Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Rules to Live By

It's tempting to cheat on the holidays.

If you're hosting Thanksgiving and you're gluten-intolerant, you're in luck. There are lots of great g-free options for everything from corn-bread to stuffing to pie crust. With a little thought and energy, you can create the delicious spread of your dreams.

If you're not hosting, you probably feel some amount of dread or anxiety about Thanksgiving.

"Will there be anything for ME to eat?" "If the stuffing is inside the turkey, then I won't be able to have the turkey!!!"

Not to mention, the homemade pumpkin pie and cookies, all made with wheat flour, that will be staring you in the face, beckoning you to "cheat," just this once.

Here are some simple strategies to help you enjoy a g-free Thanksgiving at someone else's house!

• Remember that "cheating" is a euphemism for "bent over the toilet at 3AM with a stomach ache."
• Most Thanksgiving spreads offer many gluten-free alternatives, like mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, corn, salads, fruit, and, of course, the turkey.
• Request that if a wheat-based stuffing is used, it is cooked outside of the turkey so the turkey remains free of gluten.
• Alternatively, suggest a gluten-free stuffing recipe.
  
• Watch out for the corn-bread. It may have wheat in it so ask first.
• Contact the host ahead of time and suggest some of the things you CAN eat.
• Bring an appetizer or dessert that is g-free compliant and you really like.
• Ask the host/hostess to use separate serving ware for foods free of gluten.
• Ask the host/hostess to use separate pans for cooking foods free of gluten.
• Ask the host/hostess to use separate butter/butter knife from those having wheat bread.

You may feel uncomfortable asking the host for some of the things you need. Remember, 1) your health is your number one priority, 2) these people are your friends/family and care about you, and 3) accommodating the needs of a g-free diet is actually pretty simple, especially one day a year. Sometimes it helps to remind yourself that it's not your fault you're intolerant to gluten; it's not something you chose. Fortunately, there are still an ocean of g-free options open to us, so be happy and feast!

Have a wonderfully delightful and delectable Thanksgiving!