4 Practical Thanksgiving Hacks to Eliminate Stress

Thanksgiving is a particular time where we can spend time with the family and friends who mean the most to us. Making sure the holiday is perfect can be pretty stressful, but it doesn't have to be that way. You can do many things to eliminate the stress associated with preparing dinner for a large family gathering. The following hacks will help you make the most of this memorable holiday and minimize stress simultaneously.

1. Prepare Certain Foods Ahead of Time and Store Them in the Freezer

There are several foods that you can prepare ahead of time. Pies made from scratch, vegetable dishes, and many of your favorite desserts can be quickly frozen several days before your Thanksgiving dinner. A few hours before your guests start to arrive, remove the foods from your freezer and allow them to thaw. Any foods that need to be heated up can be put in the oven about an hour before you plan on serving the meal. Some foods can be made several weeks ahead of time and stored in the freezer until needed.

2. Delegate! Delegate! Delegate!

Don't try to do everything by yourself. A few weeks before the thanksgiving dinner, ask your guests what they would like to bring in terms of food, beverages, or other necessary items. Make a list and stay as organized as possible so you don't have a lot of duplicates. Then, a few days before your dinner, call your guests and remind them what they offered to bring. For those who are not going to get a dish, ask if they would be willing to come a little early and stay late. This way, they can help set up tables and make sure that enough chairs have been put up for people to sit down and enjoy their meal.

3. Always Designate a Special Table for the Kids

The best way to manage a bunch of rowdy children is to designate a table for them. This will keep all of the kids in one convenient location where they can be closely supervised. It will also contain much of the mess the children will make when it comes to the food. Designating a table for kids and placing it off to the side but still next to the family table will allow parents to attend to their children's needs, ensuring they have enough to eat and drink or address any other concerns that may arise during the meal.

4. Keep Things Simple!

Always keep things simple. From your decorations to the menu you serve, including your appetizers, keeping things simple will mean less frustration and stress as people begin to arrive. Use disposable pans, plates, cups, and cutlery. Make lists to stay as organized as possible. Create a schedule to know when people will arrive, how long to heat the food, and when to start the clean-up process. If you have a team of people to help you, the preparation, serving, and clean-up will all go smoothly, allowing you to enjoy time with your family and close friends.

For keeping stress under control during the holidays, it's essential to stay organized and focused on what you are doing€”plan on enjoying your Thanksgiving Dinner this year by asking for a bit of help and staying organized. Call the seasoned insurance experts of Scavone Insurance Agency Center LLC in White Plains, New York, today if you have any questions or concerns about your insurance coverage and what you may need to do to protect yourself if an accident occurs during the festivities. Please then schedule an appointment with us as soon as you can to get the details.