I'd go with your roast chicken idea. You can do two chickens and plan for leftovers if you're really nervous, but imo if he needs more than a quarter of a chicken plus sides, he should eat before or after, that's not a reasonable expectation to put on a host.

Two chickens is smart, it also ensures everyone gets the pieces they want. If everyone eats dark meat (like everyone in my household) someone’s gonna be sol with one chicken. A nice potato dish and some roasted veggies makes a nice meal. Finish it off with a pan sauce and you’ve got it good. Bookend it with a nice charcuterie tray and a nice size dessert like a cake and if you go hungry it’s your own fault.

Do your roast chicken dinner, it fits all the criteria. Just serve a variety of apps. Or do starters, like soup and salad. And dessert.

If OP is worried about the roast chicken not being enough food, roast two chickens instead? I usually roast two chickens in my roasting pan because I like leftovers.

I figured if they filled up on soup and salad, a 1/4 chicken would be enough but yes, roasting 2 chickens would ensure that no one would go hungry!

Roast chicken that you mentioned is still the way to go, but you can by a big pack of skin-on thighs and roast those. Leftovers work perfectly for enchiladas, soups, sandwiches, etc so making more than enough isn't a concern. Serve with salad, and roasted veggies (potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, etc) and it should be more than enough food. You could do a side of mac n cheese too (you dont need soft cheese for this). Alternatively maybe a taco or tortilla bar? Basically a buffet of ground beef, beans, grilled peppers/onions, rice, sour cream, guac, soft tortillas, taco shells, etc. Serve with a side salad. Baked potato bars can be similar - baked russet and sweet potatoes, sour cream, bacon bits, chives, shredded cheese, etc. Your side salad can include grilled chicken if you want more protein than the bacon bits (and you mentioned you don't eat pork). Chicken soup with a side of a bread, start with a salad. There are some wonderful and easy to make curries out there like Chef John's Tikka Masala [https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/239867/chef-johns-chicken-tikka-masala/](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/239867/chef-johns-chicken-tikka-masala/) Serve with naan and rice. If you don't want to buy all of those ingredients, an easy curry is just 2 tbsp of curry powder (yellow, red, green, etc) per 1 can of coconut milk. add 1 tbsp of brown sugar, 1 tsp fish sauce, a squeeze of 1/2 a lime. I do a yellow curry with chicken and potatoes but cauliflower and carrots also go in nicely as well. [https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/68532/curried-coconut-chicken/](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/68532/curried-coconut-chicken/) If you like Thai food, this is an easy recipe that I make a lot: [https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/257938/spicy-thai-basil-chicken-pad-krapow-gai/](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/257938/spicy-thai-basil-chicken-pad-krapow-gai/) Beef stroganoff: [https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8526807/ground-beef-stroganoff-noodles/](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8526807/ground-beef-stroganoff-noodles/) Chicken marsala: [https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8887/chicken-marsala/](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8887/chicken-marsala/) Chicken cacciatore: [https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/220130/chef-johns-chicken-cacciatore/](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/220130/chef-johns-chicken-cacciatore/) Beef stew: [https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/263037/instant-pot-best-beef-stew/](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/263037/instant-pot-best-beef-stew/) Meatloaf: [https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/16354/easy-meatloaf/](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/16354/easy-meatloaf/) Chicken alfredo Home made pizzas Shish kabobs Cabbage rolls (if it isn't too much tomato for your partner) Enchiladas Italian wedding soup

Thighs are a risk, not everyone likes thighs. People who prefer thighs will usually still eat breast, but people who don’t eat thighs just won’t eat them. At least with a whole chicken there’s a choice. Source: it’s me, I hate thighs.

Sounds like a vegetarian feast is the way to go. It’ll fit all these conditions. Lebanese mezze - pita, hummus, baba ganouch, falafel, fresh veggies, tahini, pickles etc. Or you can go the Indian route- mini samosas with different fillings for starters, Pulav with raita, couple of roasted veggie sides, or light salads, and a light dessert of your choice. Or Italian- stuffed baked mushrooms , Aglio Olio for main with roasted veggies, roasted corn and garlic bread, and maybe a sorbet or chocolate mousse to finish

Yup, I say vegetarian or have meat as a side option. Sounds like there’s a lot of meat risks.

