Everything But The Bird (Paleo/AIP)

Everything But The Bird (Paleo/AIP) is a collection of recipes for your Thanksgiving meal, from appetizers to dessert – just minus the turkey!

If you are new to eating AIP/Paleo, you may be dreading holiday meals. Maybe it feels like there isn’t going to be anything you can eat. Oh, friend! I can tell you that with a few modifications, you can most definitely have a satisfying meal by which to count your blessings!

I’ve compiled here a list of recipes for Thanksgiving that I have developed over the years of following a healing diet. I share these with you now, with a big dose of encouragement. Take heart, and have a wonderful holiday!

Appetizers

One of my favorite things to do for nibbles is a charcuterie board. I include items on my board for both Paleo and non-Paleo people.

Here, I’ve included a collection of fruits, and veggies for people to dip in AIP Ranch Dip. The rolled up prosciutto is AIP-friendly. The crackers are Cassava Lavosh Crackers . I shaved and rolled raw zucchini, just for pretty. If you read labels, you can find olives that will work. The cheese and salami are for family members. (See? We can do this!) Another option is to serve plantain chips with Supah Guac, or cassava strips with homemade Onion Dip.

For a bougie seafood-type appetizer, try Smoked Mussels Tapenade on slices of raw zucchini, or your favorite GF cracker.

A fun stand-alone appetizer is Sweet Potato Bites w/Candied Bacon. Drool.

Sides

Oh my, but there are so many sides we can do! I’m just going to list some of ’em here:

Apple Cinnamon Acorn Squash

Caramelized Cranberry & Butternut Squash

Easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Glazed Honeynut Squash

Holiday Dressing

Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Kale Butternut Squash Salad

Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

Maple Sage Carrots

Mashed White Sweet Potatoes

No Corn Cornbread

No-potato Galette

Pomegranate Roasted Asparagus

Roasted Balsamic Mushrooms

Rosemary White Sweet Potatoes

Simple Roasted Plums

Stuffed Cremini Mushrooms

Toasty Rutabaga Mash

Turnip and Japanese Yam Mash

Desserts

For me, there’s no other dessert for Thanksgiving than a good Pumpkin Pie! It took me years to develop a Paleo/AIP version that I could love, but I did it.

You can use your own favorite pie crust recipe, but if you need one, you can use my AIP/Paleo Pie Crust.

If pie isn’t your thing, how about Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake? Oh, yesssss…

Or maybe you like Carrot Cake…?

Or you could chuck tradition and try Apple Enchiladas!

Maybe just some Vanilla Shortbread Cookies? (Or for those non-traditionalists out there, Vanilla Cookie Pizza…)

Unless you’d rather…

If you don’t want to do the bird, I offer these Cranberry Orange Meatballs. The turkey is ground, and the flavors of the day are all in one bite!

Whatever you decide to do to celebrate the day, you have my fondest wishes for peace and gratitude with those you love.

Wishing you great love and deep healing,

Wendi 💗

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