JES Restaurant Equipment Blog 5 Ways to Still Celebrate the Holidays This Year

The holidays this year may look very different from previous years. Many are deciding not to travel home for the holidays or are looking to host much smaller gatherings of family and friends than in years past. While the logistics of gathering for family time and holiday meals may be more cautious, it's still possible to celebrate the holidays regardless of where you and your loved ones are.Smaller food spread. If your gathering this Thanksgiving is quite a bit smaller than in recent years or if your family has decided to keep it to just the immediate family nucleus this year, try sizing down on the amount of food needed. While a large array of food is nice (and necessary) when dining in large groups, the same amount of food will be overwhelming for a group a fraction of that size. Instead, try picking just two sides, dinner rolls, and one or two desserts in addition to the turkey. This will ensure some variety in dishes without leaving an excessive amount of leftovers.Downsize the turkey. While it is traditional to cook a full turkey (sometimes several) on Thanksgiving, an entire bird may not be necessary for a family of four. Depending on the size of your group this year, serving sliced turkey or a turkey breast may be more appropriate rather than a 20-lb turkey. Turkey breasts can be seasoned and cooked to taste like a traditional whole turkey without leaving enough leftovers to last until New Year's. Order our from a local business. If this Thanksgiving will just be you and your family and cooking a full Thanksgiving meal seems like too much effort for so few people, consider having it catered from a local restaurant. Many restaurants offer Thanksgiving meal deals that can be ordered in advance and picked up the day before. Taking advantage of the offerings this year will not only save you the time preparing and cooking the meal but will also help support local businesses who are struggling with the pandemic.Host a virtual holiday meal. If your family and friends are all celebrating the holidays with their respective families rather than having a large gathering, host a virtual meal. Set a time to sit down and eat--whether this be the full meal or just dessert--either over the phone or through video conferencing services like Skype or Zoom. This will allow you to still (virtually) spend time with your loved ones.Pack a picnic and enjoy the outdoors. Give Thanksgiving a new twist this year by enjoying it outside. Depending on the weather forecast, pack a Thanksgiving-themed picnic and enjoy the food in nature with a scenic view. If the weather is cold, park your car at a scenic overlook and enjoy your meal from inside the vehicle. Not only will this allow you to spend some time out of the house, but it can also be a relaxing way to share a meal.