How to Prep for Thanksgiving like a (Mom) Boss!
Well, it’s here again! The year continues to fly by and the holiday season is already upon us. Thanksgiving will be here in just a few weeks! If you’re a working mama like me, you really want to make the best of this short holiday break and get some much-needed rest. I’m sure you have a ton on your list of to-dos to prep for an awesome Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re having guests over, then you’ve really got your work cut out for you!
You’re probably about to spazz because you’re a perfectionist (like me) and you want everything to be perfect - a great meal, great family vibes, and great hospitality. I get it. There’s a lot that goes into getting ready for a holiday gathering at your home, but there is also definitely a way to accomplish what you need with little to no effort on your part. I’m going to share my Thanksgiving Day prep hacks with you to save you time, energy, and most of all STRESS! The most thrilling thing is you’ll be able to relish in some "me” time before the hustle and bustle of the holiday. Don’t worry. You can thank me later!
Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Appetizers
Side Dishes
Smart Tips for Thanksgiving Prep
Plan Your Meal in Advance
Planning your Thanksgiving meal in advance is key. I recommend starting to write down the list of items you will need in the first week of November and adding to this list over the coming weeks. I just use the note pad in my iPhone because I know that way I won’t lose it. The gist is to add to the list, over time, as you think of items. You can take your time and look in the kitchen pantry and refrigerator to see what items you have on hand and what items you need to buy. In planning this way, you shouldn’t forget anything when you do your shopping and won't be in a last-minute scramble. Getting to the grocery store the evening before Thanksgiving only to find they’re out of everything you need is the worst!
Make it a Family Pot Luck
Long gone are the days where it’s expected for the lady of the house to do all the Thanksgiving cooking. At least in my world it is. My suggestion, if you will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your home, is to make it a family pot luck. My husband and I commit to securing a turkey and a ham, but we have each person attending to bring at least one hearty side dish, along with one or two other major items that will be needed such as beverages, condiments, or packing supplies to store the leftovers. In doing this, not only will it save you time on cooking, but it really encourages everyone to get involved and leave their mark on the family dinner. Not to mention, it’s also extremely gentle on your grocery bill!
Try Smart Homemade Cooking
So, this is a big one for me because my time is extremely limited, and I just don’t have the energy to make everything from scratch…. but I also can’t have anything lacking flavor! I need all my dishes to still have that comforting touch of love, without putting in all the time. How do I achieve this you ask? Here’s my secret: I get the version of items that are pre-washed, canned, or fresh frozen, and use my normal seasoning and cooking routine. No one can ever tell the difference! For example, my husband loves collards and I know that they will have to be on our menu. If you’ve ever picked, cut, cleaned, chopped, rinsed, wiped, re rinsed, and washed collards, you know the intensity, effort, and 2 hours of time it takes just to get them prepared. Girl, ain’t nobody got time for that! Instead of buying a whole bushel of fresh, unwashed, uncut collard greens, I buy a few fresh, pre-washed bags of chopped collards. I’ll even splurge and get an organic brand. I’ll still wash them again myself (because I’m just like that), pick out the chunks of stalks that were left over, and just season to perfection. This whole process takes me about 15-20 minutes and I let the stove do the rest of the work from there! Collard greens are always a hit at my family dinners, I don't slave over the stove to make them, and no one would ever know the difference. That, my love, is what you call SMART homemade cooking!
Use a Grocery Delivery Service
Remember that list of grocery items you will have been compiling over the first couple of weeks? Well, plug that list into a grocery delivery service app like Shipt or Instacart and order your groceries! I would even encourage you to order your groceries the weekend before the holiday just because the early bird does indeed get the worm. I love using grocery delivery services because I can still stay home and get a few chores done, or even leave the house to run other errands. It just makes life so much more efficient. A great feature with these grocery delivery services is they partner with more than one store. Generally, I’ve seen stores like Kroger, Publix, Target, and even Costco included! You may even want to consider an annual membership with one of these services to get free delivery anytime you order groceries throughout the year. This is a great investment, and huge time saver. You’ll see how refreshed and accomplished you feel when those groceries for Thanksgiving arrive and you were also able to get a load of laundry, or two, done. #momwin
Hire a Cleaning Service
If you’ll be having guests, you’ll want a spotless house. You could probably do all of the cleaning yourself but if you’re like me and have an ambitiously mobile 7-month-old, it probably ain’t gonna happen. So, what’s a mama to do?! Check locally for a home cleaning service in your area. They’ll likely even offer you a special if you’re a first time client, and you’ll be surprised at how affordable it can be. For me, I know I’d happily pay someone to spend 6 hours cleaning my home from top to bottom while I tend to my child or do some of the many (MANY!) other things that I have on my plate. Definitely no shame in my game there! My house will be cleaned, guest-ready, and I will be stress free. If you can make room for it in your budget, find a cleaning service!
Do Your Cooking the Morning Before Thanksgiving
Plan to take the day before Thanksgiving off from work if possible, yet still drop the little(s) off at childcare if they’re open. Since you’re making it a pot luck Thanksgiving, you should only have maybe 1-2 items to cook yourself, unless you’re a complete over achiever. That’s ok too. I’ve been guilty :D For me, I’m usually assigned to the ham and yams. Since I do smart homemade cooking, it doesn’t take me long to prepare and cook these two dishes. From start to finish, I’d say about 3 hours, and that’s only because it takes the ham some time to fully cook. I start this no later than 9 am, and I’m done no later than noon. That way, I don’t even have to worry about looking at a stove come Thanksgiving Day!
Get Your Mom “Me” Time On!
You’ve already taken the day off. You’ve dropped that baby (or babies) off, and you’ve finished your cooking. Family is probably going to arrive in the evening, and you’ll have to be there to entertain. So, mama, you should take the rest of the day to book a man/pedi, get a massage, visit the salon, or just do whatever the hell you want! After all, you’ve prepared for Thanksgiving like the mom boss you are, and you deserve this. Get it, girl!
*BONUS: If you’re lucky enough to have the Grands or other family visiting for an extended stay over the holiday weekend, leave your little(s) with them and go on a date with your partner. I’m sure you’ll both enjoy some overdue, uninterrupted, quality time together.
Do you have any shortcuts for how you prepare for the holidays? Drop a line below and share!
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