Newswise — WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Nov. 20, 2014 – Sticking to a gluten-free diet over Thanksgiving may sound like no fun, but many people don’t have a choice.

“For those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), it’s never a good time to ‘cheat,’” said Anca Safta, M.D., director of the Gluten and Allergic Digestive Disorders (GlADD) program at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. “But removing gluten from a Thanksgiving menu doesn’t have to take the joy out of the holiday.”

Many traditional Thanksgiving foods – turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, corn – are naturally gluten-free, Safta pointed out.

“But when it comes to pies, stuffing, gravy, etc., gluten-free substitutes may need to be considered,” she said.

Safta offers the following tips on how to eliminate gluten from a Thanksgiving meal so anyone can enjoy it.

Educate family and friends. Most people who are aware of the negative effects of gluten on individuals with celiac disease or NCGS – which can include serious pain and intestinal damage – won’t mind going gluten-free for one meal.

Have an open mind. Gluten-free doesn’t mean taste-free. The gluten-free version of a dish may actually taste better than the original.

Look for the “GF” label. For most grains, condiments, sauces and dishes that contain gluten, there are gluten-free, or “GF,” alternatives that can be bought at a store or made at home.

Experiment in the kitchen. Before serving a roomful of people, test and perfect gluten-free recipes.

“What’s a Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie and macaroni and cheese? Well, there’s no need to find out,” Safta said. “Make the pie crust with gluten-free graham cracker crumbs, and find gluten-free elbows. No one will have to give up his or her favorite dish, just certain ingredients.”

The GlADD program at Wake Forest Baptist is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity and other allergic digestive diseases. Angie Almond is a registered dietitian with GlADD and contributed to these tips.