Office Potlucks, Thanksgiving, and Paleo

So, our office is having a Thanksgiving potluck next Monday, the last day of the challenge. I'm on the vegetable committee, which I will have you know is separate from the potato committee, and separate from the yams committee, apparently they are on an island on their own. Anyway, veggies is pretty easy I can do that (I was a vegetarian after all) and make it Paleo, but what about everything else? I'm finding navigating other people's reactions to Paleo to be a not unfamiliar experience.

I find it funny that I used to have to explain my vegetarianism to everyone. Now, I have to explain what Paleo is to everyone and then politely correct them and let them know that it isn't a diet, but a lifestyle change. I suppose Paleo can be a bit confusing for people. Most commonly people think I can eat the gluten free versions of things, but I can't, or rather won't, because they often still contain sugar and are made with rice flour or some other sort of grain. This seems to cause a lot of questions like, "Huh, why can't  you eat grains?" Now, if people really wanted to know I'd explain the science behind Paleo, but they don't really want to know when you're talking about a potluck...so, back to what to do what to do.

I have a plan. I should be able to eat the turkey and I'm betting I can eat the veggies (since I'm on that committee). My paleo coworker is baking a paleo dessert and I think I'm going to bring some other paleo goodness just so I can have something more to eat. Coconut bread perhaps? The choices really are endless. Well, maybe not, but there are A LOT of things I can make that taste just as good as something non-paleo.  Think of all  the Paleo recipes I could make for a Thanksgiving of my own, which brings me to a conundrum.

For the last 10 years or so I've had friends over the day after Thanksgiving for a vegetarian Thanksgiving. The question is whether or not to host a party the day after Thanksgiving that is not vegetarian or to just not do it at all. I suppose I shouldn't call it off just because I've changed my ways. Right? I should think of this as an opportunity to show of my paleo cooking prowess. Yes! That's it. I'll use the potluck as a launching pad for the ultimate paleo and veggie friendly post Thanksgiving feast.

Stay tuned.