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Thanksgiving With Il's

moonlitemama

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moonlitemama Rookie
moonlitemama
Posted

Hi, everyone! I'm hoping to get some advice an input from this wonderful group.

I've only recently been diagnosed, so haven't had many opportunities to deal with being away from my home for days and what that entails now. Every year, we spend about a week with all of my IL's for Thanksgiving. (The last 3 years I've gotten horribly sick while I've been there - assuming now that it was the beginning of the gluten intolerance.) Anyway, so this year I'm wondering what the easiest thing will be for me to keep my health and sanity. Most years we're at my MIL & FIL's house, which has lots of space for everyone to stay. This year we'll be at my BIL & SIL's house, since they'll have a newborn. The house is smaller, but undoubtedly everyone will still stay at the house. I haven't spoken with any of my husband's family about my diagnosis and don't expect everyone to change their way of eating for me. Besides, there would still be major sources of cc, I would think. So, what I'm toying with is getting a hotel room with a kitchen for the duration of the stay. That way, we'd have more space (there's 5 of us), and I wouldn't have to stress about my meals. However, I don't want to spend all my time at the hotel, either. Thanksgiving dinner, especially, is giving me nightmares. We bake everything from scratch, so there's lots of flour amongst all the other ingredients. Do I make my own Thanksgiving meal, separately, at the hotel or at home before we travel? Any ideas? Suggestions? Opinions on the hotel idea?

Thank you so much!

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mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

If your family members do NOT get the celiac cc issue I definately would not eat the food!!! My family doesn't get it & at times think we are on some fad thing....others know the risk & have seen us very ill. So to solve the issue without putting anyone out I usually make our meal at home for the four celiacs & I try to make all the turkey & trimmings just like everyone else is having. I keep ours separated from the wheat stuff.I usually ask if anyone would like to taste our stuff as they think it is really bad!!! This opens up communication about the disease so I can enlighten them that it is necessary & not a fad thing.

I also try to make pumpkin roll or pies that all can enjoy & most can not tell the difference...

So , I truly never get a cooked meal that someone else prepared but at this point I don't care because I know this is what I have to do....I just want us to enjoy our time & meal together.

hope this helps....

mamaw

Yellow Rose Explorer
Yellow Rose
Posted
If your family members do NOT get the celiac cc issue I definately would not eat the food!!! My family doesn't get it & at times think we are on some fad thing....others know the risk & have seen us very ill. So to solve the issue without putting anyone out I usually make our meal at home for the four celiacs & I try to make all the turkey & trimmings just like everyone else is having. I keep ours separated from the wheat stuff.I usually ask if anyone would like to taste our stuff as they think it is really bad!!! This opens up communication about the disease so I can enlighten them that it is necessary & not a fad thing.

I also try to make pumpkin roll or pies that all can enjoy & most can not tell the difference...

So , I truly never get a cooked meal that someone else prepared but at this point I don't care because I know this is what I have to do....I just want us to enjoy our time & meal together.

hope this helps....

mamaw

Thanks Mamaw, I was wondering about this myself as my son wants to do Thanksgiving at his house this year. Usually we have it at my house and I was prepared to do it again. I love the part about asking them if they would like to taste your stuff. What a great opening for communication about the disease.

Yellow Rose

Katydid Apprentice
Katydid
Posted

I kind of got the giggles when I read this thread because it reminded me of going to Florida to visit my daughter and her family as we do every year for Thanksgiving. Now my daughter is very considerate of her dad's celiac; but this one Thanksgiving in paticular we weren't going to arrive until about 1:00 on Thanksgiving Day so most of the dinner was going to be up to her. (I got really cheap when I read the low fares if you traevel on the holiday)

Now my daughter is really not much of a baker so I told her I would take care of dessert when I got there. You will not believe what I did. I made piecrusts...the 8" size in foil pans. Then I put them in these plastic pie carriers and filled in around and on top of them with popped popcorn. Then placed the pie carriers in my computer travel case on wheels and carried it as a carry-on on the plane. They arrived in perfect condition. When we got there, I mixed up the pumpkin filling and stuck them in the oven. We had dinner around 5:00 complete with our gluten free pumpkin pie.

