This is the week all the madness of the holiday starts! We’re hosting Thanksgiving this year and to make things easy we have everyone bring something. My sister in law will bring mashed potatoes. One of my mothers-in-law (I have two) will bring sweet potato casserole and the other will make the stuffing. My mom will bring something sweet. And my husband is in charge of the turkey (roasting big pieces of meat still scares me).
I will make a green bean dish, gravy and will be making my first pumpkin pie with help from Big A. This is by far my favorite holiday. I will still plan meals for Monday-Wednesday but they will be really simple.
For more meal planning inspiration (and a Thanksgiving Meal Planner), visit Org Junkie.
What’s Cooking This Week
Monday: Turkey Tacos
Tuesday: Baked Chicken Thighs with rainbow pasta and roasted vegetables
Wednesday: Slow Cooker White Bean Soup (Will adapt this recipe) with bread and salad
Thanksgiving ideas
Slow-Cooker Green Bean Casserole (because of only one oven!)
More from Cooking Light…
Eating during the holidays
I was recently interviewed about eating well during the holidays. I recommended what we do around here. I still plan meals and snacks. If there are parties we will eat there. We will eat sweet treats mindfully, having them for a snack or for dessert instead of grazing or picking at them all day.
In my interview, I encouraged parents not to make a big deal of food on holiday meal days. No need to make sure a child eats or bribe with dessert. I think the key is to remind children that a big part of the holidays is to enjoy the company of those around them — and that includes the main meal.
Big A only started eating these meals a couple of years ago (read this post about a time she didn’t). Little D still acts like a deer in headlights when he’s asked to sit on these fun-filled days. I think it takes time for children to appreciate — and enjoy — holiday meals.
The holidays are also the perfect time to start food traditions. Big A and I will make pies, and with the time off at school she and Little D will have, we’ll spend time baking.
What are some of your favorite holiday recipes and traditions?
Links
In my biweekly WebMD post, I talk about why I’m reluctant to jump on nutrition bandwagons — I’m a late adopter for sure!
On She Knows, I dish on 5 easy ways to de-stress family meals.
Sally at Real Mom Nutrition hits the nail on the head with this post about the myth of perfect eating.
Bettina at The Lunch Tray does a good job explaining why there’s more to those school lunch food headlines than meets the eye.
I’ll be taking some time off blogging this holiday season but will still post here and there. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thanks for including me Maryann! I agree with you that parents shouldn’t stress about holiday meals and parties. It doesn’t bother me when my kids don’t eat a perfect balanced meal at family gatherings and parties. It is just one meal, and they are usually running around with friends or cousins most of the time as well–their focus is definitely not on the food. I like how you say that it takes time for kids to appreciate holiday meals. I totally agree and we shouldn’t be impatient with kids because they don’t want to sit down and linger over a large meal like the grown-ups do. Nice reassuring post. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thanks Sally! You too!