I wanted to share these Thanksgiving need to know tips because no matter where you are on your journey, the holidays always bring about a certain amount of stress. It can be a challenge to come up with gluten free food that doesn’t seem or taste gluten free for you and your family. During the holidays this can be extra stressful.

So let’s talk about some ways to make it easier for you this year.

Whether you are new to the journey or have been at this for years. Let’s talk tips and tricks to make this Thanksgiving your best one yet.

TIP: Even your most trusted relative cannot completely avoid cross contamination unless they are gluten free as well. 

TIP: Remember to read labels very carefully to make sure all of your ingredients are gluten free. Especially today with all of the supply chain issues that companies have had, don’t rely on the fact that you read the label last year. Many companies have had to change ingredients.

TIP: If you are planning to bring your prepared food to a Thanksgiving celebration outside your home, prepare your actual plate ahead of time in either an oven or microwave safe dish. If all you have to do is uncover a dish and warm it up, it will be all ready to serve and so much easier on you. You will also have less to bring to and from the gathering.

TIP: When making a gluten free recipe it is important to follow the recipe exactly as it is written. If you are planning to make changes or substitutions you are not guaranteed to get the same results. It’s ok to try  a new recipe, but also make something you’ve made before so you are guaranteed to have something good for dessert. 

Tip: Read through the entire recipe before you begin. This is a common mistake that people make assuming that if they just follow the steps everything will go well. You will have much more success if you know exactly what to expect from each recipe.

TIP: Focus on making the things you actually WANT to eat instead of all the trimmings. There are many gluten free options for stuffing, fried onions for green bean casserole and so on. Take some time to look now and make your shopping list. Since these items may go quickly, you might want to buy them now. 

TIP: Keep it simple. I learned the hard way that making things too complicated by trying to do too much makes the stress even worse. Set boundaries and make plans that you will truly enjoy!

TIP: Make sure you take time to be thankful. I am certainly glad for this community and all that it has brought to my life. 

I’m sure there are many Thanksgiving need to know tips and tricks but these are a few to get you started. Maybe I’ll do a fun post later in my Stay Gluten Free main page on Facebook and let everyone chime in too. 

If you have any Thanksgiving need to know tips to share, leave a comment below.