Hosting during the holidays isn’t like your normal, run-of-the-mill entertaining. We aren’t talking about having friends over to watch a game or setting up a play date. This is a whole different breed of hosting. Why?
Expectations
Most of the people you are hosting for the holidays will have them. And they will all be slightly different. Your mother-in-law thinks it’s not Thanksgiving without green bean casserole (yuck!). Your nephew subsists only on waffles and peanut butter. Aunt So-and-so doesn’t understand why the holiday meal can’t begin at 1:00 pm sharp.
It is your job as host or hostess to thread the needle to make sure everyone is generally satisfied with their holiday experience while also not driving yourself nuts (because trust me, it’s very easy to go insane trying to get everything perfect for everyone during the holidays).
How do you strike this very delicate balance, you ask?
You follow my tips, that’s how!
These tips were hard-won. I have made my share of mistakes hosting the holidays over the years. Done too much. Not done enough. My guests have been unhappy, and I have crossed the line into full on madness. Don’t be me. Instead, learn from me. Take these tips, go out there, and crush hosting the holidays!
Holiday Hosting Tips
Pre-Holiday
1. Start early
Try not to save the planning for a big holiday meal to the last minute. It’s an undertaking, so give yourself a long runway to decide what to make, who will attend, how to decorate (if you decorate), etc. This will allow you to get feedback from your guests, hand out your assignments (see below), and put your plan in motion so you don’t lose your mind.
This also relates to starting the actual cooking early. Don’t think you can do a whole holiday meal in one day.
2. Give assignments
I have made the mistake of not giving assignments. I struggled at first to ask people to bring things to holiday meals because I didn’t want to appear rude. The end result of this was a beautiful meal and happy guests, but one stressed out Sara. I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t enjoy the holiday at all. Don’t ruin your own holiday because you think you have to do it all. It’s not rude to ask your guests to bring something. If they’re offended by your request, they don’t have to come.
3. Rely on old standbys
If you’ve agreed to host a holiday meal, you probably like to cook. At the very least, you don’t hate it. It’s very tempting to use a big holiday meal to try out some new recipes that don’t fit into to your typical meal plan. Please fight against this temptation! A holiday meal is the time to stick to the family favorites. Grandma might be extremely disappointed to see a new gravy on the table, and the kids might not eat a darn thing if there isn’t enough beige food on offer.
4. Make a lesson plan
This one comes straight from my mom, who was an elementary school teacher for her career. I vividly remember her handwritten lesson plan stuck to the fridge the week of Thanksgiving. She embraced tip #3 above, so it rarely changed from year to year. I have totally adopted her method and make my own Thanksgiving week lesson plan every year. My strategy is to start the weekend before with things that keep well, like cranberry sauce. I also take advantage of Monday and Tuesday evenings to do some more food preparation. Then I take the day before Thanksgiving off to do some heavy lifting – my big Wednesday task is typically pies. You don’t have to do what I do (or what my mom did) but give some thought to how you can spread out your tasks to most effectively use your time and oven space on the day of the holiday.
The Main Event
1. Make a big breakfast
It may seem counter-intuitive to make a big breakfast on a holiday when you’re hosting because it’s one more thing to add to your to-do list. But trust me, you’ll be glad you made a big breakfast. When you’re hosting a holiday, you’re going to be up early and on your feet until you collapse into bed at night. It’s going to be exhausting, so you’ll need to start off with a full tank.
2. Have a plan for the kids
If you do not have a plan for your kids while you’re cooking, you will not get it all done in time. Ask your partner or your mom or whomever to take charge of them. Have an activity or two ready to go that will keep them occupied. Put them to work – even little kids can set the table.
3. Have snacks available
I used to think pre-dinner snacks were an unnecessary extra. When I started hosting holidays, though, I came to appreciate them as being absolutely crucial. The greatest difficulty in pulling off a holiday meal is often timing, but if you have snacks available for your guests to munch on, they will be less concerned about the actual mealtime. A simple veggie tray or cheese and crackers will do wonders. Want to get fancy? Who doesn’t love crock pot meatballs?
4. Stock your beverage fridge
It is easy to overlook what to drink when you’re focused on what to eat for a holiday meal. Save some brain space (and some fridge space) for beverages, though. Have a mix of beverages available because people have very different drink preferences. If you and/or your guests drink alcohol, have some basic options available. At the very least, make sure you have whatever you like to drink. Your beverage of choice might be what gets you through the day.
5. Use disposable tableware
I am not one to use paper plates, plastic cutlery, and disposable cups on a regular basis. These items are usually extremely wasteful. I make an exception for holiday meals. It’s such an undertaking that not having to wash plates, cups, and silverware is a godsend.
6. Build in flexibility
It’s not all going to go as planned. I’ll say it again. It’s not all going to go as planned. If you take nothing else from this list, please build in some flexibility to your holiday meal. Your sister-in-law was supposed to bring the mashed potatoes, but her kid has the flu? No problem, your sister is bringing sweet potatoes. Your father-in-law took a nap and shows up 45 minutes late? You have snacks to tide people over. I once attended a holiday meal and watched a Jack Russell climb on the table and get the turkey. Was it an ideal meal? No. Did we survive? Yes, and we have a story to tell. Be flexible.
The Aftermath
1. Take away containers
Unless your guests are particularly hungry, you will likely make too much food and have too many leftovers for one household to eat. This is where take away containers come in clutch. Get thyself to Sam’s Club and buy a pack of the restaurant take away containers. Shove them in your pantry, and when the meal is finished, dole them out to your guests for them to fill to their liking. It prevents food waste and even helps with clean up!
2. Don't save the clean-up for tomorrow
You’re really going to want to collapse when your guests leave. I’ve felt this. But I implore you to clean up as much as you possibly can that day. If you’ve followed my tips, you’ve already dedicated days of your life to this holiday. Do you really want to devote another day (or part of a day) to it? Pull the band-aid off, wash the dishes, throw the tablecloths in the washing machine, and put the holiday to bed. Your tomorrow self will thank you.
Other Posts
Looking for more help with the holidays? Check out these posts:
The Best Christmas Gift for Teachers
What tips do you have to share?
Happy hosting!