How did you do Thanksgiving this year?  Let me know in the comments.

When you have different dietary needs than the rest of your family or friend group, it can be difficult when it comes to a holiday meal. No one wants to stick out like a sore thumb from the group or look like a picky eater. There is a way to feel included when your dietary needs are different than everyone else’s.

• Have whomever is preparing the meal make some accommodations where they can. This doesn’t mean making everyone else stick to your diet or you having to do something you don’t want to do. For example, Tony is following a strict low sodium diet. My sister in law is making all of the side dishes this year. I requested that she not add any salt. We all can add salt if we want at the table. That was an easy thing to do.
• Prepare something yourself to bring and share that fits your diet. I always make the more difficult dishes that are gluten free, dairy free and low sodium. I bring enough so that we can stay safe in our diet and share the dish with others.

For this year’s Thanksgiving I added a special pumpkin pie that was gluten free/dairy free/low sodium and a low sodium tofurkey roast.  I can eat regular turkey, but it has too much sodium for Tony’s diet.  I made the roast and pie to make sure he was included.  I don’t support the idea that he should just eat his own food.  We talked about it and I felt that doing so would exclude him, even though he was willing to do this on his own.  

Another thing to keep in mind, I’ve talked before about family and friends being food pushers, don’t become a food pusher yourself.  Just because you want to eat healthy, doesn’t mean everyone else is on board with that.  Be a good example and let others come to their own conclusion.  

How did you do Thanksgiving this year?  Let me know in the comments.