Dealing with stress around the holidays is not uncommon; however, the higher the stress, the weaker your immune system, thus, leading to an increased risk of oral-related problems. For this reason, having a smooth and stress-free Thanksgiving is important.
Here’s how you can be stress-free this Thanksgiving:
- Prep or prepare some of your dishes the night before.
Even if you want your dishes to be as fresh and tasty as humanly possible, it’s okay to prep or even prepare some things the night before Thanksgiving Day. Even things as simple as thawing out butter overnight for a dish you’ll make in the morning, skinning potatoes for your homemade potato salad, or even making a homemade pie crust the night before will be of great help for you.
Simply sitting out all the pots, pans, and utensils you’ll need to cook the next day saves time and helps you organize your plans. Of course, doing cleaning a few days before, little by little, will also be important. It’s also important to look for dishes that are simple to throw together. Instead of cooking a pie, perhaps opt for a no-bake pie instead for your guests such as a pie with pudding. If you use a store-bought crust, this pie can take a few seconds to make, yet it’ll be so tasty.
- Make extras this year, especially if you don’t know exactly how many are attending.
If Aunt Shelby said there’s a 50% chance she won’t be able to make it, or if Cousin Jenna is considering bringing her boyfriend along for the Thanksgiving dinner, assume they will show up by making enough food to feed them all. Also, assume any other unexpected guests may arrive and that most people will go back for seconds. Don’t bake 12 rolls for your 12 guests; go for 18 or 20 rolls to accommodate any unexpected hungry guests or those who want to go for another. Doing so will eliminate stress. Having too much food is better than having not enough and feeling bad that food is running out too quickly.
- Too stressed to make a whole Thanksgiving meal? Turn to a restaurant for pre-made Thanksgiving dishes, or opt for a potluck-style dinner, having your guests bring a dish or two each.
It’s okay to admit that Thanksgiving dinner is too stressful for you to make. With limited time and the expectation to fill the bellies of many loved ones with your top-notch cooking skills, it’s a lot of pressure. If you don’t have immediate family members able to willing to help you out with the meal, you can opt to turn to a restaurant for pre-made Thanksgiving meals.
Some restaurants or even grocery stores offer cooked turkeys, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, pie, and other side dishes for those who can’t cook or don’t have enough time to. If you don’t want to put your faith into a restaurant’s Thanksgiving meal, you can also opt for boxed mashed potatoes versus making your own from scratch, for instance.
If worse comes to worse, tell your guests that you opted for a potluck-style Thanksgiving this year, and have them bring their dish. This will relieve a lot of stress for you while still giving your Thanksgiving dinner a wide array of homemade dishes, putting the pressure off of you. After all, Thanksgiving is a time of celebrating with family and friends, so you might as well incorporate and celebrate their dishes into the dinner.