Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday. It’s a day to count our blessings and be thankful for all of the goodness we have in our lives… especially given the challenges we’ve faced over the past few years.
Thanksgiving has always been a day to remember what we are thankful for, to be with family and loved ones, and to prepare and enjoy delicious food together. We love celebrating with family whenever we can all gather together. 🙂
I encourage you to take this opportunity to reflect on some of the gifts that 2024 brought us, and be thankful for loved ones — even if you’re connecting virtually.
Here are seven gifts that I like to reflect upon and be thankful for.
1. Opportunities to Stay Healthy
My husband and I started making our own version of Thanksgiving dinner right after we got married.
Since that time, as I have changed my diet from the Standard American Diet to a gluten-free/dairy-free diet, then a Paleo diet, then my own diet, our Thanksgiving dinner has evolved quite a bit!
I am grateful for my supportive friends and family who have gone out of their way to make special meals and take me to special restaurants, but I know not all individuals with Hashimoto’s have these types of supportive people in their lives.
Making Thanksgiving dinner on our own terms takes away the pressure of “eating what everyone else is eating.”
2. Gratitude
I feel so blessed to be where I am today, compared to where I was at the beginning of my Hashimoto’s journey.
Back then, I slept under two blankets in my Los Angeles apartment, had constant brain fog, needed 11 hours of sleep to feel rested, was anxious all the time, was losing my hair, had carpal tunnel in both hands, and was addicted to caffeine and sugar.
I felt that I couldn’t do anything, but…
“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, it became a butterfly.”
This quote inspired me throughout my Hashimoto’s journey.
When I first received this diagnosis, I thought my life was over.
I now realize that Hashimoto’s has made me a better person, the person I am today.
Mark Hyman, MD once said: “I didn’t choose this type of lifestyle, my body chose for me” — and this really resonates with me.
I now realize that it was my lifestyle that had everything to do with me getting an autoimmune condition.
I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to share my health journey with all of you, and hope that my experience helps you on your journey.
I am fortunate that my health has been stable, and I can usually solve any of my health issues with a few simple tweaks, but I only wish I could do the same for the health of the world. It’s easy to get stuck in a negative pattern, feel sorry for ourselves, and start to believe that the world is hopeless.
If thought patterns like this go on for too long, they can consume us.
I have found that one of the fastest ways to shift our mindset is with a gratitude practice: instead of constantly focusing on all of the things that are wrong, we focus on what we are thankful for each day. I encourage you to start a gratitude practice this month!
A few years ago, I started to teach our son about gratitude, using the Thankful Turkey from Busy Toddler. The first three things he was thankful for were Batman, Superman, and Wonderwoman, but I am pleased to say that by day two, he was thankful for mommy, and by day three, he was thankful for daddy… so I think he’s getting the idea. 🙂
3. An Opportunity to Connect
Over the years, my hubby and I have hosted Thanksgiving at our house with family from around the continent (Chicago, Louisiana, Canada, Texas, and Colorado), and attended Thanksgiving celebrations at the homes of like-minded friends and family, like fellow gluten-free and Paleo cookbook authors Leanne Ely from Saving Dinner, Magdalena Wszelaki from Hormones Balance, and Amanda Nowosadzki from Clean Southern Cuisine.
4. An Opportunity to Try Something New
As much as I love the holidays, sometimes they feel like extra pressure. Why not spice things up a little by cooking something new?
Baking is my favorite de-stressing activity…
A few years ago, my sister-in-law Amanda developed an amazing gluten-free biscuit recipe that has been a HIT every Thanksgiving we’ve had together!
Caramelized Onion and Rosemary Biscuits (GF/DF)
You and your loved ones will absolutely not believe that these decadent biscuits are gluten- and dairy-free! They’re a perfect accompaniment to any meal.
Whether you are celebrating a holiday or not, you can count on one thing: these biscuits will be the talk of the table. The sweet and savory caramelized onions and piney rosemary pair perfectly with the light, fluffy biscuit texture!
Yields: 10 large biscuits
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Clean Southern Cuisine gluten-free flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
- 2/3 cup palm shortening*
- 1/2 cup caramelized onions, chopped small
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon rice milk (plain, unsweetened)
- 2 large eggs*
Directions:
- Place palm shortening in the freezer for 30 minutes to harden.
- Whisk the first four ingredients together in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Using a pastry blender or fork, cut the palm shortening into the flour mixture until the shortening pieces are pea-sized.
- Whisk in the rosemary and caramelized onions, ensuring the onions don’t stick together too much.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and rice milk, then pour this mixture into the dry ingredients.
- Stir until a dough just forms. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes, to allow the flour to fully absorb the moisture.
