Everyone knows once Halloween has past the snow will soon start to fly, meaning the holidays are just around the corner. Holidays and family gatherings can often be stressful for some. Making sure everyone is having a good time and preparing for the festivities can be taxing. Why not try to de-stress and enjoy the holidays this year? The following tips will show you how to create the perfect party and relax!
If you are having the get together at your home and are preparing all the dishes yourself, it is a good idea to have everyone RSVP ahead of time. This will help save you time for preparing extra food and money in the long run. Often when we just go ahead and make extra of one thing, we’ll do so for the others dishes “just in case so and so shows up” but this is also how you end up with an enormous feast that not all your guests will eat after munching on pre-meal snacks. Save yourself the stress and don’t let the food go to waste this year!
If you are really watching how much you’re spending as well this year, why not ask everyone to bring one of their favorite dishes to pass. You can still do your part to provide the main dish, like the turkey, but by having others pitch in not all the expense goes solely to you, and this way everyone really feels included in the feast. It also may give everyone in the family something to talk about at the dinner table; each family member or friend could explain why the dish they brought is an important contribution to the holiday meal!
It may also be a good idea to provide some snack foods before hand for guests to nibble on. Buying bulk items like healthy nuts (such as almonds), pretzels, or even providing some whole wheat bread before dinner may serve well as a pre-meal snack. This is also a good way to break the ice, and allow relatives that possibly you haven’t seen in a while realize they can sit back and relax.
If you’re really looking for something different this year for the holidays why not change up the main meal. This obviously may not appeal to those who are into sticking to the more traditional items, but if others in the family are up for something new it may be just the ticket! Instead of preparing turkey, why not prepare ham, enchiladas, or make a platter of baked lemon chicken?
There are many ways in which we can learn how to relax for the holidays. The most important thing to remember is to just have fun and enjoy the time with those around you.