Going Cold Turkey: What Our Docs Won't Eat at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to count blessings, be with family and friends, and of course, to eat.  It elicits remembrances of the colonial Pilgrims' harvest meal in 1621 and kicks off the golden holiday season and its mirthful festivities.

Our own doctors happily admit they like to eat heartily at Thanksgiving, piling plates high with food and digging in to share a special once-a-year-meal with their loved ones.

And while many of our docs like to cook up a storm during the holidays, even they can be picky when it comes to what they put on their plates. We asked them to share what they will not be eating this Thanksgiving.

HEALTHY EATERS
This year I am on a low carbohydrate diet (and have been for the last six months) and will not be eating any sweets, grains, root vegetables, etc. So... no dressing, sweet potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce or desserts for me.
Virginia Casey, MD, OrthoCarolina Pediatrics

I won’t be eating leftovers. Having one unhealthy meal every now and then does not impact your overall health and fitness. The key is to get back to your normal diet the next day. The problem with the holidays is not the food on the day of... it’s the leftover food after. I’ll also exercise in the morning on the day of and the day after Thanksgiving to avoid the unhealthy feeling that comes with holiday food. 
Kinjal Parikh, DO, OrthoCarolina Spine Center

LEARNING FROM EPIC FAILS
In one of her years in college, my daughter came home for Thanksgiving and announced that she was a vegetarian. My wife obliged her by fixing all of us a “tofurkey”. They take tofu, beat it flat like a pancake, cut it in the shape of a drumstick and then you bake it in the oven. As one would guess that was the nastiest bite of a Thanksgiving meal that I have ever had. Her brother and sister chimed right in with me about how awful that was. Even she had to agree. We all had a good laugh about that and it was the last time that has been served at our Thanksgiving meal. Oh, my daughter, by the way, is happily married now with three kids and eats a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and MEAT.
David DuPuy, MD, OrthoCarolina Rock Hill

From the book of family legend, I will definitely not be eating oyster stuffing. While I love an oyster on a saltine with a cold beer, years ago in an attempted recipe with oysters in the stuffing was met with epic fails! No shellfish with my Thanksgiving bird please!
Robert Erdin, MD, OrthoCarolina Concord

IT'S A TEXTURE THING
I won’t eat potato salad or candied yams since I have issues with soft textures.
Michael Bates, MD, OrthoCarolina University

I pretty much eat anything, however, there are a few things that I'm not fond of ... meat and ground nut stuffing, turkey giblets, pecan pie. I couldn't care less if they didn't make it on the menu.
David Ciaccia, DO, OrthoCarolina Gastonia

Green bean casserole, one of my least favorite foods that so many people seem to love.
Christian Clark, MD, OrthoCarolina Pediatrics

Creamed corn. Corn should not be creamed!
Michael Lauffenburger, MD, OrthoCarolina Winston

I will not eat green bean casserole. The combination of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy onions have never been appetizing to me. The appearance of it looks like it should be in a baby’s diaper instead of the Thanksgiving table. 
Michael Paloski, MD, OrthoCarolina Pediatrics

SQUASH!! I love Thanksgiving and everything about it and I love almost all vegetables. But I just can’t tolerate squash. It’s the texture. The other interesting thing is I have not been eating sugar or grains for a year now, so I have to tweak a lot of the traditional Thanksgiving fare. Mashed cauliflower rather than mashed potatoes. And no grain stuffing! It takes some creativity, but there are many good recipes out there. 
Benjamin Sutker, MD, OrthoCarolina Rock Hill

Brussels sprouts in any form. My family tries to sneak them into casseroles but I am on to their conspiracy!
John Temple, MD, OrthoCarolina Pineville

SO MANY OPINIONS ON LIVER AND CRANBERRY SAUCE

Cranberry sauce. Nasty. Both in appearance and taste.
Ralph Carter, MD, OrthoCarolina Laurinburg 

Liver.
William Craig, MD, OrthoCarolina Winston

Chicken and Turkey livers are a no go…otherwise will eat anything!!!
Brian Curtin, MD, OrthoCarolina Hip and Knee Center

Canned Cranberry sauce
Bobby Morgan, MD, OrthoCarolina Concord

Canned cranberry sauce. Why is this even a thing?
Rodney Stanley, MD, OrthoCarolina Mooresville

I pretty much each everything, but cranberry sauce and jello molds with weird fruits inside are at the bottom of the list for me.
Todd A. Irwin, MD, OrthoCarolina Foot and Ankle Institute

THE MOST RELATABLE
Salad!
Julie Woodside, MD, OrthoCarolina Gastonia

I love it all!
Bo Mason, MD, OrthoCarolina Hip and Knee Center

As opposed to the other 364 days, anything remotely “healthy” (fresh green salad, hard boiled eggs, fresh vegetables, etc.) – bring on the pecan pie, sweet potato pie, and cherry cheesecake!
Robert B. McBride, Jr., MD, OrthoCarolina University

Halloween candy
Scott Burbank, MD, OrthoCarolina Pineville