I hope that everyone is having a happy Thanksgiving today, and that you are with the people you love and mean the most to you. My wife, children, and closest friends are all here with Sherry and I today, and for that, we are very thankful. We keep in our hearts those members of our family who were unable to be here due to distance and commitments.

I am very often asked about eating at holidays: what is a Paleo person to do? Sherry and I have found that there are many foods that are Paleo-friendly that we can make for our friends and family that taste either nearly identical or outright identical to their non-Paleo counterparts. Sherry even found a Paleo stuffing that is delicious!

There are times, however, when you will find yourself in an environment where the food is non-Paleo. That’s okay. It’s okay to eat non-Paleo food every now and then, especially on holidays and extra-special occasions. Thanksgiving qualifies as both. Just remember that if you’ve been eating Paleo for any amount of time, your body will react negatively to things with lots of dairy, grains, or sugar in them. Those rolls will be as tasty as ever, but your stomach will not feel very good afterward, especially if you over indulge. The same goes for stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, and mashed potato (if made with all the additional traditional ingredients).

A strategy I use is to try to limit my serving size, not because I worry about the carbs, but because I worry about the physical discomfort. After the meal, just go back to eating your normal Paleo food. You may see a spike in your weight, or you may feel a little bloated for a day afterward: that’s okay. It’s not a step back; it’s just a reminder from your body that your Paleo lifestyle is much healthier, and that your body prefers your Paleo food.

From our family to yours, have a Happy Thanksgiving!