Really worried about thanksgiving

Move to Canada. Thanksgiving already happened, so you'll have missed it.

SueInAz wrote: »

I get the anxiety, but really... it's one day. My brother eats Paleo, too, but he joins in at family meals and just picks and chooses the things he wants to eat. No one makes a big deal about it. If you don't really like turkey, take a small piece, no gravy. Then eat plenty of the side you're bringing and anything else on the table that fits your normal diet. If you aren't comfortable explaining your diet to your family, if anyone asks, just tell them jokingly that "you're watching your girlish figure". Really, if your plate looks full of food I can't imagine that anyone is going to be watching exactly what's on there.

This. If folks - even family - are openly judging the contents of your plate on Thanksgiving, politely tell them to mind their beeswax.

LolBroScience wrote: »

elphie754 wrote: »

I have severe food allergies so I can't eat what other people bring to thanksgiving. What I do is I make my own prepackaged meal and just tell people no thanks, I brought my own when asked if I'd like something.

Here is your out.

That wasn't the OP. Are you saying she should lie and tell her family she has severe food allergies? Seems easier to just tell them you're eating paleo.

WalkingAlong wrote: »

LolBroScience wrote: »

elphie754 wrote: »

I have severe food allergies so I can't eat what other people bring to thanksgiving. What I do is I make my own prepackaged meal and just tell people no thanks, I brought my own when asked if I'd like something.

Here is your out.

That wasn't the OP. Are you saying she should lie and tell her family she has severe food allergies? Seems easier to just tell them you're eating paleo.

DERP. That's what I get for not drinking coffee on Monday morning. Disregard my food allergy comment.

Its one meal for a holiday that is only once a year. Instead of letting your anxiety take over, just eat what you want. One day will not mess up what you already have going on, unless you allow it to after that. Enjoy the day and go back to paleo the next day.

If that is something that you just will not do, then just stop thinking about it until the day comes and the food is laid out on the table. At that time you just eat what you can.

WalkingAlong wrote: »

It's one meal and no one probably pays much attention to what you eat, unless you yourself make a big deal of it.

You can't have any gravy while eating paleo because... the little bit of flour in it? That seems unnecessarily restrictive.

That's paleo...

But O.P.'s goals are O.P.'s goals.

Will there be ham? (assuming you like ham) otherwise like some have said, bring your own food.

My suggestion would be to tell them before hand that you are trying to eat differently to help your health. I was put on a low-carb diet by a doctor and although everyone had an opinion about it, the easiest out was to tell them the truth: my stomach doesn't like that food and I don't want to feel sick later.

Paige682 wrote: »

0somuchbetter0 wrote: »

Lie and say you're getting over a stomach bug.

Yes, because lying to friends and family is how one really wants to spend the rest of their life.

um. yes?

WalkingAlong wrote: »

It's one meal and no one probably pays much attention to what you eat, unless you yourself make a big deal of it.

Having hosted most of our Thanksgiving's recently, I agree with this. There are so many different dishes that no one is expected to eat them all and I only notice if someone doesn't eat something I make if they make a point of apologizing to me for it (which my mother for some reason does, but that's for another post!).

I actually think Thanksgiving would be pretty easy from a paleo POV, although I also think not wanting to deviate at all (even re gravy) seems a little purist and not really related to any genuine nutrition goals, so might be worth thinking about. Paleo isn't a religion where it is some huge thing if you violate the rules.

However, turkey is obviously fine, you might be able to create a paleo-friendly gravy if that's essential for you (I'm sure there are recipes on the internet) that you could bring, and basic sweet potatoes, regular potatoes (depending on who you ask), and plenty of the vegetables would all be fine, depending on how strict you are (is butter really a deal breaker?) or how your family does them.

BaltarVK wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

BaltarVK wrote: »

I have a 5 mile run scheduled for Thanksgiving and the day after because I want turkey and dressing and gravy over everything LOL

Right? I'm so excited for something meat, something bready, something mashed, something green, and something pecan and pumpkin. I will work that goodness off...or not

I dig Thanksgiving. I have no problem working that glorious meal off. The biggest problem is my father in law has a full bar in his "man cave" 4 beers on tap. Oh man. I better start running more. SMH

Aw man! Jealous. I can't really drink beer anymore since I've started all this. Just doesn't work with the bod. I can still have my rye and wine though