- Using a muffin scoop or large ice cream scoop, transfer the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 375°F for 12-14 minutes, or until the bottoms of the biscuits begin to brown.
Notes:
*For a buttery flavor, you can substitute ghee or butter (if tolerated) for half of the palm shortening.
*If you cannot tolerate eggs, you can substitute 2 flax eggs for real eggs. To make flax eggs, combine 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed meal with 6 tablespoons of water and allow this mixture to sit for 10 minutes, prior to using. This substitution will also make the recipe vegan.
Amanda published her very first cookbook, Clean Southern Cuisine: Where Southern Food Comes Clean!, a few years ago, and I love her Southern-inspired recipes. 🙂
She has also developed a gluten-free flour blend that substitutes one-for-one for wheat flour in baking — I’ve been using it in some of my old favorite recipes!
Whether we are hosting or bringing a few dishes to share, it’s really important (and fun) to make something tasty and nutritious that everyone can enjoy!
Why not try out a new recipe this year?
5. An Opportunity to Continue Traditions
In previous years, I would start my Thanksgiving menu planning early to accommodate various dietary preferences (Paleo, vegan, vegetarian, Standard American Diet, etc.) at my table.
I’ve always had a proven process of starting my meal planning, shopping, and cooking a few days early, so that I could relax on Thanksgiving, while hubby made the turkey. 🙂
I’m excited to share our menu, recipes, and shopping list with all of you!
All of the recipes are gluten-, dairy-, soy- and grain-free, as well as nutrient-dense.
Wishing you all a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!
6. An Opportunity for Introspection and Refocusing
When we get busy, we tend to become disconnected — from our family, our life’s purpose, or our own needs. I feel like the slowing down and change of pace of the holidays always presents an opportunity for reflection as to what matters most to us, and to tune into the small changes we can make to bring ourselves a little more joy, healing, and peace.
I hope that Thanksgiving gives you this opportunity to get a little quiet and introspective, and refocus on the things that matter most to you.
This time of year, I’m always thinking about the highs and lows, and what I want the next year to look like.
7. Opportunities to Give Thoughtful Gifts
While I know that the most important aspect of the holidays is certainly not material, I still love giving thoughtful, healthy, and practical gifts to loved ones.
And at the same time, it’s so rewarding to be able to choose gifts that are wellness-focused, useful, sustainable/eco-friendly, and sourced from ethical businesses. It feels good to me to be able to support small businesses which I believe are doing good things for the world, instead of giving (and receiving) junk that does no good for our bodies or the planet.
I used to bake holiday cookies and send tons of them to everyone on my gift list, and get my husband the latest cologne. Family members never had a hard time picking out gifts for me… I loved “scented” everything! Once I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and had to change my diet and lifestyle (I cut sugar, gluten, and dairy, and removed toxic substances from my life), both giving and receiving became more challenging at first — but over time it has actually become much more rewarding.
I know now that being health conscious doesn’t mean we can’t give or receive fun holiday gifts! Plus, thank goodness there are a lot more healthy, thyroid-friendly, and ethical gifts to choose from these days. 😉
I want to help it make it easier for you to choose thoughtful, healthy gifts for your loved ones. Here are a few of my top all-around choices for holiday gifts, but check out my resources page too, as there are a TON of great ideas there!
- Sunlighten Saunas – For that “relax and chill” friend who is just as obsessed with the idea of a home sauna as you are – see my link for discounted rates!
- Zeel on-demand massages – Send a massage to a loved one for a day of relaxation! Get a same-day, in-home massage with a few taps of the Zeel app, or book via their website. They also do gift certificates! You can use my personal Zeel invite code, 9qa2, and get $20 off your first Zeel massage.
- Dry Farm Wines – A healthier alternative to traditional alcohol, natural and organic family farmed wines that are low in alcohol, statistically sugar/carb free, low in sulfites, and additive free. (You can also pair your wine with PureWine Wands, which remove sulfites and histamines that often lead to headaches, fatigue, congestion, upset stomach, and hangovers. For a limited time, they’re offering a special discount to my readers, for 20% off your order using code THYROID20.)
- Pranamat – This company designs eco-friendly, hand-crafted acupressure massage products that are clinically proven to help with thyroid-related health issues, including migraines, (back) pain, fatigue, and anxiety. Use this link or enter the code DRWENTZ for 15% off!
- Blue Light Therapy Lamp – Don’t let the winter blues get you down! Blue light therapy has been clinically shown to reduce the winter blues and give you more energy in the winter.
- Annmarie Skin Care Sample Kit – Here’s a super cool and affordable stocking stuffer idea for someone who loves trying natural beauty products.
- AquaTru – AquaTru countertop reverse osmosis water filter is one of the only countertop filters that removes fluoride, which can be especially toxic for those with Hashimoto’s (read more about that here).
