We’re just two weeks away from the most stressful meal of the year: Thanksgiving. Sure, it’s usually delicious and everyone has a good time, but getting all that food to the table is definitely not easy. It takes a lot of careful planning and these hosting tips from event planners and experts can make the day as stress-free as possible.
Confirm your guest list ASAP - You need to know exactly who’s coming so you can plan portions and know if there are any dietary restrictions or allergies while planning your menu. It’s tough to shop when you don’t know how many folks you’re feeding.
Buy non-perishables ahead of time - Once you decide on your menu, start shopping for things like flour, canned goods, wine and spices early, like now, so you can avoid the stressful grocery store rush during Thanksgiving week.
Family-style versus buffet-style - If you go with buffet-style, where dishes are set out on a separate table, you’ll have more room for centerpieces and candles. Going with family-style can make the meal feel cozier and more intimate, but the platters and serving pieces become the tablescape. Decide this now to figure out how much space you have and can plan ahead.
Create a cooking schedule - Timing is the key to success on Thanksgiving. With all that food to cook, you need a schedule based on prep and oven time, and having cookware and dishware you plan to use for each item, as well as the recipe, can help keep you on track, too.
Keep decor simple and natural - Don’t stress out over elaborate centerpieces, remember, less is usually more when it comes to the Thanksgiving table. Some small pumpkins, linen napkins and a little fresh greenery will elevate the table, but everyone’s there to eat and enjoy the company, so don’t overthink it.
Create a purposeful kids’ table - Keep little ones happy and entertained by covering their table with butcher paper they can draw or write what they’re thankful for on while adults mingle and cook.
Let your guests help - Just because you’re hosting doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. When someone offers to help, let them! Guests like to contribute, whether it’s bringing a side dish, setting the table, or washing dishes, and that helps you have more time for everything else.
- Source: Martha Stewart
Speaking of Thanksgiving...
ER Dr Warns These Are Top Thanksgiving Injuries & Illnesses
No one ever wants to end up in the emergency room, but having to go on a holiday is so much worse. While Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day of celebrating with loved ones, it’s actually one of the most dangerous holidays of the year, according to Dr. Reed Caldwell. He’s sort of an expert, having worked in the ER on Thanksgiving for the last 12 years.
Caldwell warns these are the most common accidents and injuries that send people to the emergency room on Thanksgiving.
- Cuts and lacerations - People cut themselves a lot on Turkey Day, especially on their hands and fingers, often because they’re using new tools, like mandolines and especially sharp knives. Talking with guests can easily distract a cook, and if they’ve had a couple glasses of wine, that can make it even harder to focus on the task at hand.
- Burns - A lot of folks end up in the ER on Thanksgiving with burns to the hands, face, forearms, and sometimes even their feet because of dropped food and sauces. Caldwell says the turkey fryer is a common cause of these holiday burns because they get really hot and easily overflow. So, if you plan to fry your bird this year, he recommends cooking mitts that cover your hands, wrists and forearms.
- Orthopedic injuries - Sprains, fractures and concussions are another common reason people have to go to the emergency room on Thanksgiving. It seems the traditional family football game isn’t always great for bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. The doctor recommends stretching first and not warming up with a bottle of wine when playing.
- Head injuries - Whether it’s from slipping on an icy sidewalk or tripping over a rug inside, head trauma from falls is also common on the holiday. If you’re hosting, Caldwell recommends looking for accidents waiting to happen and trying to make the environment safe for family members at higher risk of falls.
- Stomach troubles - Gastrointestinal illnesses also send a lot of people to the ER on Thanksgiving, sometimes from overindulging in rich meals, or from a virus, or even food poisoning. That’s why handling food properly and safely storing it is crucial, along with washing hands frequently and not sharing utensils. And if you’re sick, stay home so you don’t pass it along to your loved ones. That’s something everyone will be grateful for.
Source: NY Post
- Scott's Thoughts:
- Thanksgiving is a wonderful day to gather and see family you haven't seen in a while.
- My mom hosts and never seems stressed. She seems happy to host.
- Orthopedic and Head Injuries? What kind of Thanksgiving gathering has that?.