Thanksgiving...

[e&j0304]

I guess my title says it all. I don't know if I can just let Ella eat the turkey that my aunt is preparing. We have a HUGE family that she is providing Thanksgiving for (although we all bring a dish) and I don't want her to do anything special for Ella. I will obviously just bring something that she can have if need be. I honestly don't think Ella will care one way or the other, but I just wanted to know if I need to worry about it!

Thanks in advance!

[tarnalberry]

I guess my title says it all.  I don't know if I can just let Ella eat the turkey that my aunt is preparing.  We have a HUGE family that she is providing Thanksgiving for (although we all bring a dish) and I don't want her to do anything special for Ella.  I will obviously just bring something that she can have if need be.  I honestly don't think Ella will care one way or the other, but I just wanted to know if I need to worry about it!

Thanks in advance!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No turkey! Not if it has bread based stuffing in it or any spices that aren't gluten free on it, or any other ingredients that aren't gluten free on/in it. If you can ask her to cook the stuffing separately (which is safer, from a food-bourne illness perspective, anyway), and to make sure nothing that goes on the turkey has gluten, then Ella could have the turkey.

[momof2]

My suggestion is to contact your aunt, and ask the brand of turkey she has purchased. Then, get online, and check it out. I would also ask your aunt if she puts the stuffing in the turkey.

Last year was our 1st gluten-free holiday, and I just brought some Oscar Meyer turkey slices for her, and she was fine with that. I was pretty intimidated about it all, so tried to keep it simple, for my own sanity. I guess it matters how old your little doll is, and if she is at the age, that she notices the difference of your plate and hers.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Carriefaith]

In these situations, I usually help make a turkey dinner at home first and then bring leftovers to other get-togethers. I don't trust other people who aren't familiar with celiac disease to make me safe food and I don't expect others to learn about it and what to do and what not do. So to avoid the hassle, I just bring my own food.

[e&j0304]

thanks for the suggestions everyone. I guess I never even thought about how there would be stuffing inside the turkey! There is always so much to consider.

I think I may just bake a chicken breast for her and have that cut up so she thinks she's having the same thing. Maybe next year I can do Thanksgiving here and have it gluten-free after I get a little more used to all of this.

My aunt did say, "Is there anything special I can do for Ella?" but I didn't really want to ask her to go out of her way because I know I will still worry about cross-contamination or whether or not she really did it gluten-free and her extra work will have been for nothing because I still won't let Ella eat it!

Anyway, thanks again and I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!!

[Carriefaith]

My aunt did say, "Is there anything special I can do for Ella?" but I didn't really want to ask her to go out of her way because I know I will still worry about cross-contamination or whether or not she really did it gluten-free and her extra work will have been for nothing because I still won't let Ella eat it!

That is probably the best thing to do. I often decline foods that people say are safe, even though it may hurt their feelings. It's just not worth it for me to chance getting sick. If you aunt insists on doing something, then maybe suggest buying something that Ella likes in a package. Like gluten-free cookies or something for desert.