Thanksgiving is a time to come together as a family, celebrate the blessings of the past year, and enjoy a delicious meal. But for many parents, it can also be a time of stress. Between cooking a big meal, keeping kids entertained, and making sure everything runs smoothly, it can feel like a lot to manage. But with a little preparation, creativity, and help from the whole family, Thanksgiving can be a fun and memorable experience without all the hassle.
Here are some tips to make Thanksgiving easier~
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is your best friend when it comes to Thanksgiving. The more you can prep before the big day, the easier it will be when it's time to cook and celebrate.
- Make a schedule: Create a timeline for the days leading up to Thanksgiving and the big day itself. List tasks by priority and break them down into manageable chunks. For example, you might prep side dishes on Wednesday, set the table early Thursday morning, and roast the turkey in the afternoon.
- Shop early: Avoid the last-minute grocery store rush by doing your shopping at least a few days before Thanksgiving. This will also give you time to plan for any missing ingredients.
- Delegate tasks: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Assign family members or guests certain tasks, like setting the table, making salads, or bringing desserts. The more people involved, the less you have to do.
Simplify the Menu
A Thanksgiving feast doesn’t have to be overly complicated to be delicious. Consider simplifying the menu by focusing on a few key dishes that your family loves, and add one or two new recipes for variety.
- Make-ahead dishes: Prepare as much as you can ahead of time. For instance, casseroles, pies, and stuffing can often be made the day before and simply reheated. This saves you time and stress on the day itself.
- One-pot meals or sheet-pan dinners: Consider using a one-pot or sheet-pan method for cooking multiple items at once. This will reduce the number of pots and pans you need to wash later!
- Turkey alternatives: If roasting a whole turkey feels overwhelming, consider a turkey breast or even a roast chicken. These options take less time to cook and can be just as tasty. We make a brisket and a ham, we have no turkey eaters in our house!
Get the Kids Involved
Thanksgiving is a perfect time to involve children in the kitchen and make them feel like they're part of the process. Not only will this make the day more fun, but it can also teach kids important cooking skills and the value of teamwork.
- Kids’ cooking tasks: Depending on their age, kids can help with everything from stirring, washing vegetables, and setting the table, to helping with basic tasks like measuring ingredients or mashing potatoes.
- Cookie decorating: Have the kids decorate Thanksgiving-themed cookies or cupcakes. They can get creative with fall colors, icing, and sprinkles. This is a great activity to keep little hands busy while you finish cooking.
- Thanksgiving crafts: Set up a craft station with materials for making simple holiday decorations. Kids can create paper pumpkins, turkey handprints, or gratitude trees to add to your holiday decor.
- Make a family recipe book: Let each child contribute a favorite dish to a family recipe book. This can be a great tradition to start, and it’s a fun way to get them excited about the meal.
Start New Traditions
Traditions make Thanksgiving special, and they don't always have to be grand or time-consuming. Here are a few simple but meaningful traditions to start with your family including 2 that my family does:
- Gratitude Circle: Before sitting down to eat, gather the family in a circle and take turns sharing something you’re grateful for. This can be a wonderful way to remind everyone of the true spirit of Thanksgiving. You can even create a “gratitude jar” where everyone writes down things they're thankful for, then read them aloud before the meal.
- Thanksgiving scavenger hunt: Hide small, Thanksgiving-themed items (such as tiny pumpkins or turkey figurines) around the house or yard. Give the kids clues and let them search for the items. This can be a fun way to keep them entertained while the food is finishing up.
- Family photo tradition: Take a family photo before or after the meal each year. This gives you a fun way to look back at how much your family has grown and changed over the years.
- Fun Shirts: In our family everyone is assigned a family member and we order silly Thanksgiving shirts from Amazon that we present to each other that morning and it is your outfit for the day. You can do the same thing with silly socks.
- Breakfast Pie: Dating back to when I was a little girl, my grandmother always served us pumpkin pie for breakfast on Thanksgiving. We have continued this tradition with our children. Every year we have pie Thanksgiving morning and take a picture.
Make Clean-Up Easy
The cleanup process can be one of the most overwhelming parts of Thanksgiving, but it doesn’t have to be.
- Get help with dishes: Ask guests or older kids to help clear the table and do the dishes after the meal. If your kids are old enough, they can rinse dishes and load the dishwasher, or even help wipe down the table.
- Clean as you go: Try to clean up as you cook, putting away ingredients and washing utensils as you use them. This will prevent you from being overwhelmed by a mountain of dishes at the end of the day.
- Disposable or reusable tableware: If you’re hosting a large group and don’t want to spend hours cleaning up afterward, consider using disposable tableware (but make sure it’s eco-friendly). You can also use reusable options like cloth napkins or washable dishes to reduce waste and keep things low-maintenance.
Focus on Family, Not Perfection
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a perfectly executed event in order to be a success. The heart of the holiday is spending time with loved ones and creating memories together. Don’t stress over every detail—embrace the imperfections and enjoy the moment.
Remember, the best part of Thanksgiving is coming together as a family, whether the turkey is perfectly roasted or the pies have a little extra “character.” Enjoy the time with your family, let go of the stress, and make lasting memories you’ll treasure for years to come.
As creative as I try to be, sometimes we all need a little help. Elements of this article were generated with help from my girl ChatGPT