- Truedark – Help friends and loved ones get a healthier sleep with Truedark products that block blue from electronic devices which can delay the release of sleep-inducing melatonin and disrupt the body’s internal clock (or circadian rhythm). Get 10% off your purchase when you use code IZABELLA at checkout! (P.S. They also have gift cards!)
- Rootcology Protein Powders offer exceptional nutrition and are made with clean and thyroid-friendly ingredients – perfect for your smoothie-loving, clean-eating friends!
Consider picking up a copy of one of my helpful books like Adrenal Transformation Protocol for those who are worried about adrenal health, or Hashimoto’s Protocol for the newly diagnosed.
For more recipes, a FREE Thyroid Diet start guide, and notifications about upcoming events, be sure to sign up for my email list! I also encourage you to join my Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest community pages to stay on top of thyroid health updates and meet others who are following similar health journeys.
It’s pretty yummy. I made two batches last year:) Thank you for your kind words and I wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving.
It’s really important for you to optimize your medications and also may help to address any underlying immune system issues. Check your email, I just sent something over for you 🙂
By Food Babe
1,006 Comments
The answer to that question is easy A LOT.
A family member does this little game with me and it happens over and over. After trying a bite of something that looks homemade, I say, Mmm where did you get this from?” and she says, Don’t worry, it’s from Trader Joe’s, so it’s organic.” The fact that people assume all products from Trader Joe’s are organic or healthy or better than what you would find elsewhere is an alarming misconception.
For the last several months, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Trader Joe’s. Many people are questioning the grocery store chain’s policies on genetically engineered ingredients (GMOs) and asking if I personally trust their statements about the use of GMOs in their store brand products my short answer is no, I don’t.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE shopping at Trader Joe’s. It’s fun, the employees are super nice and helpful and it’s a pleasant experience. However, they won’t share any information with us and are completely cloaked in secrecy regarding their business practices, which makes my head want to explode.
Trader Joe’s Official GMO Statement:
Our approach to Genetically Modified Organisms is simple: we do not allow GMO ingredients in our private label products (anything with Trader Joe’s, Trader Jose’s, Trader Ming’s, etc. on the label).
Given what Trader Joe’s tells us about their GMO policy, we should trust them, right? Or are we trusting them just like many consumers trusted Naked Juice, Tostitos, Kashi, Gold Fish, Barbara’s Bakery, etc. who are or have been faced with lawsuits finding suspected GMOs in their so-called natural” products?
During my research, I found out there is no regular independent third party certifier verifying their products are non-GMO on a regular basis at Trader Joe’s. It is completely up to Trader Joe’s product supply team to regulate GMOs from suppliers not the Non-GMO Project or the USDA (for organics) that requires a high level of standards and third party testing before stating a product can be deemed free of GMOs. If there are complaints about a product, Trader Joe’s will conduct verification with a secret third party that they won’t disclose, but it’s completely up to the consumer to alert Trader Joe’s with a complaint.
In fact, Trader Joe’s stated that their products don’t allow for auditing using the Non-GMO Project because there is an additional cost associated with that.” A representative from Trader Joe’s went on to say, We tend to not label our products a whole lot, and won’t until there is a government regulation to understand what non-GMO even means, we aren’t going to label products that don’t have specific FDA guidelines.” So this begs the question what does non-GMO mean to Trader Joe’s? Are they making up their own definition because they claim they don’t have direction from a governmental official?
I reached out to the Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project, Megan Westgate, to find why Trader Joe’s refuses to become Non-GMO certified. This is what she said:
The Non-GMO Project has reached out to Trader Joe’s a number of times over the years, and we remain hopeful that at some point we will be able to forge a meaningful partnership with them. To date, it has been very difficult to ascertain the credibility of their non-GMO claims. We know that many consumers believe Trader Joe’s to be a GMO-free store, but without transparent standards or third-party verification this is impossible to confirm. Many other retailers independent grocers, co-ops, and Whole Foods Market are leading the way by requiring rigorous testing and labeling, and it would be great to see Trader Joe’s follow suit.”
TraderJoesProductsGMOs
Trader Joe’s says they review affidavits (the documents that prove an ingredient is not made or contaminated with GMOs) from their suppliers who make their store branded products, but there is no way to verify this. I asked Trader Joe’s if they would send me an affidavit showing proof of non-GMO corn or soy in at least one of their products that wasn’t labeled certified organic and they refused saying, Unfortunately we don’t share those documents, they are confidential.” They wouldn’t even tell me what country some of the products were produced in either as they do not provide country of origin” labeling.
Yummy ideas!
Mary- They should be working now! 🙂
Is not working. Can you please re post the recipes link! Thanks
Sunflower – I’m so sorry the link did not work for you. Please email my team at info@thyroidpharmcist.com and they will be happy to help. <3
Hello!
