Many people enjoy the holiday season because it’s a time of the year when social gatherings are plenty. This usually also means there’s lots of food to go around. Of course, delicious meals and desserts don’t come out of thin air — somebody has to make them. If you’re preparing holiday food this year, you may be familiar with the stress that often comes with the job.
Here are five ways you can improve your meal planning and prep strategy around the holidays to reduce your stress, support your health, and boost your enjoyment.
We’ve all experienced the stresses of trying to put together a last-minute dinner on a busy weeknight. Reduce stress by planning your full holiday menu well in advance. Meal preparation can relieve stress and improve your mood. Give yourself at least a couple of weeks to plan the menu, gather the recipes you need, and schedule a time to go grocery shopping for ingredients.
Keep the menu as simple as you like. There’s no need to plan a five-course meal with fancy desserts and drinks if that’s not your thing. Choosing simple, wholesome ingredients will not only help to keep the recipes uncomplicated but also offer more health benefits — like steady blood sugar, a happy digestive system, and an elevated mood.
It can also be helpful to write the menu out and stick it on your refrigerator. Putting it front and center can help you stay focused on everything you have to prepare in the coming weeks. This way, you can tackle it one step at a time rather than become overwhelmed as the day gets closer.
It’s easy to forget that we have certain ingredients on hand when they’re hidden in the back of the pantry or freezer.
Once you’ve gathered your recipes and made a grocery list, go through your kitchen to see what you might actually already have. This will save you time and money at the store when you’re picking up other ingredients. Planning your meals early will support healthier eating and choices.
You could also do this in reverse order, by taking note of ingredients you have on hand and want to use up and choosing recipes based on these.
As the holidays sneak up on us, preparing food isn’t the only thing on the to-do list. When you’re in charge of making food for others, it’s important to take into account everything else you may have going on in this season.
Take a look at your week ahead and identify other responsibilities. This includes things like soccer practice for your kids, appointments for yourself, time to hit the gym, and other tasks that take precedence.
Consider the realistic amount of time you have to take on meal prep tasks without going overboard. It’s okay to say no and to simplify.
We could all probably get better at asking for help when we need it. This includes asking for help with meal prep. If you live with others or have children, meal prep is a great way to interact with one another around the holidays.
If you have older kids, a spouse, or a roommate, you could assign them a dish or two to decide on and find a recipe to make it. They can also be in charge of preparing that dish when the time comes. Younger kids can help with things like setting the table or clearing dishes after the meal.
If you decide that it’s too much for you to take on all of the meal prep you had originally considered, make it a potluck instead! Social gatherings shouldn’t just fall on one person to provide everything.
Most people will be more than happy to make something to contribute. Simply send an email with a sign-up sheet listing the types of dishes, drinks, or desserts you’re hoping to have and people can put their names on what they want.
Meal prep during the holidays can be daunting, especially if you’re feeding others or taking on too much on your own. Keep it simple, take note of what you already have on hand, delegate tasks, and ask for others to contribute to help reduce holiday stress around meals.
Jill Woodward is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a Nutrition Education Specialist. She has a Master’s in nutrition and dietetics and has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals and outpatient clinics. Jill has also worked with fortune 500 companies across the US on developing a culture of health in their corporate environments. Jill enjoys seeing people achieve their chosen health and wellness goals. Her evidence based approach helps individuals reach their goals as part of their unique lifestyle to successfully sustain their healthy habits.
© 2024 Treo Wellness.
