Preparing Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful under the best of circumstances, so when you have a guest, perhaps your child or family member, following a restricted diet d/t multiple food allergies, menu planning can be more of a challenge.
Milk, wheat, egg, soy and nuts are commonly avoided food allergens and also present in many holiday foods. Fortunately, many thanksgiving favorites are either naturally allergy friendly or easily modified to fit specific dietary needs.
Turkey, the centerpiece of the harvest table, when roasted with olive oil and spices, is naturally free of the common allergens. If one of your guests has a wheat allergy or is gluten-free, simply cook stuffing separately to keep the turkey safe for them to eat. Roasting a separate, smaller turkey breast is also an option.
No thanksgiving dinner is complete without mashed potatoes. Often made with milk and butter, mashed potatoes can be easily modified for milk-free diets by substituting butter with a dairy-free version, and using cooking water to moisten the potatoes. A bit of salt and garlic and you never miss the milk.
Cranberry salad and roasted vegetables are also staples, as long as they are made without nuts if you guest has a nut allergy.
Providing a hearty dish that incorporates several foods and flavors can also accommodate guests with multiple allergies, as with the holiday turkey meatloaf recipe and a hearty squash and quinoa casserole included below.
Not every single dish must accommodate your guests’ restrictions, but having a protein (turkey) a starch (like mashed potato) a vegetable dish (like roasted vegetables) and a fun tradition (like cranberry sauce) can round out a nice allergy-friendly holiday meal.
No holiday is complete without dessert.
See our website for recipes and inspiration!
Hearty dishes:
Thanksgiving Turkey Meatloaf
Butternut Squash & Quinoa Casserole Substitute pumpkin seeds for pecans if nut allergic
Friendly sides:
Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes
More allergy-friendly tips and recipes
Even more recipes here!
Desserts:
Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake
Gluten-free, Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie
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