The holiday season brings the magic of family traditions, gatherings, and festive meals. For busy parents juggling work, family, and holiday responsibilities, this time of year can feel more chaotic than cheerful.
Between trimming the tree, shopping for gifts, attending concerts and parties, and visiting friends and family, it’s safe to say the calendar fills up quickly. This year, don’t let meal planning fall to the wayside just because your schedule is packed.
Because cooking is such a central part of the holidays, it helps to have a few shortcuts ready. They’ll save you time, reduce stress, and leave you with more energy to spend with the people you love – without spending all day on your feet in the kitchen.
Meal planning can actually simplify the season. When you decide ahead of time how, when, and what you’ll eat, you eliminate guesswork and make mealtimes smoother. Here’s how:
Save Time
Creating a holiday meal plan takes a bit of upfront effort, but it pays off when it matters most. Instead of scrambling for meal ideas or making last-minute grocery runs, you can rely on a plan filled with simple, family-favorite dishes. That means more time for family moments and holiday activities.
Maintain Healthy Habits
With parties, dinners, and cookie swaps everywhere you turn, it’s easy to overindulge. A meal plan helps you stay grounded in your healthy habits. When you know what you’re eating ahead of time, you’re less likely to overeat or grab less nutritious options on the fly.
Outline Your Holiday Calendar
Start by mapping out your schedule. Include every holiday or food-related event – parties, Christmas dinner, school activities, cookie exchanges, and more. This helps you identify which meals you need to plan at home and which days you’ll be eating out.
Keep the Plan Manageable
Be realistic. Now is not the time for complicated recipes or multi-step cooking projects. Stick to tried-and-true meals and the simplest dishes you know your family loves.
And remember, not everything has to be homemade. Convenient, time-saving items like rotisserie chicken, pre-cut vegetables, or bagged salads can elevate a meal without any hassle.
Use Your Kitchen Appliances
Let slow cookers and pressure cookers do the work for you. They’re great for big batches of soups, stews, and other dishes that can stretch across several meals. One-pot or sheet-pan recipes also mean less cleanup and more time to enjoy the season.
Stock Snacks and Ingredients
Having healthy snacks on hand prevents overeating at parties and keeps everyone fueled for busy days. Try stocking:
- Pre-cut carrots and celery
- Hummus
- Whole-wheat bread
- Natural nut butter
- Apples
- Nuts
- String cheese
Easy breakfast options like muffins, overnight oats, smoothie bowls, or cut fruit can also keep mornings simple and everyone nourished.
For quick meals, keep pantry staples such as precooked grains, canned beans, frozen vegetables, and broth. They’re perfect for assembling fast, wholesome dishes.
Prep and Freeze
Choose meals you can prepare in advance. Casseroles, soups, and sauces store well in the fridge or freezer, especially when portioned into single servings. If your plans change, they’ll keep until you need them.
To make busy weeks easier, prep ingredients during the weekend or in the evenings, like cooking a pot of rice or chopping vegetables. Involving kids can also turn meal prep into a fun family activity.
Embrace Leftovers
Leftovers are lifesavers during the holidays. Repurpose last night’s dinner into today’s lunch or a quick new meal. It’s faster, easier, and reduces waste.
Don’t Be Too Rigid
While it’s great to stay mindful about food choices, the holidays are also a time to enjoy yourself. Give yourself grace. It’s okay to go off-plan on special days, especially Christmas Day.
Remember: one meal won’t make or break your health. Wellness is shaped by your habits over the whole year, not just during a single season.
This holiday season, focus on what matters most – being present with loved ones and enjoying food that nourishes both body and soul. With a little planning and a flexible mindset, you can enjoy the holidays without the hassle and make room for what truly brings you joy.
Written by Vicki Hayman, MS, University of Wyoming Extension Community Vitality & Health Educator
Sources:
- Nourish Evolution, nourishevolution.com
- Our Happy Hive, ourhappyhive.com
- The dinner Shift, thedinnershift.com
- The Kitchn, www.thekitchn.com