I’ve been seeing perfectly staged photos of beautifully set Thanksgiving tables, colorful side dishes artfully arranged on antique platters, and homemade pies all over magazines, blogs, and social media. I wish I could replicate the same creativity and attention to detail in my Thanksgiving celebrations this year, but that’s not the season of life I’m in right now. This year I’m challenging myself to embrace imperfection and the simple things that uniquely define Thanksgiving for my family. To me, Thanksgiving is a simply set table with cloth napkins, a few hours in the kitchen cooking beloved family dishes, throwing around the football and crunching leaves on a late afternoon walk, the sounds of laughter and connection, and cozying up by the fire after a good meal. Everything else is extra. I hope these 10 Thanksgiving tips will remind you to forget the pressure of hosting the perfect Thanksgiving and instead focus on creating the meaningful moments that define Thanksgiving for you and your family.
1. Prioritize a few cleaning tasks and let the rest go
When hosting a dinner or holiday, I always feel like I have to clean until the entire house is sparkling. I’m trying to change that mindset and focus only on what guests will actually notice and care about.
So pick the few cleaning tasks that actually matter. Wipe down the guest bathroom, kitchen counters, microwave, and sink. Unload the dishwasher. Clear a spot for guests’ coats. Make a little space in the fridge if guests are bringing dishes that need to be refrigerated. Run a vacuum through the main rooms. That’s about it.
With all that last minute prep, the kitchen will get messy. With kids, rooms always look lived in (that perfectly arranged throw pillow is a thing of the past).
So put on some fun music, set a timer for 15 minutes, grab the family to help, and do a quick tidy. Then put your feet up and relax.
2. Delegate and ask for help
As the host, enthusiastically say yes when guests ask if they can bring something. If they don’t ask, you can still delegate.
Decide what you want to make first, especially if a certain dish is meaningful or easy to prepare. Then assign the rest of the categories to guests – appetizers, side dishes, main course, bread, dessert, or drinks. Guests can easily pick up a pie or bottle of wine to contribute if they don’t want to cook.
Also consider requesting that guests bring serving dishes and utensils for their dishes so you don’t have to search for extra platters and serving spoons at the last minute.
3. Keep appetizers simple
I usually don’t delegate appetizers in case plans change or someone is running late. Plus, on Thanksgiving, no one needs many appetizers anyways. The meal is the main event. Pick up some mixed nuts and a prepared cheese plate and crackers. That’s really all you need.
4. Meal prep in advance
Many Thanksgiving dishes can be prepared or picked up ahead of time. So a day or two before Thanksgiving, finish as much of the cooking as possible. Mashed potatoes, chopped onions and veggies, stuffing, and cranberry sauce are just a few examples of things you can prep in advance.
5. Take shortcuts
If there are a few recipes you are proud of and love to make, that’s great! But don’t be afraid to take shortcuts for the rest. Simple roasted vegetables, canned cranberry sauce, pies from the grocery store or local bakery. You don’t need to make everything from scratch. Pick a few things you want to do well and take shortcuts for the rest.
6. Keep the table simple
Whether you are pulling out the fancy china or using your everyday dishes, set the table early so you have one less thing to worry about. If it feels special to use your best dishes for the occasion, go for it! But resist the temptation to run out and invest in fancy tableware you don’t already own. A simply set table will also look and feel great – think white dinner plates and salad plates, simple clear glassware or mason jars for water, your everyday silverware, and linen napkins.
7. Set the table early
After breakfast on Thanksgiving day, set the table with dishes, silverware, napkins, water glasses, and wine glasses. Setting the table early gives you time to take inventory in case you need any extras. There have been several years I’ve had to ask a guest to bring a few extra forks! If you are using name tags, set those out too (name tags are a great job for kids!).
8. Stick to a general schedule
With lots of dishes to heat up and prepare at once, timing the meal can feel overwhelming. If your recipes have different preheating directions, pick a temperature somewhere in the middle. Fluctuations of 50 degrees won’t make a difference. Plan to reheat sides in the oven and microwave when the turkey is resting, or include some room temperature sides to go with the main course.
9. Involve the kids
This depends on how old your kids are, but there are so many ways they can contribute and lighten your load. Making name tags, setting the table, helping with cooking and cleaning, greeting guests and taking their coats, clearing dishes, and loading the dishwasher are just a few examples.
10. Relax and enjoy yourself
This is the most important low-stress Thanksgiving tip. Don’t miss out on the fun due to hosting responsibilities. If everyone is outside playing football, taking a walk, or watching the game, join them. Set an alarm and recruit some help for when you need to be in the kitchen to cook right before the meal. But give yourself time to enjoy the small moments throughout the day.
That also means to build in time to relax on Thanksgiving before guests arrive. Get those last few tasks done early, then sit by the fire and read or take a walk with your kids. Give yourself the space to get into the right mindset for hosting so you are ready to enjoy yourself. In the past, I always intended to do this, but ended up running around cleaning and assembling until I heard the first knock. Now, if something isn’t done an hour before people arrive, it’s just not getting done.
Also prioritize self-care during the week leading up to Thanksgiving. Meet a friend for coffee, watch TV, read a new book, go on a fun outing with your kids, take a yoga class, get your nails done. It’s important to take the time to relax and unwind.
How do you limit Thanksgiving stress and enjoy the day? Share in comments!
P.S. Check out 15 thoughtful gifts for the hostess.
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