Snack suggestions for guests who do not eat sugar.

[William247]

An upcoming guest sent the following message: 

    " I also noticed in several reviews that you often provide snacks for your guests. While we don’t expect anything of the sort, I figured I should let you know that my husband and I do not eat any sugar, so no yummy baked goods or treats are required. I only mention this so that you don’t go out of your way preparing anything that we wouldn’t happily gobble up!! 🙂

We will likely be picking up some breakfast foods to prepare in the mornings...bacon, eggs, veggies...so all we will require is directions to the nearest grocery store. :)"  

I really appreciate her consideration and would like to provide her with the same level of service that we do all of our guests, but I don't have any idea what to provide.  I have directions to grocery stores in a book in the cottage, and have told her that I provide free range eggs.  

Any suggestions?

[Linda108]

You do have a considerate guest and they apparently are not requiring you to meet any special needs.  If it is worth it to you, @William247 ask the guest how you can help provision their stay.  I provide a breakfast and one of my guest stated she was gluten free.  She didn't ask me to do anything, but I asked her for product recommendations for gluetin fee bread.  She really appreciated my consideration.  She and family were staying a few days.  Would not go to the effort for a one or two night guest.

[Susan151]

Nuts! A small bag of roasted nuts would be a real treat. If you place them in a cellophane bag with a decorative tie, it would be as lovely as any baked item.

[Victoria567]

Hi@Susan

you heart appears to be in the right place providing such thoughtful snacks.

I hope you thoughtfully provided the information that “ this snack contains nuts, therefore unsuitable for those with nut allergies”....luckily it’s the law here in the U.K. to provide such detailed information for the individual...

......saves the small matter of litigation should it ever come up....luckily here in the U.K. we don’t have the ambulance chasing culture and vultures quite embedded in our society just yet...

Perhaps have a couple of Epipens that might come in handy too?

[Will282]

what if they have a nut allergy?

[John1080]

@William247, I like @Susan151's suggestion of nuts. Maybe some healthier sweet potato chips, although they might find those too junky too. 

[Victoria567]

@John1080

Never please never provide nuts as a snack.

Any snacks should be in the original unopened  packaging that clearly states the contents and ingredients of snacks.

If you have a lot of non English speakers....forget the snacks and just provide 2 bottles of water and a bowl of fruit.

[John1080]

Good call on the nuts. I host remotely and don't provide snacks at all.

[Emily487]

@William247 Unsalted nuts or even a locally made (non-food) item.  

[Victoria567]

Hi @Emily487

Red flag!

Nut allergy......springs to mind....there are a lot of entitled nuts out there...,trust me I had several this August.

Allergies to cherries, plums, apples, mushrooms, lactose, wheat.....and that’s not including the food fads all in a short space of 10 days, despite me spending my entire career spanning several decades in a medical capacity.

Working in our National Health Servce I have never encountered such a variety of allergies and food  intolerances apart from a handful of coeliacs and diabetics....you could not make it up, Im afraid!

[Emily487]

@Victoria567 Such a good point.

I made the (silly?) assumtion that in the process of friendly and open messaging with the future guest who had already indicated that they do not eat sugar, other "no-no's" would have also been mentioned.But you never know, do you? Better safe than sorry! 

[Jan209]

they said they don't want anything, so I would take that as clearly they don't.  

[Gregory87]

I like to provide locally produced snack items.  While I don't make any promises to adjust for guests' dietary preferences or limitations, if I have the time, I may do so.  

Earlier this year, a family booked my listing and noted that they were vegan and asked if I had any recommendations.  I did research them and added the information to my guidebook (along with locations that are halal, vegetarian, kosher, gluten-free, and the like).  I also headed to the local co-op and found some reasonable items as snack replacements.

At this same time, I investigated my usual snacks and determined that some of them were vegan, vegetarian, and kosher.  Good to know for the future.

One of my items is popcorn, and only contains (pop)corn, sea salt, and sunflower oil.  This might work for you.  I agree with the unsalted nuts.  Talk to the customer service reps at your local co-op for additional ideas.  

Let us know what you decide for your guests.  Good luck!

[Victoria567]

Hi @William247

First of all do NOT provide diabetic foods or specialist foods.

Any food you do provide shoukd  be in the original packaging that states the dietary values, so the guest has the total responsibility of choosing what to eat.

You are a host and NOT a medical practitioner in a hospital setting.

suggestions are only, If you really DO feel the need to provide such snacks,since your guest just wants directions to the nearest grocery store afterall.

Provide oatcakes.

Provide oatmeal.

Provide a  bowl of fresh fruit

Despite being a retired professional myself, I have now clearly stated in my listing that my accomodation is regretfully not suitable for nut allergy, food intolerances or allergies.

It is afterall my family home and I respectfully ask the guest to seek accommodation elsewhere, because my family home would not service the specialist dietary needs and personal needs of such guests.....who wants an ambulance chasing lawyer...from places and cultures wherecsych behaviour is the norm?

I don’t!

[Yulianna0]

May be olives? Some fresh vegetables, like tomatoes cherry, avocado.