TBH, Thanksgiving can be stressful, and hosting adds yet another layer of pressure. There’s an expectation of a perfect meal, a warm gathering of family and or friends, a spotless house — not to mention humble expressions of gratitude all around.
If you’re hosting this year and you’ve had your fill of roasting turkeys to the point of dryness and yam casserole that no one seems to eat, why not try something new this year?!?
If you need even more inspiration, check out our Holiday Fun Guide for additional Thanksgiving inspired fun. And be sure to sign up for our Weekend Fun Guide to get articles just like this delivered straight to your inbox.
Here are a few ideas to create a little less stress this Thanksgiving:
1. Make a reservation.
There are a number of restaurants that keep their doors open for Thanksgiving. Often, they offer special meals with hungry families and tastes in mind. Nearly every holiday staple from cranberry sauce to the famous (or infamous, depending on your family) sweet potato casserole often makes its way onto the menu alongside the turkey and a plentiful assortment of sides and desserts.
2. Order to go.
Many area grocery stores and caterers offer a complete Thanksgiving meal for you to pick up the day or so before the holiday. Or you can pick and choose what you want to make for the big day and let them take care of the rest. For example, you could purchase the stuffing or the turkey and take care of the rolls and pies at home.
3. Have it delivered.
There are a variety of online retailers that will deliver a fully cooked turkey right to your door. Pure Wow has a list of 20 Websites That Make It Easy to Order Thanksgiving Dinner. You can order a complete meal (turkey, stuffing, pie and more), delivered to your door or you can pick and choose what you need.
4. Switch the date!
The official day of the holiday may be the fourth Thursday of November, but you can plan your Thanksgiving for any day you want. Does Friday or Saturday fit better in your travel plans? Go ahead and make your family meal on a day that works with your plans versus having it on the “official” day.
5. Serve someone else.
Instead of figuring out the Thanksgiving menu for your own family, you could take them to volunteer to serve to the needy. Area homeless shelters and non-profit organizations that offer holiday meals, in Des Moines, are always looking for help. Spend your day helping others and you won’t even miss having leftovers. Some places where you can volunteer include:
- Hope Ministries – Thanksgiving Meals
- Living Waters Fellowship – Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway
- Parks Community Thanksgiving Dinner
- South Des Moines Thanksgiving Meals
