What holiday better showcases family food traditions than Thanksgiving?  Our traditional pecan pie always reminds my family of my Southern roots.  And even when my daughters spent Thanksgivings away from home during their college years, they managed to fashion a cornbread and sausage stuffing recipe as close to Mom’s as they could manage (a particular challenge in Italy!).  Those specific tastes and smells conjure up all sorts of good memories.

Over the years, I’ve hosted Thanksgiving dinners serving anywhere between 2-15 people. Can it be stressful?  You bet!  But over time I’ve tapped into some strategies that bring the “frantic” level down to something manageable.  I work fulltime so don’t have days ahead to prep.  The mantra I’ve adopted is “KISS – Keep it Super Simple”:

• Make it a potluck. In our family, the “host” supplies the turkey, stuffing and gravy – everything else is up for grabs. Be sure, however, to find out what people are bringing ahead of time, so you can plan refrigerator and freezer space accordingly, as well as oven time needed.  
• Don’t be overly ambitious. Those home and cooking magazines can tempt you to try several new recipes all at once. That can make for anxious moments in the kitchen when you’re not sure if the result will be a hit or a miss. Try adding just one new recipe to your pool of tried and true dishes.
• Tap into people’s strengths. While my older daughter is a whiz in the kitchen, my younger daughter likes to point out that she has other “skills.” Her assignment? Ambience! She does terrific centerpieces and flower arrangements and set a table to rival Martha Stewart – which is a major time and stress saver for me.
• Take advantage of Wednesday night prep time.  Pies, rolls (if you’re baking from scratch), cranberry sauce, dips all do very well when prepared the night before.
• Don’t overdo appetizers; plan one or two at the most.  You don’t want to spoil appetites for the main event.  
• Consolidate re-usable plastic containers ahead of time so that dishing up leftovers for family and friends to take home is a breeze.

Your Thanksgiving meal can be memorable and fun-filled without your sacrificing hours and hours chained to the kitchen.  Remember that the point of the day is to reconnect and enjoy your loved ones.  This is a chance to celebrate and showcase your family and cultural traditions. Take a deep breath, sit back and enjoy it yourself!

What are some of your tips for keeping the Thanksgiving meal ranking low on the stress meter?

Mary Anne Burkman, MPH, R.D.
Director, Program Services