Holiday dinner

I was hoping you could share some insight. I've been tapped to perform the cooking duties for a holiday family dinner this year. Although I love to cook, I have a few variables that I have not had to deal with in the past.

Due to illness, some family members prefer organic foods or as "natural" as possible - the less chemicals/preservatives/etc. - the better.

Also, some family members have nut allergies.

I need to work these two things into the meal. Traditionally, we'll have a ham and a turkey, a potato dish (scalloped), some green vegetables side dishes, a salad, some relishes, appetizers, etc. There will be bread for sandwiches later.

The question I have is, where should I look for the organic / natural turkey and ham - and what should I be looking for? The vegetables can be had at Whole paycheck / Stanley's and I'll just avoid the nuts or try to read ingredients for nut allergies. Is there anything else I should be aware of? Thanks much.

As far as I'm concerned, an organic natural minimal-preservatives ham is a contradiction in terms. Yes, I know they sell such things at Whole Foods. They look and taste like uncured pork, not ham, and they go bad in about ten minutes.

I would say screw it to ham, or else cook a good normal one and tell those people not to touch the deadly thing and stick to the turkey. It's much easier to get your hands on a naturally-raised turkey and it should please everyone by being a little better than, but not noticeably different from, what they already like. There's Ho-Ka ones all over town-- heck, Devon Market had them, I wouldn't have expected that-- or you can buy a T.J.'s or Caveny one at Green City Market:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=15989
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=10277
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=5841

All those threads have good info on cooking natural and heritage turkeys (and what the difference is).

Thanks much. I found a few threads on here and wanted get some "gut" reactions. I'm thinking along your lines. Buy a good ham (for me) and have the natural turkey as an option. Thanks for the threads.