The Barnes family gathered at the beginning of November to catch up and plan their annual Thanksgiving dinner. The matriarch of the family, Ethel, listened intently to her granddaughter, Zoey, describe her dietary restrictions for her newly diagnosed gastroparesis. Among other things, the restrictions included reduced fat and insoluble fiber. The youngest of her grandchildren, Jax, has celiac disease and has to avoid gluten and cross contamination.
Ethel, 70, wasn't very familiar with either condition, but she reassured both of them that they would have safe foods and they wouldn't have to worry about getting ill from eating dinner. In fact, she was pleased to do it! It made her happy to provide her family with a dinner that was even more special.
Ethel's generation didn't grow up with Google. But Zoey, 19, and Jax, 13, had shown her how to use her iPhone like a pro, and the septuagenarian got to work looking for recipes. With the help of TikTok and Pinterest, she developed a nice Thanksgiving dinner that was safe for everyone. She was careful to make sure her grandchildren had a variety of foods and felt included in the holiday celebration rather than being singled out or treated like the black sheep of the family.
She invited her grandchildren to help cook the feast and shared some advice she found on food safety including: labeling cooking utensils as gluten-free with a small sticker, dedicating one countertop in the kitchen as gluten-free only, peeling fruits and vegetables and cooking them to make them easier to digest, and making sweet potatoes with candied pecans on the side instead of in the dish itself.
Everyone was excited to learn how to accommodate their loved ones, and the dinner was a joyous occasion for all! Just a typical American Thanksgiving dinner, right?