There’s potential controversy that could find its way to your Thanksgiving table this year and it’s not politics.

It’s the food.

From dietary preferences to food allergies, nothing brings all those differences into sharp focus like trying to host a Thanksgiving dinner.

After several years of feeling like I finally had hosting Thanksgiving down to a domestic science, it all got turned on its head when one of my kids showed up with gluten sensitivity. And then another one did. And then yet another one started having issues with dairy. Another kid then became vegetarian. And then one of the married kids and her spouse became vegan. And then my son’s girlfriend started joining us as a vegan who also has significant allergies to several things that usually would be on the vegan ‘yes’ list.

Frankly, it all got so overwhelming that I thought about throwing in the towel and just serving carrots and water. (Okay, kidding…but not by much).

So how can you make all your Thanksgiving guests feel welcome at your table, no matter what their dietary requirements are?

First, it’s important to remember that food sensitivities and allergies are real. A quick way for our holidays to earn a trip to the ER would be for me to serve something that leads to an allergic reaction. You might have seen the quote from Titus Lucretius Carus, the Roman philosopher-poet of the first century BC. He wrote,“What is food to one, is to others bitter poison.” Even if you haven’t had a food allergy experience yourself, trust what your guests tell you about their food allergies and sensitivities. My goal is for my guests to have a relaxing and enjoyable time at our meal. I don’t want them worrying about what might or might not be in the food and if they’ll have to bust out their Epipen to get through the day or find themselves sequestered in the bathroom because that dairy sensitivity has had, um, significant effects.

The good news is that there is a way to make Thanksgiving work for those gathered at your table. Take a look at the following ideas for how you can make the meal work, even with lots of different diets over for dinner!

  1. Bust out That Spreadsheet and Ask for Volunteers: Yes, I’m usually the one hosting. And that used to mean that I felt like I should do it all. But I’ve finally moved on from that mentality. Today, we have a family spreadsheet where people sign up for what they would like to make and/or bring. The beauty of this system is that for those who have dietary restrictions, preferences, or allergies, they’re able to know that they’ll have at least a couple of dishes to feast on. I’ve even added a column to our spreadsheet with a checkbox so that everyone can mark if something is ‘allergy’ or ‘food preference’ friendly.
  2. Make the Family Favorites: If we tried to make the entirety of the meal all dietary preference, sensitivity, or allergy friendly, there would still be a big group of us whose broader palates wouldn’t be honored. Keep the standards that your standard diet guests love.
  3. Turkey and Faux Turkey: I still get my turkey on as the centerpiece of our meal. I make my grandmother’s dressing for the side, since I have those who will be eating the turkey but who are gluten-sensitive. If I were to do a traditional stuffing, this could be a problem for my gluten-avoiders. In our case, my grandmother’s dressing on the side has always been our tradition, so no harm, no, ahem, fowl (see what I did there?). And for our vegans and vegetarians, stuffed squash makes the play as the main entry. There are also ideas and recipes out there for lentil and squash loaf, along with instructions for making a vegan tofu ‘turkey’ roast (that actually looks pretty legit!) A quick reminder: not all vegetarian recipes are gluten or dairy-free, and not all vegan recipes are gluten-free. Be sure to crosscheck all your categories when navigating multiple food sensitivities.
  4. Cranberry Sauce Coming in Clutch: Guess what? Cranberry sauce is the one thing you can put on your table that typically can be eaten by everyone! No dairy, no gluten, and no animals harmed in the making. Of course, this doesn’t mean that everyone actually likes cranberry sauce. But it’s the idea that counts, right?
  5. Pile Up on Those Veggies: We all get so busy making all manner of side dishes with all manner of canned soups and cheese that we forget sometimes to just put some good ol’ veggies on the table in their most natural forms. Create a salad bar this year for your guests. That way, they can dress their salads with what works for their dietary preferences and needs. Have a selection of salad dressings for them to choose from that meet their requirements. (Primal Kitchen makes a wide variety of dressings and sauces that keep dairy and gluten off the table. Be sure to check the ingredients.)

    “Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.”–Jim Davis

  6. Go Gravy: You can make that gravy you love with gluten-free flour and corn starch, which are ingredients usually tolerated well by those with gluten-sensitivity. You can also use vegetable broth in place of turkey drippings. When using gluten-free flour substitutes, be sure to see if there are nuts in the mixture. Gluten-free doesn’t mean allergy free. In our crew, we’ve got a couple of people with significant nut allergy issues, so gluten-free substitutes that rely on nut flours are a no-go around here.
  7. Do Dessert: Fruit with cinnamon, coconut whipped cream in place of dairy, there are plenty of ways to satisfy that sweet tooth.

    “Pie makes everybody happy.”–Laurie Halse Anderson

Sure, making Thanksgiving work when you’re on the lookout for allergies, preferences and sensitivities can be tricky. But when you’re gathered around the table and reflecting on your blessings, it makes it all worth it!

If you’re a Member of Altrua HealthShare and you’re concerned you may have some food sensitivities, use one of your available pooled office visits to discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider (be sure to check your Membership Guidelines for your specific level of membership for which visits are eligible to be shared in by the Membership). Your healthcare provider may be able to suggest testing to determine what you’re sensitive to. As a Member of Altrua HealthShare, you also have access to Grassroots Labs. Grassroots Labs has allergy testing for a variety of foods and environmental allergens. If you’re not yet a Member of Altrua HealthShare and would like to learn more about the Altrua HealthShare Membership and how it works, call 1.888.244.3839 to speak with a Member Services Representative.