Four Tips to Host a Wildly Successful Thanksgiving Dinner During a Pandemic
We can’t believe we’re saying this, but with Halloween behind us, the holiday season is officially here (where does the time go?!). The holidays are always a special time for so many reasons – seeing loved ones, exchanging gifts, and, of course, eating good food. Despite this year looking a little different, it’s still possible to host a wildly successful – and safe – Thanksgiving meal. Here are our top four tips (and some delicious wild blueberry recipes!) to do just that.
- Be honest with family: With COVID-19 cases on the rise across the country, the traditional large family gathering around the Thanksgiving table may not be possible this year. Keep your guest list small and limited to those in your household while being honest with family members that they may not be invited this year in order to maintain social distancing. No matter how small your dinner is, it’s always good to plan early. So, roll up your sleeves, take a deep breath, and start planning a Thanksgiving meal you and your immediate family won’t forget.
- Rely on those tried and true recipes: A holiday dinner is not the time to experiment and try all the new recipes you’ve pinned on Pinterest. Instead, look to those tried and true family favorites. Not sure what to prepare? We have some proven family favorites that we share each year:
- Make a detailed grocery list (and shop early!): Once you’ve decided on your Thanksgiving menu, start planning your grocery list. You’ll want to beat the grocery store rush (especially if you live in a busy area that still has lines to get in), so it’s important to make your comprehensive list early, determine where you need to go to get all of the necessary ingredients, and then get shopping!
Quick hint: if you decide to make one of our favorite wild blueberry recipes, Maine wild blueberries are always available in the frozen food aisle of your local grocery store (just make sure it says “wild” on the package).
- Prep anything you can ahead of time: In the same way that meal prep sets you up for a great week ahead, meal prepping what you can ahead of time for Thanksgiving will set you up for success. Many people recommend starting the following before Thanksgiving morning:
- Stuffing
- Casseroles
- Gravy
- Any and all desserts
- Roasted vegetables
While not everything can be prepared ahead of time, do your future self a favor and prep what you can.
However, you decide to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we hope it’s wildly special, super safe, and filled to the brim with good food. Happy Thanksgiving!