Now I know this was not really to the point of this thread, but figured it was surely good for a laugh.

But, back to the point. If you can talk your inlaws into getting a gluten free brand of turkey and using corn starch or sweet rice flour for the gravy, that would help a lot. You would have to pass on the dressing unless you want to take a loaf of gluten free bread along and make a pan there. Alot of the other things they serve, you might be able to eat....sweet potatoes, cranberries, apple salad, green beans, lettuce salad, etc.

I do understand your interest in staying in a hotel with a kitchenette for most of your stay. We have done that many times when visiting relatives and it really helps take the pressure off. (us and them)

Good luck!

Kay

I kn

gfpaperdoll Rookie
gfpaperdoll
Posted

I would not even mention it to the IL's. I would freeze all my meals for a week. I would also cook a complete gluten-free thanksgiving dinner at home & freeze the leftovers into meals to take for the Turkey day. THEN IF they ask why you have brought your own food, I would mention that I have celiac...

then if they want to accomodate you next year they will get details, if not, you can do the same thing again.

Better to take your own food that can just be microwaved so that you can enjoy being with the family at meal times instead of cooking at the hotel room...

zarfkitty Explorer
zarfkitty
Posted

After some very insensitive behavior at the last gathering with my in-laws, I've decided that I'm doing a Gluten-free Casein-free Thanksgiving dinner at my own house. I'm going to do it full out, no expense spared. And I'm going to be able to eat everything that I see.

I'm inviting anyone that wants to come to come.

I explained to my in-laws that this first year on the diet, I didn't want to be on the fringe or left out. If I cook all my own food, I'll get to enjoy it all. She seemed to understand and is even considering coming to our house instead of the usual routine.

It seems like your plans are already set in stone, especially with your newborn niece or nephew in the picture. But maybe in the future you can have a rotation for the holidays so at least a few of them can be centered on your diet? Just a thought.

-Shannon

gfpaperdoll Rookie
gfpaperdoll
Posted

Shannon - inviting us all ???? LOL - I live a couple hours drive away :lol::lol::lol:

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Guest lorlyn
Guest lorlyn
Posted

Hotel is a great idea. I would freeze my food before you leave and go and have fun. At least you will have alot of extra time to enjoy the holiday instead of spending the whole day in the kitchen :P I live in the South and on some Thanksgiving it could be eighty degrees. My mon and my sister and will decide to grill steaks and have potato and a salad. We laugh at how much time we have together instead of cooking and washing for 2 days.

lonewolf Collaborator
lonewolf
Posted
After some very insensitive behavior at the last gathering with my in-laws, I've decided that I'm doing a Gluten-free Casein-free Thanksgiving dinner at my own house. I'm going to do it full out, no expense spared. And I'm going to be able to eat everything that I see.

This is what I do on Thanksgiving and Easter. NO gluten allowed. I make almost everything and I want to be able to enjoy the whole meal. I'll let people bring sparkling cider, pickles, olives, sweet potatoes or salads, but that's it. It might be a bit more expensive, but I love to cook and bake anyway and everyone seems to love the meals. We always have a full table.

Moonlitemama - If I were you I'd tell everyone well ahead. It will be easier in the long run than "surprising" them at the last minute. Who knows, maybe they'll be very supportive and go out of their way to accomodate you! If not, make your own delicious meal - especially some big yummy dessert, and go to enjoy the company. I've found that the less I make things a big deal and the more I take care of myself, the better they work out.

moonlitemama Rookie
moonlitemama
Posted
  • Author

:) Thank you for the responses so far! Keep 'em coming.

I love the idea of freezing the week's worth of meals. I'll definitely keep that in mind when I visit my parents. I don't know if it would work for Thanksgiving, though, since we've got about a 7hr drive to get there. I don't know that things would stay frozen. I'll have to think about it.

I also like the idea of cooking a Gluten-free Casein-free Thanksgiving meal ahead of time and pack the leftovers.

I'd love to host the gathering here. In fact, I really miss hosting it - I used to back before I got married. And I LOVE to cook & bake. BUT, our house is way too small...

zarfkitty Explorer
zarfkitty
Posted
Shannon - inviting us all ???? LOL - I live a couple hours drive away :lol::lol::lol:

haha. c'mon down!

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