Thanksgiving can be tricky for those of us with Congenital Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency (CSID). Many of our long-time favorite recipes have a lot of added sugar and starch, which are difficult for us to digest, so it can be a challenge to navigate safe alternatives.
Don’t worry—there are still plenty of creative ways to enjoy the holiday feast even when you need to follow a low-starch, low-sugar diet. During my first year of being diagnosed, I stuck with things I knew I could have, and we made turkey legs and a veggie stir fry to pair with it, including zucchini and bell peppers over a bed of cauliflower rice.
Now that I understand my tolerance levels a little better, I’ve added other things that I can tolerate, like sweet potatoes and green beans as sides, and I always make homemade gluten-free rolls. I also make my no-added-sugar cranberry sauce, and it’s always a hit when I bring it to share with others!
One of the big things I focused on this year was planning what I would do with my Thanksgiving leftovers. We ended up making a 10-pound turkey, so to say I have leftovers is an understatement.
I wanted to share some of my Thanksgiving leftover ideas with you.
Gobble Up These 5 CSID-Friendly Leftover Ideas
1. Thanksgiving Leftover Tacos
This one is super versatile, and most people with CSID can make a version of this with corn tortillas (if corn can be tolerated) or coconut wraps that can be found at your local grocery store. Thanksgiving tacos can use a variety of your leftovers like turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, or whatever else you may have on hand for a creative lunch twist.
2. Thanksgiving Cobb Salad
I love a classic salad like a Cobb salad, but incorporating your Thanksgiving leftovers makes it truly unique and delightful. Add turkey, pecans, and cranberries to the classic bacon, blue cheese, and hard-boiled eggs for a fresh take incorporating all those yummy holiday leftovers!
3. Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
One of my favorite go-to dip recipes is the whipped feta dip, and I’ll incorporate pumpkin or cranberries to make it extra fancy and relevant to the holiday. A holiday cheese board while delicious can get pricey quickly. This offers all the flavor combinations in an easy-to-make dip, including leftover cranberry sauce, toasted pistachios, and a little honey to add a hint of sweetness. Don’t forget to bring this irresistible dip to your next holiday event!
4. Thanksgiving Pot Pie
I love pot pies and have found a crust that works well for most recipes. I blend 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella, two tablespoons full-fat cream cheese, and 2/3 cup almond flour to create the perfect keto-friendly crust. You can incorporate all of your Thanksgiving leftovers, like extra veggies and turkey, into a pot pie, which makes dinner super easy.
5. The Classic Ol’ Thanksgiving Sandwich
I know sandwiches can get stale pretty quickly (especially if they’re your go-to lunch alternative), but for some reason, incorporating a bunch of classic holiday flavors into the mix really just makes them iconic. The bread is the most important part of the sandwich mix, so I stick with a sourdough (Simple Kneads Gluten-Free Sourdough) that works well with my diet. No cooking is required, and what more could you want after all that time spent in the kitchen on Thanksgiving?
Please let me know if you try any of these or have any creative ideas for me to test out in the kitchen!
Feel free to share these ideas with others:
If you’re looking for more resources and ideas follow:
Sugar and Starch Free, No Problem 
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