Pat yourself on the back: you have the Paleo thing down at home, and you can order like a champ when dining out at a restaurant. But what about parties? Do you know how to navigate a non-Paleo shindig? Don’t worry—we’ll fill you in on how to be the best guest ever. Follow our advice, and you might even get invited back!

Show Notes & Links for Episode 6:

What We Ate:

While Henry was away on business, I experimented with Fiona’s Green Chicken to see if it freezes and reheats well. Answer: yes! The moral of the story is to always make a double batch of Fiona’s Green Chicken so you can eat half and freeze the rest for a future meal.

Check out the original recipe for Fiona’s Phenomenal Grilled Green Chicken and my post on how to prep it ahead of time and store it for later.
Don’t fret about safely thawing frozen meat with hot water. Harold McGee writes in The New York Times that this method is A-OK!
My chef sister’s Instagram feed never fails to inspire me in the kitchen. Go follow Fiona!

Main Course:

In this episode, we dish about how to be a gracious guest at a non-Paleo party. Sure—if you’re hosting the get-together, you have nothing to worry about. After all, you’re in control of the food. But what about non-Paleo parties thrown by people you don’t want to put off with your finicky food choices? Never fear: I have recommendations for plenty of flavorful dishes you can bring to share—without triggering any suspicions or questions about your platter of Paleo-friendly fare.

Here are some crowd-pleasers you can bring to a party:

Salads:

Giant salad with greens, vegetables, protein, nuts, and a Paleo-friendly dressing
Tomato & Basil Salad
Fruit salad

Appetizers/Finger Foods:

Simple Crab Salad in Endive Spears
Asian Meatballs
Prosciutto-Wrapped Mini Frittata Muffins
Prosciutto-Wrapped Broiled Asparagus
Chile Lime Chicken Wings
Magic Wings
Paleo Shrimp-Stuffed Mushrooms
Devils on Horseback

Main Courses:

Slow Cooker Kalua Pig or Pressure Cooker Kalua Pig
Orange Sriracha Chicken (Substitute ketchup for the sriracha if you’re serving kids. The original recipe is best with my homemade 20-Minute Paleo Sriracha or Whole30 Sriracha.)
For a kid-friendly party, cook up a bunch of mini hotdogs. (I like the mini ones made by Fork In The Road.)
Hot Dog As The Bun!

I also have tips to help you avoid coming across as a boorish caveperson in front of the other guests. (Yeah, I know you’re always on your best behavior—but I learned the hard way that we Paleo eaters sometimes forget how we come across to our friends and family.)

Above all else: chill out, be gracious, and a good guest! Have a good time at the party and if you’re famished, eat the food that you brought to share rather than face-planting into the box of cupcakes.

If you’re offered food that you can’t or don’t want to eat, follow the example of my good friend Melissa Joulwan, and respond with a simple “Not right now.” Say the phrase with a polite smile and sunny attitude, and no one’ll feel bad that you just declined a slice of cake. Even if the host insists on putting food on your plate that you’ve declined, just remember: no one can force you to stick anything in your mouth. My savvy brother-in-law, for example, will just pretend to eat unwanted food that my dad piles onto his plate.

Melissa Joulwan writes one of my favorite Paleo food blogs, The Clothes Make The Girl, and her two cookbooks, Well Fed and Well Fed 2, are filled with fantastic Paleo-friendly party fare (affiliate links).
I’ve been known to sneak an Exo Bar or some jerky in the bathroom if I start feeling hangry at a party.

Crush of the Week:

Ollie sings his favorite song from Adventure Time, “Bacon Pancakes.” Owen tells us why watermelon is the love of his life. I gush about how I’m obsessed with The Glitch Mob, the coolest electronic music band in the world. Plus, one of the band members, Jus