Most holidays involve food. But Thanksgiving? It is basically celebrating stuffing yourself silly. Being gluten free on Thanksgiving can be tough.
If you get together with family, it can be difficult to navigate your food options. You don’t know how someone else prepared the food. Maybe they forgot they used the wooden spoon to stir the casserole but they normally use that same spoon for gluten filled pasta.
Maybe watching everyone else eat apple (or pumpkin) pie while you have no pie is torture. Because it is.
How can you make it easier for yourself this year? Here are my top tips:
- Talk to the host ahead of time. Find out their menu and help them navigate gluten free cooking. Remember, you do this every day. They don’t. Tell them how to keep you safe.
- If there is something you don’t want to miss out on, make it (or grab it from the store). You want to make sure you can have stuffing? Or maybe you want a delicious dessert after the main meal. If you make or bring it, you can enjoy AND share with others. Maybe they’ll see gluten free doesn’t eaqual flavorless.
- If you think, or know, there won’t be much for you to eat at your gathering be sure to eat beforehand. There’s nothing wrong with having a little snack before you leave if you know you can only eat the chips and salsa at the party.
- Heading to a restaurant? Check their website and menu beforehand. Call and speak with the manager to make sure there’s something you are comfortable eating. If not, see number three. Eat ahead and grab drinks with your friends and family. You don’t have to stay the entire time!
- If all else fails and you have the means to do so, be the host! Invite over your friends and family and show them what a gluten free feast can be! If they ask to bring items, see tip one and remind them of how to make things safely or ask them to bring a bottle of wine, extra napkins, or flowers for the centerpiece.
