The holidays are coming! The holidays are coming!
Can you believe Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away?
The holidays are meant to be a fun time of year, and we are kind of getting back to normal, whatever that is during a pandemic.
A lot of us were not able to spend time with our loved ones last year. But now that the covid vaccines are available, we are able to travel more and many look forward to either hosting the festivities or traveling to be with family this year. You don’t want to ruin that being stressed out.
Here are my 6 tips to keep you sane and allow you to actually enjoy the blur between now and New Year’s Day.
- Plan ahead: Start planning what you will do. If you are traveling, make your travel plans NOW. Pack your patience because you may need it at the airport. Plan for delays or worse, cancellations. Have a plan B in case the worst-case scenario happens.
- Set your budget and stick to it: supply shortages are driving up the prices on just about everything. So go ahead and start making your budget. Plan accordingly how much you want to spend, so that you’re not hit with too much sticker shock at the register. Factor in another 30% so you have a buffer for those rising prices.
- Plan your menu: Include your family’s favorites and maybe one new plant-based item. Choose one protein instead of having several ones. Start making dishes likes casseroles, pies, certain veggies, and cakes and freeze them. You will be less-frazzled the day before Thanksgiving.
- Outsource. Trust me: it is okay to outsource when you can. Instacart, Door Dash, Uber Eats, or Bojangles for a fried turkey, etc. Save yourself time and stress by letting others do some of the work. Order some of your family’s favorites and have them delivered. You definitely want to order in advance and freeze them when you can.
- Get your turkey now. Frozen tends to be cheaper than fresh. Plan for ½ to 1 pound person if you plan to have leftovers. Remember: for every 5 pounds of turkey, allow for 1 day to thaw (in the refrigerator). A 20-pound turkey will need 5 days to thaw properly.
- Ask for help. Have your guests bring a dish they are known for to decrease your workload. Get the family in on getting the house ready and setting your holiday table.
I am Dr. Monique May, Board-certified Family Physician and Founder of Physician in the Kitchen™. Through my meal delivery service, best-selling book, MealMasters: Your Simple Guide to Modern Day Meal Planning, and online cooking classes, I help busy households enjoy healthy eating without impacting their hectic schedules.
See you in the kitchen!
For more information, be sure to visit me at DrMoniqueMay.com, and join the #MealMastersCommunity at www.Facebook.com/groups/mealmasters today.
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Featured Photo by Visual Stories || Micheile on Unsplash
