As it nears Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and other winter holidays, families are preparing to gather. If you’re the host family for this year, having dozens of people in your house may seem daunting. Cooking for your entire family, making sure everyone has a good time and cleaning up after can be overwhelming and tiring.
It’s hard to open up your home and guest rooms to visiting family. It’s a lot of food to cook, bedding to wash, cleaning to be done — before they arrive at your doorstep. We have collected some tips and tricks for hosting family over the holidays and the best way to survive the chaos and happiness it brings.
Grocery shop early. Make a detailed list and stick to what meals you decided to prepare. Avoid holiday crazy times at the grocery stores by getting out early.
Clear space whether it be in the guest room or in your fridge. You’ll need to fill your fridge with more food than your usual family eats. Overnight guests also need room for luggage, toiletries and other essentials.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that is all about traditions, so prioritize the sides that are the most important to you and your guests. Put away breakables. You may have a family bringing young children or just a lot of people in your home may get rowdy. Stash those precious heirlooms so if anyone bumps into anyone else — or imbibes too much in the holiday wine — they will be safe and sound.
Plan and prepare ahead for meals and activities. Make sure to plan a few dinners or lunches that can be refrigerated or frozen a day or two ahead of time. Stock a stack of board or card games to play that will help fill down time. A group puzzle or an easy game of Uno are all good choices.
Say yes to store bought and don’t be worried about cooking everything homemade. Serve up a local shop’s cake on one of your platters and your family won’t notice a difference.
Don’t refuse help. Not everyone should be in the kitchen at the same time, but if a family member offers to pour drinks or set the table, put them to work. Don’t try and do everything yourself. You’ll just burn yourself out faster.
Don’t experiment. This isn’t the time to substitute flours or break out the Pinterest board. Cook tried and true recipes that will 100 percent come out of the oven delicious and ready to go.
Use disposables. Yes, fine china looks great, but it’s also a ton of work. Don’t be afraid to pull out the plastic.
Be ready for people staying overnight. Count the sheets and towels and make sure everything is clean and ready to go days before guests get there. Stock some extra toothbrushes and things too. People will forget something. Don’t forget about extra toilet paper too. More people in your house means more bathroom usage!
Offer alcohol but have nonalcoholic drinks too. Not everyone will want a glass of wine during dinner.
Set aside time to relax. Just because you’re hosting doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a break and enjoy the holidays too.
