5 Secrets to Planning the Best Thanksgiving Dinner

5 Secrets to Planning the Best Thanksgiving Dinner

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Thanksgiving continues to remain one of the best holidays. It’s about eating delicious meals while bonding with family and friends. Most importantly, it’s about being thankful for all the amazing blessings in life. Nearly 50% of people in a survey consider Thanksgiving to be very important to them. 

Are you planning Thanksgiving dinner this year? If so, you don’t need to worry about throwing the best dinner. With these tips, you can showcase your excellent cooking and party planning skills. Check out these secrets to help you.

1. Plan ahead of time

It’s never too early to start planning your Thanksgiving dinner, especially since you’re hosting. When you plan, you’ll be more relaxed as the time draws near and be better positioned to come up with alternate solutions in case an issue arises. 

What should go into your early plans? Firstly, you must create a guest list. Knowing the number of people you want to have over for dinner can help the rest of your planning go smoothly. You’d know how much food and drinks you need and if your home can accommodate that number. Because the Thanksgiving holiday usually involves many people traveling home, it would be good to have a complete guest list at least a month before to give them the chance to prepare for travel. 

You can also plan for food, whether cooking or ordering catered meals. Most dishes can be done before time and warmed up before dinner. 

2. Settle on a venue and time

Thanksgiving dinners usually happen in homes. If you’re in charge this year, you probably plan to host dinner at your house. However, if your guest list is large and your home isn’t spacious enough for the number of people you want, you don’t have to fret. You can move the dinner outdoors if the weather permits. 

Alternatively, you can choose a different venue. It could be at another relative’s home that’s much bigger or even at a restaurant that offers fixed Thanksgiving dinners. It might not be the same, but you wouldn’t have to worry about cleaning up afterward. 

The time of your dinner party depends on your preference and the availability of your guests. Even though these events are called Thanksgiving dinners, they usually start by midday. Whatever time you choose should be appropriate for not only you but your guests as well. 

3. Plan the menu 

With your Thanksgiving dinner, you can get as creative as possible. You can choose to go completely traditional or add a modern twist to your dinner. Whatever menu you decide, ensure that your turkey takes center place. If you’re in charge of the turkey this year, you must find the best stuffing recipe!

What about your side dishes? Would you stick to the classic mashed potatoes or include new options that your guests enjoy? You can also include vegetarian or vegan options for those with dietary restrictions. Don’t forget the yummy desserts and pies that everyone loves. 

There are tons of factors to consider when creating a menu. If you want your guests to be satisfied with the food choices, you can reach out to a few of them for suggestions. 

4. Make room for fun activities

Sure, the food makes Thanksgiving dinners memorable, but the activities you have lined up can also leave your guests anticipating the next holiday dinner. Traditionally, many families or gatherings tend to catch a game or watch the parade or a concert on TV. 

However, if you want something more active that requires group participation and effort, you can think of a few games you can play together. You can organize races or even divide your guests into football teams for fun yet competitive games. 

You can host a fun round of trivia, bingo, or charades at a much slower pace to get everyone’s minds active. It’s also easy for you to research other fun games to play.

5. Take care of yourself

It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the planning. However, be careful when planning because you can forget to take care of yourself and miss out on all the fun activities with your loved ones. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, ask for help. Additionally, try not to fret over everything that happens during dinner. When you’re more relaxed, your guests also pick off that vibe and relax. 

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to kick off the festive season and spend time with the people you love the most. You’ll be known for your excellent hosting skills with these amazing tips.

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Lisa Ehrman

Lisa has been blogging since 2013, and loves sharing resources and ideas for living a simple life. To get free printables, bonus words, and more - sign up for the newsletter.

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