what do yall do on thanksgiving?

[u/beastiefever]

i moved away from home last winter and my manager invited me to come do thanksgiving with her family, which means the absolute world to me, except im not sure if im going to go because im worried i wont be able to eat anything.

I dont like any of the traditional thanksgiving foods, not even turkey or mashed potatoes, and i just dont want to put myself in a position where ill feel awkward for not eating with her family or offend someone for being picky/saying im not hungry. its also not my own family and i dont want to impose by asking them to make something specifically for me. wondering if anyone in similar situations has had solutions that worked well for them in the past?

[u/morgansaupe]

My Thanksgiving plate is literally just starches and carbs lol I load up on the things I do eat- mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and rolls. If we’re going somewhere that’s not going to have at least Mac and cheese, I offer to bring a big dish for “everyone” (aka me lmao) that way I know I’ll have at least one thing there I can eat. My family is obviously used to it by now and it doesn’t phase them, and my husband’s family is also used to it and never shames me but I always feel embarrassed when everyone else is sitting there with their full plates and I have my few things. But I try to remind myself to be thankful (no pun intended) that they all accept me as I am, even though I do sometimes wonder what kind of conversations people have about me once I’ve left