Thanksgiving With Food AllergiesFood has always been the focal point of Thanksgiving (some might even say that it is the Super Bowl of eating) and it is probably safe to say that it always will be. That is why Thanksgiving with food allergies can be such a challenge. So many of the traditional Thanksgiving foods contain common food allergens.  A Traditional Thanksgiving Menu Veggies with Dip For a holiday that involves so much eating, a light appetizer to start should do the trick. (And, if you're hosting, having appetizers away from the kitchen prevents eager guests from sneaking a taste of the main meal before it starts!) For a festive turkey day veggie tray, try this turkey veggie platter served with your favorite dip. We like this dill dip mixed with soy sour cream and cream cheese. If you're allergic to soy and dairy, try mixing your dip mix with SO Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt. If those options don't work for you, hummus might be another option. If you're avoiding sesame, try this tahini free hummus recipe from Allrecipes.com. Salad Some might say that there is no room on a crowded Thanksgiving dinner plate for a green salad but I beg to differ. Not only are salads healthful, they also introduce different textures to your palate and color to your plate. Go to the recipe for Green Salad and Cranberry Vinaigrette. Roasted Turkey Turkey day wouldn't be the same without it but a few precautions must be made to ensure that the centerpiece of your meal is "safe". This is mostly true if you are allergic to wheat because turkey can have broth added to it which often contains wheat starch. Luckily, it isn't difficult to find a gluten free turkey at your regular grocery store. Just be sure to read the label carefully and, if the label isn't clear, call the company directly to confirm that the turkey is gluten free. Also, if you have a wheat allergy, throw out the gravy packet that is often included with the turkey because it most likely contains wheat. Read on to find out how you can make a delicious, "allergy-free" gravy from scratch. Finally, there are a number of ways to prepare your turkey. We like this Fresh-Herb Turkey recipe from Cooking Light Magazine. Cranberry Sauce The cranberry sauce probably isn't the most challenging component of an "allergy-free" turkey dinner but, since we're on the subject, I wanted to share my favorite recipe. This isn't your ordinary cranberry sauce out of a can, it is a delicious relish that tastes great alongside turkey or spread on your sandwich of turkey day leftovers. You can find the Cranberry Apple Relish once again, from Cooking Light Magazine. Gravy Since the gravy packet that comes with the turkey will more than likely contain wheat, you'll need to make your own allergy free gravy. Not to worry, though, because making a boat full of delicious gravy is relatively easy. Go to the recipe for "Allergy Free" Gravy. Mashed Potatoes Traditional mashed potatoes contain heavy cream and butter which makes them light, fluffy and rich all at the same time. While that combination can be difficult to duplicate without using dairy products, these "allergy free" mashed potatoes definitely fit the bill. Go to the recipe for "Allergy Free" Mashed Potatoes. Stuffing Since wheat free bread is difficult to make as good as the real thing you might conclude that wheat free stuffing would be just as challenging. Luckily, wheat free bread can be a part of a delicious stuffing that tastes as good as any (wheat-filled) boxed variety that you can find. Go to the recipe for Wheat Free Stuffing. Green Bean Casserole Green bean casserole is another dish that has always had a place at our Thanksgiving table. With a couple of substitutions the traditional holiday dish can be free of the top 8 allergens but still enjoyed by everyone. Go to the recipe for Green Bean Casserole. Dessert Dessert is the perfect ending to any great meal (and happens to be my favorite course). It can also pose the greatest challenge to those of us who are eating with food allergies. So many favorite and traditional desserts contain common food allergens. Luckily, there are many "allergy free" dessert options including those that don't require baking from scratch. Just check out any number of online stores that cater to those of us with food allergies and you'll find many baking mixes to choose from. Cupcakes decorated with the Thanksgiving theme, sugar cookies in the shape of turkeys and pies made with "allergy-free" pie crust mixes are all easy options. If you're having a dessert that begs for whipped cream on top but you can't have dairy, look for Rich Whip in the freezer aisle (near the Cool Whip) at your grocery store. It comes frozen and, when thawed, can be whipped to the same consistency as whipped cream. While this product is free of dairy, egg, wheat/gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish, it does contain soy lecithin which can be a no-no for those with soy allergies. If you react to soy lecithin, this is not an option for you. For an easy and delicious dessert that is a perfect Thanksgiving dinner ending, check out this Pumpkin Bars recipe. So, that is a traditional Thanksgiving meal in our house. Yours may differ a little (or a lot) but hopefully this menu and the tips that go along with it have helped you figure out how to prepare your traditional meal, too. 
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