Traditional Foods in Nontraditional Ways

• Serve a Thanksgiving meal consisting of all of the components of a traditional Thanksgiving meal, but use them in ways your guests do not expect. Serve a dinner of turkey tetrazzini, twice-baked potatoes, sweet potato bars, cranberry mousse and pumpkin crisp.

Go Vegan

• Thanksgiving dinner does not have to be loaded with fat and cholesterol. A "Tofurky feast" is a complete meal for four from Turtle Island Foods, including a turkey-style roast, dumplings, gravy, stuffing and a meatless "wishbone" that you can share with a friend. The meatlike roast may even fool a few carnivores.

Celebrate Your Ethnicity

• Design your dinner around your ethnic background. For example, Italians may consider serving a minestrone, a delicious lasagna, a green salad, fresh garlic bread, stuffed mushrooms and Italian cream cake. Try using ground turkey rather than beef or pork in the lasagna.

Go Global

• Rather than celebrating just one region of the world, choose an entree from one country or region. Ask all of your guests to bring a side dish, dessert or beverage reflecting another culture or country and enjoy a potluck from all over the world.

Celebrate Your Region

• Use the flavors of your region to spice up your meal. If you live in the South, spice up your turkey with a Cajun rub and substitute the pumpkin pie with a sweet potato one. If you live in New England, serve a lobster bisque or clam chowder and blueberry pie.