5 Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner At Home

Have you been hoping to be the hostess with the mostest for Thanksgiving dinner for years, and now that it’s finally your turn, you’re feeling overwhelmed? Hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be intimidating! This once a year occurrence is something people look forward to all year long, and it has to be tasteful and memorable. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving at home this year, follow these 5 tips and your holiday will be a breeze!

1. Don’t Do It Alone

Hosting Thanksgiving dinner by yourself, especially for a big crowd, is nearly impossible. You don’t have to do it alone! Whether you literally want helpers in your kitchen, or you want to throw a potluck style dinner, it’s all acceptable when it comes to Thanksgiving. Take away half the stress of preparing for such a big day by delegating the work or the dishes to family and friends attending your Thanksgiving get together. 

2. Organize Your Ideas & Menu

Having a plan is imperative to a successful Thanksgiving dinner. Before the get together, organize your ideas for food, decor, table settings, and the general flow of the day. Don’t forget to create a menu as well. With so many people shopping in the grocery stores the week of Thanksgiving, you don’t want to go in there without a plan. If possible, you’ll also want to create a schedule for day-of prepping. This way you have more control over the time in your day and how you’re going to utilize it. 

3. Meal Prep Ahead of Time

Everything doesn’t have to be fresh out of the oven! Meal prepping is something that everyone can be on board with when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. Desserts, especially, don’t have to be made the day of. Prepare those a day or two ahead of time and that’s one less thing you have to do on Thanksgiving day. There are also plenty of side dishes that can be prepared beforehand, and if you want to serve them warm, just pop them in the oven for a bit before dinner. You’ll save all kinds of time and energy this way!

4. Have Fun Activities Planned

While you’re prepping for dinner, you don’t need a million eyes on you. Have some fun activities planned for everyone to partake in before and even after dinner is ready. Some fun ideas for inside the house include board games, card games, and Thanksgiving specials on TV. If you want some outdoor activities, set up cornhole, volleyball, or a football game. If there are young kids, have a fun Thanksgiving craft set up and ready for them to complete. These ideas are sure to hold your guests over before dinner, or provide a fun family activity for after dinner.

5. Ensure Your Guests Are Comfortable

Quite possibly the most important preparation for your Thanksgiving dinner is making sure your guests are comfortable in your home. The best way to ensure this is by having preventative maintenance performed on your HVAC system by the professionals at Gulfshore Air. Our Proactive Performance Plan visits include a thorough inspection and cleaning of your HVAC system. We will also discuss any necessary adjustments that will keep your system running smoothly and efficiently throughout the season. Ask us about our Proactive Performance Plans today or visit our website at https://gulfshoreair.com/proactive-performance-plans/. 

Contact Us

Gulfshore Air is your local American Standard Customer Care Dealer, and Niceville’s #1 HVAC contractor. Feel free to email us at [email protected] with any questions or inquiries about your HVAC system. Be sure to visit us on Facebook and Instagram for more helpful home tips!