein diet, my mum always made sure I had a special meal at Christmas. Looking back now, I realise how much effort it must have taken, and I’m so grateful to her for everything she did.
Nowadays, we organise the Christmas celebrations ourselves. As with any low-protein meal, it takes some planning — and a lot of passion — to get it right. Preparing extra low-protein options can be a little complicated, but my family has found a good rhythm to meet everyone’s wishes.”
Below, Julia shares her tips and tricks for creating a festive meal for the whole family.
1) Plan ahead
Discuss what the menu will look like about a month before the dinner. Ask for help from a friend, partner, parent, or your child — it’s very helpful if they can tell you what they like so you can tailor the dishes accordingly.
We write a menu with both low-protein and traditional options. Sometimes the traditional dish even inspires us to prepare a low-protein version. Provide a starter, main course, and dessert so that you’re well prepared for the occasion. The more tasty low-protein options available throughout the day, the easier it is to stick to the diet.
2) Good preparation
Order all the necessary low-protein foods ahead of time. I’ve found that preparing the menu at the last minute can be tricky. That’s why I often make the low-protein dishes one or even two weeks in advance and store them in the freezer. If something doesn’t go as planned, you’ll still have plenty of time to make it again.
3) Serve in an organised, low-protein way
This might sound simple, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten to serve or eat my low-protein dishes amidst the chaos of hosting!
Remove all low-protein foods from the freezer one to two days in advance. If you’re the host, space may be limited — in that case, I keep the food in a relative’s freezer until the day of the event.
Have a low-protein checklist on the day and delegate tasks to a family member. This is an easy and effective way for a partner or grandparent to contribute.
Remember that the holidays are all about spending time with family and friends. Hopefully, you’re as lucky as I am and have family who are there to help and support you. Don’t be shy about asking for help!
If you’re a guest, you can also use these tips to help your host. Before the holidays, share ideas on how to adapt a traditional dish to make it lower in protein, or suggest recipes that can easily be customised.
