stress free thanksgiving
Holidays can be a wonderful time to get together and share a big meal. BUT they can also be stressful, expensive, and wasteful. Here are a few tips to address these and help you have an amazing holiday!
Plan your menu. This includes finding out how many people are coming and who will be bringing what. You don’t need an exact recipe of each dish coming in, but a general idea of how many sides, desserts, etc. will go a LONG way. PS: a quick rule of thumb is 1lb of turkey per person. 18 people =an 18lb turkey
Make a shopping list. Take the time to go through your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer to avoid purchasing duplicates. When this step is done after you plan the menu, it is easier to stick with the items on the menu and not impulse buy that extra pie or package of dinner rolls. STICK to your list.
Use leftovers. The giblets make awesome gravy, the vegetable trimmings and turkey bones make amazing stock, and leftover turkey makes great sandwiches. Check out www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for great ideas about using left overs. Also encourage others to take leftovers home.
Fill up on protein, fruits, and veggies before hitting the sugary foods. This rule is for adults AND kids. Kids are vulnerable to stress during holiday events. They pick up on stress of the adults around and they also have much more stimulation. It is important that they are getting full on nutrient dense choices rather than overloading on sugar and adding that “crash” to the stress. Parents are also much more able to manage these emotions when they do the same.
Remember that the holidays don’t have to be perfect. If your kids refuse to change out of their Halloween costume to put on nice clothes, the world won’t end. If the onions on the green bean casserole burn and ruin the whole dish, you’ll just eat something else. If you didn’t get the windows cleaned before guests come over, remind yourself you are not using the windows to eat.