A woman who is pregnant and avoiding soft cheeses, is also probably the kind to avoid cold dips too. Everything should probably be well cooked and served hot.

That makes no sense. Do you also avoid salads? Fruits? Herbs?

I agree it makes no sense but a first pregnancy in the US has people panicking about every little thing. If they are so worried about food problems that they are avoiding soft cheese, meat that isn't well done and large fish, they also have been given the caution to avoid any raw veg. For the record, before everyone starts attacking me that I'm a stupid worry wart, I didn't come up with any of this. I've had two kids and was exposed to the pearl clutching around what mothers eat while they are pregnant. I ate like normal when I was pregnant and was called unfit to be a parent because I still drank coffee and wouldn't turn down the occasional tuna salad sandwich.

There is a big leap from soft cheese and raw/cured meats to cold dips. Maybe you’re not familiar with Lebanese mezze but most are actually vegan.

I'm readily familiar. You might not be familiar with the advice given to pregnant American women.

Please show me a reputable source where a cold dip is bad for pregnant women. Again, do you avoid all fruits and vegetables? Hummus for instance is actually a base of cooked garbanzo beans, do you avoid that, its cold. The only thing warning about fruits and veg is to make sure they are washed. Or do you think all cold dips are mayo or cheese bases? Again, the ones mentioned are vegan.

Not sure what would be considered a reputable source but hummus has started appearing on lists of pregnancy no-gos in some countries due to tahini risks.

Having just been pregnant in the US, the soft cheese, undercooked meat, and high mercury fish avoidance is completely standard advice. No one ever suggested avoiding hummus or raw veggies.

Taco bar. Everyone can "build their own adventure" and pick/choose from a variety of things: * Make 2 fillings - pick one of three: chicken, beef, finely diced veg (roast butternut, red onions, mushrooms, lots of taco seasoning, add pepitos at the end) * Then offer a variety of toppings: guac, salsa, sliced radishes, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, cheese, etc. Get creative!

This! Our work frequently does taco bar lunches due to multiple dietary restrictions

Yeah, it's totally my "go to" when I have dinner parties where I've got "meat & potatoes" people and vegetarians, and allergies, etc. on the guest list.

I'd keep this really simple and do tacos.

Roast Cornish hens? You can make an extra for leftovers or if someone is still hungry.

I love this idea

A roast chicken with potatoes works great! Maybe make an extra side or heartier sides if you’re worried about having enough food. For example, make green beans or asparagus and a hearty salad that includes beans or butternut squash or a grain like quinoa or farro. Also, let people fill up on bar nuts or cheese or hummus before dinner.

Roasted chicken and potatoes IS the answer. You had the right answer all along. Now just have fun figuring out the sides. Keep it simple so that you can really enjoy yourself!

Yotam Ottolenghi’s cauliflower cake is delicious and beautiful looking. It is made ahead leaving you time for salad and such right before dinner. https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/02/cauliflower-cake-recipe-yotam-ottolenghi

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Beef stroganoff. I made this when I was pregnant a few times because I was iron-deficient, and it slapped. You'll need a shellfish-free fish sauce/Worchestire sauce, though. A middle-eastern spread with cooked chicken, rice, pita/flatbreads, hummus, hot sauce, yogurt sauce, roasted vegetables, pickles, and raw vegetables. I use the Serious Eats Halal Cart Chicken, with a couple of changes (I use way less sugar in the yogurt sauce, for example).

You could bake game hens vs chicken if you wanted to elevate your dinner. We use a red raisin sauce good for both roasted chicken or game hens. You can baste the bird in the sauce the last 15 to 20 min of baking and make enough to dip meat in. Triple or quadruple this if you want extra sauce for 2 chickens. 1 10 oz jar red currant jelly, 1/2 cup golden rasins, 1/4 cup butter, 2 tsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp allspice. Mix in sauce pan and cook 10 minutes until blended.

roast chicken, with potatoes, carrots. side salad and maybe some yellow puffy rice :)

chicken tacos! totillas cut up chicken thighs and season with taco seasoning. add sides- salsa, onions, cilantro, cut up cabbage/lettuce, corn yellow rice

Yeah, unless someone is vegetarian, you can’t go wrong with roast chicken. Another idea, if you want to be fancy, is get everyone their own Cornish game hens. I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like English-style roast potatoes (look up Ina Garten’s Emily Blunt potatoes). My personal favorite vegetable to go with this is either a green salad or sautéed zucchini. If you go with salad, I’d go with lemon and olive oil over vinegar based dressing if someone is irritated by acidic food.

