Congratulations to Shelba of Newport News, Virginia, the winner of our November newsletter giveaway: over $50 worth of Sjaak's Organic Fair Trade Chocolates!  Thanksgiving has passed, but the meal ideas, homemade chocolates, and gift ideas shared in our newsletter will be useful for the holiday month ahead.  All of the Go Dairy Free Newsletters are available to view online.  Stay tuned, as we will be announcing the prize for our December giveaway this weekend!

The other night I prepared some stuffed green peppers for dinner.  The two lone peppers looked so compact in the baking dish that I was certain we would both walk away hungry.  To my pleasant surprise, each pepper revealed a fantastically full meal, enough to satisfy even after a good bout of exercise.  My bell pepper dish used a blend of rice and lentils, seasoned and stuffed tightly into each edible pepper “bowl.”  It was a recipe I was testing for an upcoming cookbook, and I must say that it received two thumbs up from our little household. Even the green pepper hater (aka my husband) said it was great...

Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked goodies on a relaxing Sunday morning.  Of course, the morning would not be very relaxing if a great deal of labor was required to make those gifts from the oven, so muffins seem to be the ideal option.  In this post, Veggiegirl shares not one, but three fabulous muffin recipes from her baking collection, each vegan (egg-free, dairy-free) and made with whole grain flours.  But don't worry, the indulgence factor is not sacraficed ...

Earlier in the week, I visited my grandmother and chatted about the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner she would be hosting. Being conscientious, she stated, "I have an apple pie, but I know you eat healthy, so I wanted to get a sugar-free pie for you."  Rather than try to explain a healthy diet, I simply let her know that there is no need to go to that trouble, the apple pie will be excellent.  At the grocery store, while picking up a few items to make my contribution to the family dinner, I spot a woman scanning labels of a regular and a low fat product.  She is obviously not concerned with the ingredients, but rather the fat content as she sweeps the low fat version into her basket ...

So maybe that turkey doesn’t fit your vegan diet.  Perhaps those mashed potatoes are off limits due to a milk allergy or lactose intolerance.  And yes, that stuffing might not look Celiac-friendly.  But no one, and I mean no one, should have to go without dessert on Thanksgiving!  Whether you are on a diet or living with food allergies, there is most likely a pie for you among these selections…

The time has come!  It is finally that time of year for joyous holiday celebrations ... and stressful eating situations for anyone on a special diet.  But have no fear; I have scoured the internet for some of the best holiday tips, Thanksgiving recipes, and menu ideas that I could find.  From dairy-free to vegan to gluten-free to generally food allergy-friendly, you are bound to find something that sparks your appetite ... Enjoy ...