There’s a group of individuals who love holiday meal planning, and a group that find it overwhelming, stressful, and all too much work. If you’re in the latter group, lessen the preparation anxiety by following a few general steps. Just like tackling any decluttering project, preparing a larger meal can be made easier by making a practical plan. By spreading out the tasks and simplifying the process, you’ll create breathing room the week before your event. It’s the essence of organizing, applied to a larger gathering of friends and family. 

Prepare Your Plan

Making decisions about what you’re serving (and how much) seems like common sense, however, many of us skip this all too important step. We start with the belief that “having enough” for all who attend is the foundation of the meal. This leads to heightened expectations from ourselves; we stress about how many dishes to serve and err on the side of too many. This leads to exhaustion during the preparation, overserving during the event, and excess leftovers.

The first step is to set aside an hour about a week before the event to select dishes you feel comfortable making. Reach out to all the guests and inquire about possible food allergies or intolerances. Do not expect guests to volunteer this information on their own. They may be so used to accommodating themselves that they only share about their limitations when invited to do so.

This step ensures that your meal is inclusive to all who attend. Make adjustments to your offerings as needed.

Ask for participation from attendees, especially if they are relatives. Make the request both broad and specific. State what you’d love for others to bring: a green vegetable with no nuts, a music playlist, a dairy free desert, board games for adults, non-alcoholic drinks, etc. Ask if anyone would prefer to help clean up (rather than bring something).

We all thrive when we’re given clear, concise direction in a considerate way. Don’t hesitate to speak up to your audience and state how their contribution will make the event an even greater success.

By communicating exactly what you are making (or not), asking for potential allergy/intolerances in advanced, and inviting participation, you’ll set reasonable expectations on your own time and effort. Make a plan, take a deep breath, and stick to the selections you’ve decided to make.

Prepare Your Kitchen

It’s the little details that always trip us up when we’re hosting a gathering. Take a moment to survey your kitchen four to five days before the event. Would running the oven on self-clean be a good idea? Cleaning your oven takes about 3 hours and will ensure smooth baking for your dishes and dessert. The same question applies to your range and hood. If the induction top has splatters or the gas pilots are clogged, you may add stress to the process of cooking.

Take a few moments to sharpen your knives. Check the expiration date on your spices and confirm that you have plenty of salt and peppercorn. Empty your fridge of leftovers and make space for the items you’ll be shopping for.

Read through your recipes and them print out, if needed. Make your grocery list to include exactly how much butter, cheese, herbs, meat, baking supplies that you may need. Group the items by category rather than by dish to ensure the shopping trip is efficient and that there’s no doubling back in the store. There’s nothing worse than coming up short on preparation day! Write your list down and take a photo with your phone, just in case you forget your list. 

Prepare Your Meal

Write out the order in which you’ll cook the dishes, taking into consideration the temperatures and length needed. Again, remind yourself that less is more. Count backwards from your ideal mealtime to determine your start time. Add in about 30 minutes of wiggle room. If you find that you’re short on time, cut down on the number of dishes. No one will know what you’ve left out. It’s better to feel confident and relaxed about what you’ll be able to complete than feeling stressed and anxious about an overcommitment.

Head to the store about 2 days before your meal. Grocery shopping and meal prepping are much more fun with music. Take your headphones along to the market or put on your favorite playlist while measuring and chopping. 

Using small prep bowls, begin to measure out quantities of shelf stable ingredients. Think like a chef: by preparing the correct amounts the day before will allow you to simply follow the recipe the day of the meal.

You can measure dry goods, group materials by dish on the countertop, and use a baking tray to corral like items together. Cover the items you’ve prepared with a clean dish towel or plastic wrap. Place measured dairy and chopped fruits/veggies back into the fridge sealed for freshness. Take several deep breaths and congratulate yourself for spreading out the effort across several days’ time.

Prepare Yourself

This looks different for us all. However, I suggest setting aside time for a leisurely walk before the cooking begins. Time in the kitchen can be exhausting and by getting some fresh air and change of perspective before you begin cooking will increase your motivation and excitement for the adventure ahead. 

Luckily, you’ve front ended all the labor and taken time to forecast possible missteps or omissions. You’ve organized all areas of your event. Your job now is to be present, breathe in the love for yourself and for your guests, and approach your cooking with confidence. Invite the members of your household to cook with you or to keep you company. Connect with another friend or family member via Zoom and cook alongside of them.

Feel rewarded by leaning into the extra space you’ve created in your day by preparing ahead of time. Enjoy, and let me know how it turned out👇🏽👇🏽!

Prefer a checklist? Here you go!