How to Cook Thanksgiving Dinner for Everyone With Different Medical Needs

Thanksgiving can be a great time of the year, especially for seniors who enjoy having the company of their family members. However, if you are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, then keep in mind that the people coming to it—whether they're seniors or people of other ages—may have different medical needs. There might be seniors who are diabetic or pre-diabetic. And there might be seniors who are sensitive to gluten or have some other kind of food allergy.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid any medical emergencies this Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving Dinner for Seniors With Diabetes

If you're having seniors over who have diabetes, then they'll need to eat less sugar and carbohydrates. In fact, the best foods for diabetes are the ones that we generally consider healthy. Here are some tips for cooking Thanksgiving dinner for seniors with diabetes:

Turkey: Turkey is always a good option for seniors with diabetes because it's a source of lean protein. Prepare one using low-carb stuffing.
Stuffing: There are many low-carb stuffing recipes online. Basically, just use whole wheat bread and plenty of vegetables in the stuffing. Limit the amount of butter used.
Potatoes: Mashed potatoes may be difficult to prepare for seniors with diabetes because this is already a carb-rich vegetable. Try to prepare it with less butter or low-fat butter/dairy products.
Vegetables: Make sure to also have a side of roasted vegetables for seniors who want to skip the potatoes entirely.
Cranberry Sauce: When preparing cranberry sauce at home, try to do it without sugar or with a sugar substitute.

Thanksgiving Dinner for Seniors With Gluten Sensitivity

Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular lately, even with people who don't have celiac disease. Gluten is an ingredient found in many kinds of flour, including wheat flour, barley, and rye. This can make it hard to eliminate, but you can do so by substituting gluten-free flour in various recipes.

Turkey, Potatoes, Green Beans, and Fruit Salad: These are all naturally gluten-free, so you don't have to worry about serving these dishes in your Thanksgiving dinner.
Stuffing and Gravy: You can make stuffing with store-bought gluten-free bread. There are several options such as Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White, Schar Artisan Baker White Bread, or Udi's White Bread. You can also make your gravy using gluten-free flour.
Pies and Desserts: If you're having pie for dessert, then it is likely to contain gluten. However, you can opt for a store-bought gluten-free pie or make one yourself with a gluten-free pie crust. You can also opt for a cheesecake that is naturally gluten-free.

Thanksgiving Dinner for Seniors With Allergies

There are nine major food allergies that people tend to have—milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Here are some tips to help you prepare Thanksgiving dinner for seniors with these allergies:

Turkey: Don't fry your turkey in peanut oil. Some seasonings, such as bouillon cubes might contain soy, so it's best to avoid these.
Potatoes: You can try a dairy-free recipe for your mashed potatoes for seniors who have a milk allergy.
Stuffing: Make sure there are no eggs, nuts, or soy products in your stuffing recipe.
Desserts: Desserts often have a lot of ingredients that people are allergic to. However, if you're willing to go the extra mile, you can find recipes for allergen-free desserts online.
Communicate: Make sure to let people with food allergies know which dishes contain the items they are allergic to. Label foods clearly so that no one ends up eating an item they are allergic to.

How Senior Helpers Portland Can Help at Thanksgiving

It may be tough to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for seniors who have special medical needs in Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, or Lake Oswego. However, keep in mind that you can also request other family members to help out and bring a few dishes from their homes.

At Senior Helpers, our caregivers will also be happy to pitch in and prepare whatever your senior needs. Keep in mind that the aim of getting family and friends together is to have fun.