Thanksgiving: Keeping the Focus Off of Food

Monday November 19, 2007

As you get ready to travel, or to welcome family or friends for Thanksgiving, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the food side of preparations for the upcoming holiday (especially if you've tried to get any grocery shopping done this weekend!). There are some great reasons, though, to look at alternatives to primarily food-centered celebrations when considering your holiday plans, all the more if you've got kids in your family. A smaller and lower-key meal is much easier to plan and keep safe, and can lower everyone's stress level considerably.

Nonprofit food allergy support group Kids with Food Allergies is offering a free seasonal booklet (note: PDF reader required) with discussion starters, craft ideas, ways to bring values of charity and gratitude into Thanksgiving celebrations, and outdoor play suggestions that just might become annual traditions in your family --- and none of them involve food. The booklet also includes safety suggestions for school and family gatherings to help prevent inadvertent reactions, plus two allergy-safe Thanksgiving recipes. Check it out!