How to Enjoy Easy Holiday Entertaining

For many of us, the idea of entertaining a group of people causes unnecessary anxiety. We think that a holiday meal means cooking everything from scratch, using only our best china and linens and spending the time in the kitchen as family friends gather to enjoy the fruits of our labor. With a few simple changes, we too can participate and enjoy the time together without feeling stressed before and during the celebration, or exhausted afterwards.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Shop efficiently. Make a list of everything you think you will need and buy as much as you can in advance. Grocery stores often have sales as early as two weeks before a holiday, with holiday items plentiful. Buy early and use a list.
2. Don't forget convenience products if you are planning to reduce work and stress. Decide if anyone really cares if your pie crust is made from scratch or store bought. Keep your menu simple and healthy, using standard, easy to find ingredients.
3. Ask people to bring a food item or dish. Rather than receiving useless hostess gifts, why not enjoy someone else's stuffing? Save yourself the extra work and time by assigning dishes that you either don't want to prepare or find too time consuming to make. Ask someone to bring the salad if you don't have the time to clean, peel and chop the ingredients at the last minute.
4. If someone has particular food allergies or is a vegan or has special dietary needs, ask that person to bring food that they can both eat and share with others. In the end, they will be comfortable eating what they brought, they won't have any dietary concerns, and everyone gets to sample something new.
5. Assign table setting chores to others. If there are children or teens in the home, they can the make decorations and set the table. They can even do it several days in advance. Homemade and recycled decorations are both inexpensive and environmentally conscious. If you enjoy using fine china and tablecloths that need to be cleaned, use them. Otherwise, use what you are most comfortable with. Most people are more interested in the food and company than the kind of plate they are eating off of.
6. Let your guests help. Many people have difficulty accepting help and feel they need to do everything themselves. Allow the help. It may feel uncomfortable at first but as you find the time to enjoy your guests you will recognize that your guests enjoy helping and you are less stressed.
7. The dishes can wait. Or the kids or teens may enjoy doing them. Sit down, enjoy the time spent with your guests. Relax.

Tips & Warnings

• Think about what aspects of holiday preparations are really important to you. Do those but find simpler ways to do the rest.
• Be flexible. Don't get caught up in someone else's "shoulds."
• Take turns. Be agreeable to letting someone else be host if you find that it's just too much this particular time.
• Be aware of how much alcohol is consumed. Arrange for alternative transportation if someone should not be driving themselves home.

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