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If you are hosting Thanksgiving Dinner, it is not too early to start preparing for the big day.  Thanksgiving is a time for loved ones, friends, and family to come together and enjoy a bountiful feast.  For many, the holiday is also a time to reflect on all they are thankful for in life.  Planning and preparing for Thanksgiving can be both fun and challenging.  A little organization and some creative thinking can make the whole process a breeze.

These five tips will help you prepare for the special day.

1.  Make a plan for your Thanksgiving feast and stick to it!

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and food.  Thanksgiving can also be a time for stress if you don’t plan ahead.  This year, make a plan and stick to it.  Planning will provide a way for you to relax and enjoy the holiday.

One of the primary tasks to complete when planning for Thanksgiving is to decide on a menu.  Planning any meal can be tricky if you have picky eaters in the family or friends with dietary restrictions.  But with some thought and research, you can quickly come up with a delicious and diverse Thanksgiving feast that will please everyone.

First, decide what type of feast you want to have.  Will it be all traditional Thanksgiving dishes, or will you mix them with some non-traditional items?  Once you’ve decided on the menu, please make a list and do your best to stick to it.  This list will help keep things organized in your head and minimize stress on cooking day.

 

2.  Get organized and make a list of all the dishes you need to prepare for your big day.

Another important aspect of Thanksgiving planning is ensuring you have enough food and supplies.  Planning a menu for a group can be daunting, especially if you are hosting a large group.  But you can avoid any last-minute scrambling by making a list and doing advance shopping.

Thanksgiving is a big day for many families, which means a lot of cooking!  Get organized and list all the dishes you need to prepare for your big day.  This list will help ensure you have everything you need and that nothing gets forgotten.  Planning will also help make your Thanksgiving dinner go more smoothly.

3.  Give yourself enough time to cook all the dishes from scratch without feeling rushed.

Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy good food with family and friends.  Trying to get everything done on time can be stressful, but with a little planning ahead, it is possible to have a relaxed and enjoyable holiday.

 

4.  Delegate some of the work to friends or family members willing to help.

To ease the burden of cooking an entire Thanksgiving feast by yourself is to delegate some of the work to family members or friends willing and able to help.  Assigning dishes to be brought by others potluck-style or simply having someone else handle tasks like chopping vegetables or making the stuffing.  You can make the holiday cooking process much less stressful by enlisting an extra pair of hands or more.

 

5.  Most importantly, enjoy the process of preparing for Thanksgiving and spending time with loved ones!

The holiday is a time to slow down, relax and savor all the good things in life.  After all, that’s what Thanksgiving is all about.