Hosting a holiday dinner needn’t make you exhausted and cranky by the time you serve dessert. With some planning and a bit of flexibility, you can actually enjoy yourself.
Here are some tips to keep things calm, even as the house is full and the oven is working overtime:
Plan the menu well ahead
Decide what you’re cooking at least a week before. This gives you time to shop properly, compare recipes, and avoid the last-minute panic when you suddenly realize you’ve forgotten a main dish. Keep things simple. It’s best to avoid recipes you’re not familiar with.
Draw up a simple cooking timeline
Write out what needs to be cooked and when. Add prep time, cooking time, and resting time. You’ll take a huge load off your mind if you know, for instance, that “the potatoes go in at 3:30”. A cooking timeline also helps avoid the mistake of suddenly needing the oven for five dishes all at once.
Don’t do everything yourself
Hosting doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. Ask someone to bring a dish, manage drinks, or set the table. Most people are more than happy to help; they just need to be asked or given direction. Giving others small tasks takes the load off your shoulders and makes guests feel part of the party.
Make what you can in advance
If it can be made the day before, it’s a gift to your future self. Cut vegetables, sauces, salads, desserts, or even some main courses can be made or at least partially prepared in advance. The less you cook on the day itself, the more calm everything will seem.
Think about dietary restrictions well in advance
Are any of your guests vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, diabetic, or have food allergies? While you don’t need to make 10 different meals for everyone, it’s nice to have at least one or two meals that everyone can eat. It makes people feel more welcome and avoids awkward moments around the dinner table.
Set the table the night before
Setting out plates, glasses, napkins, and serving spoons in advance is a huge help on the day itself. It clears your mind, plus then you can quietly refill anything you discover is missing without being in a rush.
Keep décor simple but festive
Pinterest is not your friend here. Unless you really want to, you don’t need to aim for a magazine-style spread. Candles, a clean tablecloth, fairy lights, or a simple centerpiece are more than enough to look festive. Simple décor is festive, too, and won’t make your to-do list any longer.
Make sure you have a plan for kids
If little ones are joining you, have a plan. A kids’ table, coloring books, puzzles, or a simple movie in another room will keep them occupied and give grown-ups a chance to sit down and chat. Kid-friendly food options will also help avoid mealtime meltdowns.
Have backup snacks on hand in case of emergencies
No, the “emergency” isn’t you suddenly tripping over your pet cat and getting covered in slops. It’s things like dinner taking too long, people being ravenous when they arrive, or children suddenly going hungry. Keep easy nibbles like bread, cheese, fruit, nuts, or crackers on hand. They can quietly come to the rescue.
Schedule a few minutes to rest in your day
Schedule yourself some short breaks throughout the day, even if it’s only 10 minutes sitting down with a cup of tea. Eat a snack, drink some water, and just breathe. A calm host is good for the whole event.
Expect the unexpected
A guest may bring a plus-one, you might burn a dish, your family might decide to do something last-minute, or your dog might vomit in the middle of the living room. Try to roll with things as best you can. Chances are most guests won’t even notice minor flaws, and if they do, they won’t remember them later. They’ll remember how they felt, though.
Make cleanup easier on yourself
Decide in advance how the cleanup will work. Run the dishwasher efficiently, line trash cans with extra bags, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many things can wait until the next morning, really.
The following sources were consulted in the preparation of this article: