Holidays are fun and we all love getting together with family, but it’s also a stressful time. This is especially true for all of you hosts in the family. The ones who are doing the planning and preparing are often the ones who really feel the pull to simplify Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas that are easy to implement.
- Keep the Meal Simple – You really don’t need to cook more sides and more food than you would any other day to make it special. Turkey, roasted veggies, gravy, green beans, and cranberries along with something for snacks and dessert can be plenty, and it will still be festive.
- Go Non-Traditional – No one says you must have a turkey at Thanksgiving. You can choose to be non-traditional and have something else. Maybe you want a pizza, or you live in a warm environment and want to have a cookout. It’s up to you. Just keep your spirit of gratitude.
- Host a Potluck – You don’t have to do all the work. You can organize a potluck, along with recipes and ideas for them to donate. If you’re hosting, you can still pick an eco-friendly Thanksgiving theme, challenging your guests to think outside the box.
- Set Your Table in Advance – Nothing is worse than being unprepared, so doing what you can in advance will make the event go much easier and allow you to appear rested. Set it right after breakfast if you don’t need the space.
- Use Natural Decorations – Instead of buying any decorations, just go outside and bring nature in. Fall flowers, leaves, pinecones, and fall foliage can look spectacular as a décor on your table when spread out creatively.
- Plan for Other Meals – If you have guests who are staying a few days, don’t forget to plan some easy meals for those times too. For example, overnight oats in the slow cooker will be an awesome thing to wake up to.
- Set Up Stations for Self-Serve – You don’t have to serve your guests. Instead, put the food on a sidebar and let everyone serve themselves. Add stations for drinks, desserts, and main courses and snacks throughout the home or eating area.
- Use Sustainable, Disposable Dinnerware – To make clean-up simpler, you can now buy sustainable dinnerware made from compostable materials like sugarcane and bamboo.
- Go Out – Also, remember that you don’t have to host at your house if you don’t want to or it’s too stressful. You can still eat sustainably and be eco-friendly going out if you choose your place wisely.
Keeping everything simple and remembering that you can ask for help from your family and friends who are attending are important ways to simplify Thanksgiving. After all, Thanksgiving is about living the holiday with gratitude for what you have.
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