A Special-Diets Thanksgiving Feast for All to Enjoy

This year’s Thanksgiving will look like none other for myriad reasons, but especially so if this is your first Thanksgiving while being on a new [restricted] dietary pattern. 

Many of our traditional turkey-day favorites are rife with gluten, dairy, and other ingredients that some of us may not be able to handle right now. 

I’ve pulled together some crowd-pleasing “free of” recipes that will help you get through the turkey feast without feeling deprived of any holiday classics. Feel free to modify them however you need so that it’s perfect for your needs. 

Though I will be upfront. There’s nothing I can do about grandma’s kiwi olive spam surprise Jell-o mold. 

Some Quick Substitution Notes: 

• When making gravy, wheat flour can be replaced with arrowroot or tapioca starch, or with a very fine rice flour
• Gluten-free bread can be chopped, dried out in a low oven, and used for bread stuffing
• Coconut oil or Spectrum Organic All-Vegetable Shortening can replace butter for some baking recipes 
• Coconut, cashew, almond, and other nut milks can replace dairy milk 
• Use 1 C non-dairy milk + 1-2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar to replace 1 C yogurt or sour cream in baking 
• Use 1 Tbsp ground flax or chia + 3 Tbsp water to replace 1 egg (note: only works in baking recipes that use fewer than 3 eggs)
• Dairy-free whipped cream can be made from a can of coconut cream 

Traditional Sides, Reimagined

• Salad with Pomegranate, Acorn Squash, and Pears (use olive oil instead of cooking spray)
• Spinach Artichoke Dip (vegan)
• Green Bean Casserole
• Potato Nuggets 
• Cranberry Sauce 
• Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
• Dinner Rolls (while I would typically look for something that contains whole grains and no sugar, but it’s a holiday)
• Corn Bread (consider using a clean whole grain GF flour like Bobs Red Mill All-Purpose)

Other Side Dish Ideas 

• Thai Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup
• Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad with Asian Citrus Dressing
• “Cornbread” Paleo Stuffing (grain-free)
• Squash Stuffed with Pears, Wild Rice, and Tempeh
• Garlic Roasted Root Vegetable Fries
• Stuffed Mushrooms
• Roasted Squash Salad with Chickpeas (substitute tamari or coconut aminos for soy sauce)
• Shingled Sweet Potatoes with Harissa

Delicious Desserts

• Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
  • Time-saver: Wholly Wholesome Gluten Free Pie Crusts (Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Sprouts, etc.)
• Paleo Pumpkin Bars, which can be turned into Pumpkin Bread Pudding
• Apple Crumble Pie
• No-Bake Pumpkin Tarts (frozen)
• Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake (Paleo)
• Pumpkin Blondies with Chocolate Chips (Paleo)

What special recipes do you plan on making this year?