For my American friends, Thanksgiving is coming soon!

This particular season has been divisive and difficult for many.

The election left some happy, some sad, and some angry.

But Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to come together, to celebrate the uniting quality of gratitude, to spend time with those we love and who love us.

And let’s hopefully remember all that we still have to be grateful for.

The thing I love most about Thanksgiving, besides the time with family, is the delicious, amazing food and the beautiful table.

There’s something magical about it.

But as a person who carefully watches what I eat, many things like stuffing, green bean casserole, and cheesy potatoes are off limits to me.

I admit, I’ll usually make an exception for these big, important holidays.

But even still, I hate the feeling of the morning after, the sugar-gluten hangover is almost as bad as a real hangover!

Okay, sometimes it’s honestly worse!

And that’s why, when I can, I help prepare paleo-friendly Thanksgiving food.

You’d be surprised at how many options are out there to make old favorites with allergen-free ingredients.

I’ve even shared a few recipes that would be great on a Thanksgiving table.  (Like this pumpkin bread for example or any of the many things on this pumpkin spice list)

Two books in particular are great for special occasions and celebration ideas: Gather: the Art of Paleo Entertaining and Celebrations.

Celebrations is by Danielle Walker from Against All Grain, an author who is highly respected for writing some of the best grain-free recipes in our world and covers a whole year of celebration food in her latest book.

It’s AMAZING.  Find it on Amazon here 

Gather: the Art of Paleo Entertaining is by Bill Staley and Haley Mason and sets up the art of the paleo table, making beautiful dishes that are also tasty and help you entertain well and in a way that non paleo folks will appreciate.

If any book will inspire you to cook a full on Thanksgiving feast (which you may or may not later regret!) this is the one.  Find it here.

Even though normally, I’m a no-fuss person with food, on special holidays I really like to make things fun.

I love ceramic bowls and dishes because I love to display all the food family style on the table at Thanksgiving.

Something about a beautiful table makes me so happy during the Holidays!

Like, I mean, how cute would it be to have your pumpkin pie in this PUMPKIN DISH.

Or these KISSING PILGRIM SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS

I can’t even.

—

No matter how you like to celebrate the holidays, there’s no reason you have the feel bad eating food you’re intolerant to.

And there’s also no reason to feel guilty if you do.

After all, if holidays aren’t the time to let loose a little and cut yourself a break, when is??

So ENJOY this time of the year, eat ALL THE FOODS, and just decide right now to wear stretchy pants for the rest of the winter.

In the meantime, I’m realizing two things.

First, I can’t wait for Thanksgiving, even if I have to spend it in London and second, I really shouldn’t write anything about food while I’m hungry.

That picture of a turkey is looking reeeeaaaal good right now.

How do you guys celebrate paleo thanksgiving?