Household Food Preferences and Allergies Sheet

Who this is for

Who eats what, on one page. Each member of the household has a row for allergies and intolerances, foods to avoid, dislikes, favourites, diet and special instructions, and a second table lists meals that suit everyone and ones to keep separate.

Families and shared households, and anyone leaving the cooking to a partner, babysitter, grandparent or visiting relative who does not know everyone's needs.

What this helps you track

• Each person's allergies and intolerances, in their own words
• Foods to avoid completely, as opposed to foods someone dislikes
• Favourites, portion notes and diet for each person
• Meals the whole household will eat and meals to cook separately
• Who to contact and where any allergy medicine is kept

How to use it

1. Write the household name, the date and who to contact if there is a question or a reaction.
2. Give each person a row, filling in allergies and foods to avoid as advised by their doctor or as the person states them.
3. Add dislikes, favourites, portion notes, diet and any instructions such as cutting food up or serving separately.
4. List meals that work for everyone and meals that need a separate version, with the swap that makes them work.
5. Keep it on the fridge or in the browser, and update the date whenever anything changes.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

What is the difference between must avoid and dislikes?

Must avoid is for foods that cannot be served to that person at all, for allergy, intolerance, religious or ethical reasons. Dislikes are foods they would rather not eat. Keeping them apart stops a carer treating an allergy as a preference.

Does the sheet say how to handle an allergic reaction?

No. It records where medicine is kept and who to contact, but any action plan should come from the person's doctor. Attach or keep that plan alongside this sheet.

How often should it be updated?

Whenever something changes: a new diagnosis, a child growing out of a dislike or someone changing their diet. The date field shows the person cooking how current the information is.

Is it suitable for guests?

Yes. Add a row for a visitor staying with you, or use a copy when planning a meal for guests, then check the details with them directly.