Yeah, I know that it's only September, but this will be my first Thanksgiving post-op. Of the standard stuff, I know eat in small amounts, moderation, and stop when I'm full, but what sorts of alternatives do people suggest making?

In fall/winter, I make a sugar free sweet potato or pumkin pies with whole wheat or almond flour crust

Edited September 6, 20197 yr by GreenTealael

30 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

In fall/winter, I make a sugar free sweet potato or pumkin pies with whole wheat or almond flour crust

This looks friggin great. I may have to try this out.

35 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

In fall/winter, I make a sugar free sweet potato or pumkin pies with whole wheat or almond flour crust

I don't like pumpkin or sweet potatoe pies but this looks amazing! You go GIRLLLLL!

1 hour ago, Jobber said:

This looks friggin great. I may have to try this out.

It is VERY VERY good ?

I’m pre-op but my partner is diabetic so I bake a lot of sugar-free, low carb stuff. For thanksgiving I make a sugar-free, low carb pumpkin cheesecake that is amazing. It isn’t super low-fat though. If anyone wants the recipe just poke me!

Thanksgiving is MY holiday. People can keep Christmas, way to much stress for my buck. Hopefully, this thread will be full of great ideas:)

the first couple of years post-op I focused on turkey and vegetables and just had a tablespoon or two of everything else. I also brought pumpkin yogurt to eat (several yogurt companies make it this time of year) while everyone else was eating pumpkin pie. I've since found some crustless protein pumpkin pie recipes that aren't bad - although I haven't had them for Thanksgiving yet.

I hosted last year when I was 3 months post op. Only a few people knew I had surgery so no fuss was made.

I did the classics and added a healthy green bean side. I don’t recall being hungry or even caring that much about the food. I know I had turkey and a little gravy, I was worried it might not agree with me but I had no problems. It wasn’t a big deal. I’m sure it helped I was only 3 months post op.

I might be hosting again this year, I’ll probably do the same but add a salad and maybe fresh strawberries with sugar free cool whip for a pie alternative. This year I am going to have 1/3 cup of stuffing, I don’t care about the rest!

15 hours ago, Ellf said:

Yeah, I know that it's only September, but this will be my first Thanksgiving post-op. Of the standard stuff, I know eat in small amounts, moderation, and stop when I'm full, but what sorts of alternatives do people suggest making?

Ah, one of my favorite topics - holiday menus! Since I am gluten free, I have learned to cook entire Thanksgiving and Christmas meals without any wheat products at all. I might have some bread rolls on the side for die hards like my husband who can't celebrate anything without those horrible while rolls, but that will never change. Anyway, my meals are healthy and delicious. I use lots of veggies, prepared fairly simply, without sauces. There is so much you can do with broccoli, asparagus, beans, summer squash, and greens, with just light cooking. I make a cranberry dish using OJ, geletin, but no sugar. I do not add sugar to the sweet potatoes, no cream soup to the green beans, etc. I do use a gluten free dressing mix to stuff the bird, and that is my one indulgence that is high carb. I actually think my guests and family feel better after a healthy meal. They are full, but not "drugged" from the intense carbs and sugar.

Pumpkin pie is made from scratch with monkfruit sweetener. If guests want to bring other desserts, that is fine, but I stick with my yummy pumpkin pie. I always make one without crust, so it is more like a pumpkin custard, and that works for me just fine.

There are always mashed potatoes and gravy, but i skim the fat off the turkey juice, and make the gravy without wheat.

The real key is to EAT YOUR PROTEIN FIRST!!!. Then veggies. Then just a bite of the carbs like mashed potatoes and dressing. If you eat slowly and chew well, you will be pretty full by the time you reach the carb bites. Send home all the left over desserts with guests. (Except the pumpkin custard!) Send home any left overs that might be tempting - like the carbs. If you keep the left over healthy veggies, along with the meat, you will have lots of nice healthy lunches for days to come. Keep the bones and make bone broth for soup.

Another tip is to eat before the big meal so you are not starving. Something like a cup of lentil soup an hour before the meal will curb your appetite and help you eat slower.

I have done this for years, and have never gained weight during holidays.

I will be 6 weeks post op for Thanksgiving and I cannot imagine hosting it (or Christmas) this year.

I’m hoping a family member offers to host, tbh.

My mother died one year ago (she lived with us) and the holidays aren’t the same. She and I would do it together and all my siblings and their families would come. It was nice. But I digress...

I think this is going to be a very different holiday season for me which is fine. However, I feel guilt about my husband, kids, et al.

Hopefully some other family will step up. Don't be afraid to mention it to them - it wouldn't be too early to mention it now, so they can think about new plans.