Thanksgiving – the starting point of the holiday season. If you are anything like me planning and preparing the Thanksgiving Day meal is just the beginning of a busy season as I try to pack in all of the holiday season traditions that our family enjoys so much. In years past, the day after Thanksgiving we bundled our daughters up in their snow boots and jackets and headed out to the snow country to build snowmen, have a snowball fight or two and to find our Christmas tree. Although now that the girls are grown, I find myself heading to the basement to dig out our 9’ tall pre-lit Christmas tree. It doesn’t smell as good as a fresh tree but it doesn’t shed pine needles for the next 30 days and you can bend the branches to make room for the big ornaments!
Around town the holiday decorations are going up in store fronts and neighborhoods, gifts are being purchased and wrapped and there seems to be a never-ending stream of Christmas cookies at the office. This is also the season that is sometimes the most challenging to stay true to your health goals yet still enjoy meals and get togethers with family and friends. In all of the hustle and bustle that comes with the season I’ve learned two things that are my ultimate survival tools to help me enjoy the season to the fullest – keep it simple and keep it healthy.
The last thing we need is to be completely worn out and exhausted from prepping, cooking and decorating during a time that should be about grace, joy and gratitude. And then to top it all off, to feel lethargic and bloated from unhealthy food choices that ultimately leave us unable to fit into anything but yoga pants. (Not that I have anything against yoga pants.) That said, I’ve included some tips and recipes to help you make your holiday season happy, healthy and yet still enjoy the holiday feast!
Plan Ahead – Make your meal plan and guest list at least two weeks before the event. Shop for any non-perishables and purchase your turkey or protein of choice early. Stick the turkey in the freezer and set a reminder on your calendar to move it from the freezer to the refrigerator 3 to 4 days prior to cooking so it has time to thaw.
Let Everyone Share in the Fun – Our guests always ask what they can bring and my response was usually “Oh, just bring yourselves. We have everything we need.” The truth is people want to help. They enjoy bringing a side dish or a salad and making a contribution that the group can enjoy. It makes them feel better and it’s one less dish for you to prepare.
Set the Table Early – I typically set the table and decorate the weekend before Thanksgiving. It’s another thing checked off my to-do list and I get to enjoy the beautifully set table for more than just a couple of hours before dinner.
The Night Before – The night or sometimes day before a big feast, I cut, chop, grate and whack everything I possible can in advance. Ingredients like onions, celery, and green beans can be prepped in advance and stored in air tight containers in the refrigerator. Dice potatoes and leave them in the pot on the stove covered with water so they won’t brown. Make or pick up desserts in advance. Sweet potato dishes can be completely cooked and ready to pop in the oven 30 to 40 minutes before dinner. Cranberry sauce will last for a couple of weeks so I make this up on the weekend before the meal as well.
Keep it Healthy – When my daughter and I had to convert to a gluten free and grain free way of life, it was challenging to navigate holiday meals and yet still be able to enjoy some of our traditional favorites. This inspired me to go to work revamping family recipes so that we could all enjoy them guilt free and without causing another flare up. The recipes I am sharing with you here and on the Simply28 website are simple to prepare, are all gluten free and are paleo approved except for a few that include dairy for those who are able to consume it. In this case, there are always dairy free alternatives.
I hope these tips and recipes are helpful! Enjoy your holiday feast and may you “Live Life Healthy and Happy!”
Cheers,
Lacee
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