The holidays are a time for celebrating, eating, gifting, and gathering the entire family together. Whether you have a few children or dozens of grandchildren, it’s always a challenge to prepare dinner and activities for a crowd.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the “how” so much that you can’t enjoy the time spent with loved ones. Keep reading to learn more about eleven of the best tips to consider when arranging a large family gathering this holiday season.
1. Decide Who’s Hosting
First, it’s vital to decide who is hosting and to set a date. In some cases, this is easier said than done. If your family lives in different places, the individual hosting will likely be where everyone is traveling, which makes things easier to determine.
If you all live in the same location, there are more factors to consider. Who has the largest dining room? Who has ample seating for everyone? Who hosted last year? Talk with your loved ones to make the ideal choice for your event.
2. Set a Budget
It’s also vital to set a budget when cooking for a crowd. It’s easy for things to get out of control when hosting a crowd, so setting a budget will ensure you have control over your finances, and you can enjoy the meal without stressing about significant money spent. Plan the meal and budget before heading to the grocery store.
Consider some budget-friendly meals if you want to save money at your holiday gathering. Some of the most financially responsible selections include pasta, soup, sandwiches, casseroles, and bakes. These don’t take too many ingredients and can stretch a dollar a long way.
3. Determine Eating Style
You also need to determine the eating style at your gathering. Are you going to have a buffet, potluck, grill-out, or a four-course dinner? The eating style will determine what you need to cook and if your family members should bring anything to the gathering.
No matter the eating style, aim for colorful plates with an excellent balance of nutrition to keep up with health during one of the least healthy times of the month. Ideal dishes for older adults will contain ample plants, solid protein, low amounts of processed food, and minimal saturated fats.
4. Look for Sales
If saving money is a priority, look for sales on certain foods at the grocery store and plan your meals around them. There are often excellent sales near the holidays, so keep your eyes peeled on flyers or apps for your local grocery store.
Protein is one of the most vital items to get one sale. Expensive protein can make the meal cost spike very quickly.
5. Prep Ahead of Time
It’s crucial to prepare ahead of time if you want things to function smoothly on the day of the event. The internet is an incredible resource, offering everything from tips for food-prep to special storage methods to keep your fridge organized.
Preparing ahead of time could mean cutting and chopping items early, setting the table and decorating early, and determining the order of events. The more prepared you are, the less stressful it will be.
6. Decorate a Festive Table
A festive table sets the mood and creates an excellent atmosphere for your gathering. Save some time and plan the decorations, ordering them from a site like Amazon or picking them up from a local store.
Decor could include festive candles, scattered decorative pieces, and even chargers under the plates. Creating the table setup is part of an intricate, well-thought-out family gathering.
7. Create an Email/Text Chat
One of the best ways for family members to remain involved in the preparation of a large family gathering is by forming an email or text chat. Add at least one adult from every member of the family, letting them know what’s happening and what must be brought.
You can all plan together through the chat, especially if you all live in different places. It’s also an optimal way to suggest dishes if you’re having a potluck-style event.
8. Consider a Kid’s Table
If you have many young kids attending the event, it’s a good idea to consider a children’s table. A kid’s table will require additional setup, but it might be a valuable choice if you want to have more time for the adults to chat without interruption.
Younger kids might have to sit with their parents at the older table, but older children can enjoy a table. Consider adding fun games, special treats, and even coloring sheets to complete for entertainment.
9. Hand Out Responsibilities
If you’re older and have lots to accomplish for a gathering, it can be overwhelming to get everything done. Thus, a valuable part of the planning process could be to hand out responsibilities to others who are attending.
For example, you could ask your family to do the dishes, set the table, or mash the potatoes. It helps get things done faster and provides ample bonding time between previous members.
10. Get Help
We also recommend getting help when you need it. Don’t be afraid to ask, and don’t be afraid to hire someone to assist with tasks like mowing the lawn and decorating the exterior if it’s too much to do. Socializing can provide excellent benefits, too, such as a lower risk of dementia and chronic illness.
There are ample services now that can assist with all kinds of tasks. Assign family members and friends first, then hire and seek experts if possible and available.
11. Pick Simple Dishes
Finally, we recommend planning a large family gathering with simple dishes. Home cooking is an excellent way to benefit your health, but it can be overwhelming to try complex dishes when you have a large crowd coming over.
The best simple dishes include macaroni and cheese, soup, sandwiches, breads, pasta, tacos, and more. Anything simple to throw in the oven and put on the table is a winner when having a large family gathering over the holiday season.
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