Plan a Healthy, Happy Thanksgiving

Written by Branda Polk

Whether you cook Thanksgiving dinner for five people or 55 people (like my grandmother does), you want the day and the meal to be special. To help reduce stress associated with this annual undertaking, consider the following tips:

Plan ahead. Plan your dinner menu as early as possible. Decide which traditional favorites to prepare and which new foods to add to the menu.

Scale down. Do you really need mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and au gratin potatoes on the menu? Are six different pies actually necessary? Determine which menu items were most successful last year, and offer them again. Consider offering two delightful dessert options.

Shop early. Make a list, and shop ahead of time, especially for nonperishable items. Procrastination leads to added stress when you go to the store on November 22 and the turkeys are sold out.

Prepare as much as possible the night before. Cut vegetables, slice buns, or pre-measure ingredients for the stuffing. Bake pies and store them in covered containers.

Ask for help. Make cooking a group project, or ask guests to bring special side dishes that compliment your main course. You may wish to assign these early and suggest a serving amount based on the number of guests.

Buy paper plates. If you’re planning a casual dinner, buck tradition and consider using disposable utensils. High quality disposable plates cut down on the workload after dinner.

Cleaning up is fun. Everyone should do it! Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but if everyone pitches in, the dishes will get done quickly. Then everyone can play touch football on the front lawn!

Branda Polk, B.S. Exercise Science, is a certified personal trainer, wellness coach, conference speaker and health writer in Lebanon, Tennessee. Sign up for Branda's newsletter, Wellness Connection, to receive encouragement and coaching in the areas of nutrition, exercise, and stress relief. Follow Branda on Twitter.

Share your thoughts with other readers:  Post Comments   Rate this Article