Gluten Free Thanksgiving
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
How To Have A Gluten Free Thanksgiving
People who are sensitive to gluten and who are on a gluten-free diet must avoid foods that contain gluten, such as those made with barley, rye or wheat. When first incorporating gluten free foods into your diet and active lifestyle, it can be a little challenging because those gluten ingredients are in much of the food that is found in our traditional supermarkets.
When preparing holiday meals for your family and friends, such as a Thanksgiving feast, the task can seem a little stressful and a little bit overwhelming. If you are not gluten sensitive but have family members that are then it’s time to get a little creative and be open minded about trying out different recipes so your friends that are gluten sensitive can have a gluten free thanksgiving.
Gluten Free Thanksgiving
With just a few simple changes to your regular recipes there are, however, many ways that you can prepare a Gluten Free Thanksgiving. Many ingredients in your regular holiday dishes can be easily swapped for a gluten-free version without really affecting the flavor of the dish.
Here Are Some Five Tips to Ensure You Have a Gluten Free Thanksgiving
1.To ensure that your Thanksgiving meal will be a gluten free Thanksgiving then offer to cook the Thanksgiving meal yourself. You be in charge, this means that you decide what comes into the kitchen, and what makes it onto the dining room table.
If you are going to someone Elses house for Thanksgiving, make sure to let the host know you are gluten sensitive. You can always offer to make some gluten-free side dishes yourself. Many times, the host is overwhelmed with planning the Thanksgiving menu and preparing all of the dishes. Chances are that your offer to bring some gluten-free dishes will be welcomed.
2. Call or visit your local health food store or local grocery store and inquire about gluten-free turkeys.
Contact them a few weeks before Thanksgiving so that you are not running around at the last minute trying to locate a gluten free turkey. Some specialty grocery stores, are willing to take special requests and orders for their customers with special dietary needs. Most grocery stores now carry gluten-free foods, including turkeys, as a result of increased awareness about gluten sensitivities in recent years.
Be careful of the ingredients on turkeys. There may be hidden sources of gluten. Some brands may include gluten products in the processing of the turkey. If there are any ingredients on the list that you do not understand, do your research. Aside from reading labels, the only way to be sure that your turkey is 100% gluten-free is if it is labeled as such by the manufacturer.
3. Incorporate two to three vegetable dishes. Vegetables are very versatile and their flavor can be enhanced with minimal ingredients. Research ways to modify traditional holiday vegetable dishes.
Let’s take a look at how we can change up a green bean casserole dish->In place of the pre-packaged battered and fried onion slices that are normally added to this dish, opt for fresh onions sliced and lightly fried in olive oil without the flour coating. If you really wish to maintain the authenticity of the original dish, substitute wheat flour for corn flour or any other flour that does not contain gluten. The flavor of vegetable dishes like this one will not be altered much, if at all, by a simple flour substitution.
4.Make your own gluten-free gravy. Be careful of the many brands of gravy mix. They contain a lot of gluten products. The main ingredient that makes gravy thick is the flour. Wheat flour is the main flour commonly used to thicken gravy, however, coming from a gluten free perspective you can use corn flour in its place. Corn flour is just as effective as wheat flour in terms of its cooking properties. If you don’t have time to prepare your gravy from scratch, check with your local health food store for gluten-free gravy mixes.
5.Look for gluten-free stuffing at your local grocery store or health food store. There should be gluten-free packages of stuffing available in most health food stores. If not ask them to carry it.
Gluten Free Thanksgiving-Coffee Tips
Coffee is a common beverage served on Thanksgiving. Whether it’s before Thanksgiving dinner or after. For our gluten free friends and family it’s important to have gluten free coffee on hand. People with gluten sensitivities have to be careful their hot or cold beverage isn’t manufactured from plant sources containing gluten. Plain coffee beans can be cross contaminated if they are processed in a shared facility or on equipment that also process gluten containing ingredients. I suggest you purchase plain coffee beans and grind them yourself. The main thing people don’t think about is coffee flavoring. Becareful of some of the flavorings for coffees. Many of them have an alcohol base. Alcohol is derived from grains including gluten grains.
Follow the above tips to make the most of having a Gluten Free Thanksgiving.
Here’s to a Gluten Free Thanksgiving!
Kari St. Louis
For more health related articles read: GMO Foods List and Pineapple Health Benefits