I am trying to download the full Thanksgiving menu/recipes but I am receiving a 404 not found. https://thyroidpharmacist.com/404/
Please let me know if this information is still available and we’re I can access it. Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Laurie
Laurie- Thank you so much for letting me know! It should be working now!! 🙂
For the sweet potato casserole, do you chop and cook the sweet potatoes first and then mash them? That’s the only way I can imagine that you can “mash” a sweet potato but doesn’t have clear instructions. Can you clarify? Making it tomorrow. 🙂
Thanks!
Jessica- Thank you so much for letting me know!! Yes, you are correct!! Hope you enjoy!! It’s so good!! 😀
I wished I had seen this before going shopping. I have your Thyroid book but was not helped as much by it as I have been by your regular e-mails. I am writing to say thank you so very much. I am going to try your gluten and dairy free eating plan. I will certainly appreciate any guidance you can give. I also have a problem with black pepper. If I use it to rub the turkey, will the wash make it healthy for me or can I leave off the black pepper and it will not affect the taste of the turkey? I have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, acid reflux disease, COPD, high blood pressure and cholesterol, neuropathy, leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome, my kidney disease improved from stage 3 chronic to stage 2 mild kidney disease. I suffer with chronic dry eyes and mouth. I use a CPAP Machinr for Insomia and another sleep arithmia issue that’s not sleep ania but one that Is related to the brain that I can not name. I have balance issues and have been migraine headache free for some time. Although my nephrologist prescribes medication if I need it. A Urologist gave medication to take to cut down on frequent urination. Lastly I have two disc in my back that I refuse to have surgery. I have been back pain free for sometime. I lost weight and my hair after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s . Have you ever had a client that was diagnosed with so many issues and shared them. It is difficult to know what to eat when you have food and environmental allergies too. My Big Plus is I have a very close relationship with God. It is my faith that keeps me joyful and pushing each and every day. I exercised and I pray.
Joannn,
Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. I’ve found through my page that a good percentage feel better off of gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients
TOP 9 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-9-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos/
This is making me salivate! I’m not in the US (in the UK), so don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but a lot of this can be carried over to Christmas Dinner too.
Dear Dr. Wentz, Your articles have been so helpful in my understanding of Hashimoto’s. I am a little confused by some outside literature I’ve read that include some of the ingredients listed in this article. I am hoping you can clarify their benefits. (1) Some outside literature explains that people with Hashimoto’s should avoid legumes, but I see you are suggesting a lentil dip. I love lentils and have some in my pantry, but avoid them because I’m afraid it will become a toxin or inhibit my medication from working. (2) Also, I see you recommend pear juice, but I had read other literature that recommended avoiding pears and gravitating towards apples. Thank you in advance for your help, Jeannine
Jeannine – thank you for reaching out. Some, but not all people find they feel better after removing legumes from their diets. Phytates found in grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds can bind zinc and prevent its absorption when eaten alongside zinc-containing foods and reduce AP enzyme activity. You may also soak and cook grains and legumes to reduce phytates as recommended in the Body Ecology Diet. Legumes (beans) may be incompatible with trying to heal a leaky gut, which is almost always present with Hashimoto’s. Here are some articles you may find helpful.
ELIMINATION DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky-gut/
Hi Dr Wentz. I have hashimotos. I went through your elimination diet. 1) My concern as person who doesn’t eat meat, how can i compensate eating legumes for protein and staples like Millets and rice?
2) Is this restriction only during the eliminiation diet or something to always avoid, eg gluten?
Shalini – thank you for reaching out. <3 In contrast to other diets that simply exclude common problematic foods, an elimination diet is done to determine what particular food intolerances you may have. An elimination period of at least 2-3 months is a good starting place, but you may want to continue if you feel that you still have more healing to do. Then you can try a new food every 4 days and monitor yourself for reactions. Going through an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food. Here is an article I hope you find interesting!
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
One other question. I see you suggest Rootcology pea protein powder for your green smoothie, but I can find where to purchase it. I have found the pill [supplements], but not the powder. Can you send me the link? Thank you, Jeannine
Jeannine – thank you for your interest in my Rootcology pea protein powder. Here is a link:
Organic Pea Protein
https://www.rootcology.com/collections/supplements/products/copy-of-purepaleo-protein-vanilla
Isabella, I love your recipes and want to try the Cranberry Orange Sauce this year but I am at a loss as to what size bag of cranberries!??? They come in different sizes. I bought two 8 oz bags. Do I use one or two for the recipe?
Thank you!
Lorie – thank you for reaching out! A 12 ounce bag would work or measure 12 ounces from the two bags you have. Let me know how you like it. 🙂