5 Tips for Holiday Hangouts
Home-cooked meals, served up with sides of love, laughter and a sense of community, nourish both body and spirit
Now that life has begun to resume some semblance of normalcy, the opportunity to gather and cook for family and friends is a real possibility again. However, the rules for interacting with others have changed. Have you changed with the times?
Three years ago, you didn’t think twice about meeting family or friends at a crowded restaurant or bar. Today, some people still aren’t entirely comfortable going to a restaurant, even outdoors.
You used to leave the house without packing a mask, hand sanitizer, and proof of vaccination. (In fact, most of us didn’t have any of those things.) Now, people without the right facial attire or vax status don’t always get admitted to certain places.
Just as hybrid and remote workers have to find new ways to collaborate with colleagues, planning for the holidays comes with new considerations too.
Fortunately, we’ve learned a lot over the past three years about how to meet up safely. Check out the tips and tricks below for healthier holiday hangouts!
HEAD OUTDOORS
Now that many restaurants feature outdoor dining, why not the rest of us? Dust off the patio furniture, invest in fun new cushions, add a space heater, and break out some candles. Get even more use out of your patio, deck, lanai, or lawn!
COOK SAVVY
Learning to cook a traditional holiday meal like a standing rib roast or a turkey with all the trimmings has never been easier. Type a search term for a recipe in any web browser to find a wealth of inspiration, from articles and cookbooks; to cooking shows and videos; to mobile recipe apps.
FLY SOLO
For those who prefer to socially distance, it’s easy to scale back to a turkey breast and a few sides. Alternatively, roast an entire turkey or prime rib and avoid cooking for a week. And if you share some with a fortunate neighbor, you may make a lifelong friend.
ZOOM IN
Why not start a new tradition and use technology to include folks who are unable to be physically present? Smart phones, web conference tools, and social media make it easier than ever to both speak with and see each other.
GIVE THANKS
What silver linings are you grateful for? Some of us checked in more than usual with family and friends around the world, while others enjoyed a shorter commute from bed to desk. Reflecting on the past few years, we just might realize how many things we take for granted.
No matter how you celebrate the upcoming holiday season — whether sharing a home-cooked meal or safely patronizing a local restaurant; laughing at an outdoor football game or crying over the Hallmark channel; breaking bread in person or joining a gathering online — may it nourish both your body and spirit.
🗓️ Save time and energy — Take stock of the ingredients you already have and get only what you still need with my FREE Turkey Dinner Shopping List!
Cookbook author Jessica C. Williams, an Asian-American consultant, author, and course creator, wrote the Turkey Savvy cookbook to inspire fellow immigrants and beginner cooks with tools, tips, and most importantly, the confidence to tackle this American culinary tradition. For more information, follow @savvyfriendspress on social media or visit www.savvyfriendspress.com.
