Does the idea of the upcoming holiday season cause you to feel stressed, worried, or frustrated due to the nature of this season during the current pandemic? You are not alone. Here are some ways to adjust to this holiday season to improve your safety, allow you to enjoy a delicious, healthy Thanksgiving meal, and keep your health in consideration.
As we think of Thanksgiving, most people think of family and friends coming together from all over the country to spend a few days together eating, watching T.V., and catching up on all the gossip.
Like so many things, the holidays are going to be different this year. The CDC is recommending not to travel and stay home with your immediate family to decrease your risk and stop the spread. If you do have a small get together with immediate family and neighbors, they recommend you have plenty of ventilation if inside or host outside, wash your hands, maintain social distance, and wear a mask. Other tips from the CDC include minimizing how many people are around food that is being prepared, having one person serve the food to minimize touching utensils, or have everyone bring their own food and drink.
Following these recommendations will reduce the number of people you are entertaining and the amount of food you need to prepare. The question then becomes how do I make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for less people? How can we make this meal both nutritious and delicious?
We previously discussed malnutrition and the importance of nutrition, especially during the time of coronavirus. Remember to keep this in mind as we move into the holiday season.
Here is an example of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that keeps in mind nutrition, but maintains all the great flavor:
In the end, if you love cooking or just donβt feel like cutting your dinner in half, prepare it hygienically and share it with your neighbors or the elderly in your area so they can enjoy a traditional thanksgiving meal during these tough times that may keep them from being with their families. Stay safe, stay healthy during this holiday season.