--Take Attendance. Finalizing the guest list early ensures a correct tally when knowing exactly how much to prepare and serve the day of. Create a menu and a timeline that can help guide the next few weeks’ prep work.

--Reenact the First Thanksgiving. That initial feast in 1621 wasn’t dependent on just one person for the delectable provisions — it was an old school potluck, of sorts. The Pilgrims hunted wildfowl such as goose and duck as well as turkey, and caught fish for the feast, while the Native American guests brought venison. Why not invite guests to bring forth the bounties of their harvests (or simply their favorite side dish or dessert) to add to the feast? A potluck style feast takes the pressure off the host doing all the cooking and allows all the guests to showcase their culinary style and talents.

--Take Meal Prep to the Next Level. Meal prepping is all the rage for health food eaters, so why not transfer that “make ahead” mindset to the Thanksgiving meal? Certain dishes can be made in advance and frozen such as cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes (using full fat milk/butter ensures the product freezes and reheats better), and pie dough. Other items can be chopped (think celery and onion for the stuffing) or mixed (dressings), and then refrigerated. 

--Go Time. The day has come! With all the preparations already in place, Build in plenty of time and don’t stress. Thanksgiving is about gratitude and coming together, not the “perfect” meal. 

While it’s not an official tip, we at Traina Foods encourage hosts to join their guests during the feast instead of spending time in the kitchen. Set out DIY drink stations and the like so guests can help themselves. And the dishes can wait until tomorrow.