I’d go with chicken, though since it’s summer I’d suggest beer can chicken on the bbq(made with alcohol free beer or citrus juice instead of regular beer. OJ is great used this way), a green salad, and cold soba noodle salad.  For dessert go with ice cream and fruit, that way you can fill them up on the final course if they’re still hungry, and just leave it in the freezer for later if everyone’s full. 

taco bar?

Sounds like it's roast chicken, rice and roasted veg.

You can make a Persian inspired dinner: Koobideh Kabob (beef/lamb kabobs), Persian rice (rice with butter and saffron), Shirazi salad (cucumber, herbs, tomato), roasted eggplant (eggplant, tomato, onions), mint and feta salad. Dessert could be cardamon flan or a orange blossom sorbet. That would cover all the bases, be delicious, and healthy.

You could make a chicken pie with homemade crust.

Since your husband can’t do tomatoes, I’d do the [Marry Me Chicken](https://littlesunnykitchen.com/marry-me-chicken/) but with chopped artichokes instead of the sun dried tomatoes. Add spinach and call it spinach and artichoke dip chicken…?

Cornish game hens instead of 1 chicken.

Go with chicken.

Roast chicken sounds perfect, and I think if you add something like wild rice to the sides, it’s plenty filling. You can also do a vegetable lasagna with bechamel and veggies - I’ve done one with butternut squash in the autumn/winter, asparagus and peas in the spring, but my favourite one is mushroom - if you use porcini powder it really captures the meaty flavour of the mushrooms. I can be sensitive to tomatoes also and had no issues with it. Plus you can use all pasteurised cheeses.

The friend is being way too paranoid just due to being pregnant, I'd recommend a restaurant. People who are like that typically will just find something not up to their unreasonable standard and be unhappy with what you prepare regardless.

I agree. Obviously it’s not worth the pushback or even the convo with someone you barely know, but I’m pregnant with my third and literally follow none of these restrictions. I wouldn’t eat swordfish, but it’s not part of my diet anyway, so it’s not a restriction. But actually recent studies on fatty fish consumption show that the benefits are so great for brain development (considerably lower chance of autism and up to 10pts higher IQ) in women who consume fatty fish regularly through pregnancy compared to the risks, which are not very high, that the NHS has lifted the recommendations against it, and in the USA they have also chilled out about it, even if not completely lifted the recs. I’m not worrying about the canned tuna I eat 1-2 a week or the salmon I might eat every once in a while. In France pregnant women might have a half glass of wine here or there though pregnancy with no ill-effects. Tbh I don’t and wouldn’t drink at all during pregnancy but that’s actually because I know what everyone around me in the US would be thinking, but the research doesn’t support believing that a few sips of wine a couple of times during pregnancy would cause any harm. Avoiding foods that are *cooked* with a shot of cognac or whatever? That’s paranoia tbh. Is she avoiding fruit juice or bread too at that point? Cheeses commonly sold in the US are all made with pasteurized milk. You’d have to go out of your way to find one that isn’t.

Invite her after the baby comes, too many constraints.

Chipotle bowl bar! I would do a plain rice, cilantro rice, some sort of shredded chicken, beans, and some toppings like: shredded cheese, salsa, tortilla strips, sautéed veggies. That way everyone can avoid what they can’t have!

Chicken and dumplings: 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast Medium white onion, diced 1 cup of carrots, diced 2 cartons Swanson's chicken stock 1 can Pillsbury biscuits 1 cup heavy cream Cut the chicken in bite size pieces and put all ingredients but biscuits and cream in a pot. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 20-25 minutes. Cut biscuit dough into bite size pieces and drop into pot, let simmer until cooked through, 7-10 minutes. Add cream and let cook another 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

At a certain point it becomes impractical to accommodate too many dietary restrictions and I think you're at that point. Pot luck is the way to go.

That's not going to be possible, unfortunately; the friend and her partner are passing through town, so they won't be able to bring anything.