First of all, let’s review what does and what does not consist of the Paleo diet. The Paleo diet was created to mimic the eating habits of our hunter/gather ancestors for whom our bodies have evolved to survive. These people nourished themselves with the natural resources that were given to them and thrived in a world to whom highly processed foods and additives were foreign. These people lived without the chronic diseases and obesity, which are prevalent in today’s society, and many nutritionists and healthcare specialists recommend this diet to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

However, making the transition to Paleo over the food-centric holiday season (namely, Thanksgiving) can be difficult for even the most devout Paleoista. Here is how to have a successful Paleo Thanksgiving, which will leave you satisfied and keeping the tradition alive without sacrificing your diet.

The biggest obstacles of a Paleo Thanksgiving are working around the grain-heavy stuffing and rolls, the mashed potatoes, cream and butter, and refined sugar (also not Paleo: legumes and alcohol). Instead, focus on the Paleo approved: meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, seafood, and unprocessed sugars (honey, agave, and unprocessed maple syrup).

Instead of mashed potatoes…

Make a mashed root vegetable dish. Mashed parsnips and turnips will create a similar taste and flavor (and color!) as potatoes and you can flavor the dish with thyme or rosemary. Instead of butter, create a creamy and buttery addition to your mashed root vegetables with a substitution of ghee, or if you are a Paleo variant that does not agree with the use of ghee, try this dairy free butter recipe to mash into your “potatoes.”

Don’t give up on pumpkin pie

Yes pumpkin pie is often loaded with processed sugars, and yes the crust is a grainy Paleo no-no, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make substitutions to create a Paleo-friendly pie that both you and your family will love. Use almond or coconut milk in place of the cream in the pumpkin pie and use grade B maple syrup in place of sugar. Other than that the spices and pumpkin part of the filling are Paleo-friendly and the adjustments in a typical pumpkin pie-filling recipe are minor enough that the taste is hardly affected. For the crust, use pecans and almonds to create a flour that acts as a lovely and complimentary crust (try this one here).

Bread-less stuffing

Thanksgiving is hardly complete without stuffing, but it can be just as delicious (or even more so) without breadcrumbs from a bag. You can skip the bread all together and load up on sausage and mushrooms to create enough stuffing in your texture, or consider making a grain-free bread using almond flour.

Ultimately don’t allow this holiday to make you reconsider your lifestyle change, especially when you have family that is not following the same diet. Use this time as an opportunity to experiment with new recipes and ingredients, and also use this as a learning opportunity to show your family why you are making this lifestyle change and how Paleo food can be just as delicious (or even more delicious) than what American culture is accustomed to (do this of course, without being too pushy).

Gravy

Instead of flour to thicken your gravy, mix the drippings with almond flour and tapioca starch and coconut milk. This may take a bit of practice at home since gravy is one of the trickier parts of the Thanksgiving meal as it is. Try this recipe for your Paleo gravy needs.

Cranberries without the sugar

Create a sweet, yet tart cranberry dish that doesn’t come from a can and isn’t saturated in processed sugar. Use (gasp) real cranberries and mix them with citrus juices and honey to create a sweet and sour, yet simple sauce.

Veggies! Veggies! Veggies!

Thanksgiving lends itself to plenty of opportunities for slipping in delicious and wholesome vegetables. Create a brussel sprouts dish, a green been dish, a carrot dish, and dark, leafy greens. This is the perfect opportunity to show that when it comes to vegetables, you know what’s up, so show your family and friends how delicious these foods can be.

Is this your first Paleo Thanksgiving? What are you doing to prepare? What challenges have you faced with following a Paleo diet over Thanksgiving in the past and what tricks and recipes worked for you? Let us know in the comment section below!