We’ve compared Thanksgiving dinner options from major grocery chains to help you find the best deal for your family’s needs and budget. From budget-friendly options at discount stores to premium meal kits from upscale grocers, these grocery store Thanksgiving meal deals range from under $25 to more elaborate packages. Our comparison covers everything from traditional turkey dinners for large groups to convenient heat-and-eat options for smaller gatherings.

1. Walmart Thanksgiving Dinner Bundle for 10

Walmart offers one of the most budget-friendly options for feeding a large group this Thanksgiving. Their 2025 Thanksgiving meal bundle serves 10 people for under $40.

This works out to less than $4 per person. That’s an impressive deal for a complete holiday meal.

The bundle includes all the traditional favorites we expect at Thanksgiving dinner. We get turkey as the main dish, plus classic sides like stuffing and cranberries.

Walmart made this year’s meal even more affordable than last year. They lowered the total cost by reducing some menu items while keeping the essential dishes.

The meal comes as a convenient one-click basket. We can order it online and choose pickup or delivery options.

This bundle gives us everything needed for a complete Thanksgiving feast. It includes the main course, side dishes, and even dessert items to finish the meal.

2. Aldi 10-Person Thanksgiving Meal Kit

Aldi offers one of the most affordable Thanksgiving meal deals we’ve seen. Their 10-person Thanksgiving meal costs just $40, which breaks down to about $4 per person.

This price is $7 cheaper than last year’s deal. It’s also nearly $2 less than the national average for Thanksgiving meals.

The bundle includes 21 ingredients for nine classic dishes. You’ll get everything needed for a traditional spread, including turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and mac and cheese.

We found that reporters tested this meal deal to see if it really feeds 10 people. The ingredients cover all the Thanksgiving basics you’d expect.

You can get the meal through free store pickup where available. Delivery is also an option, though charges may vary by location.

This deal makes Aldi one of the lowest-priced options for a complete holiday feast. The ingredients help create a full turkey dinner with sides and dessert.

3. Target Heat-and-Eat Thanksgiving Dinner

Target brings us their Thanksgiving meal deal for under $20 that feeds four people. This works out to less than $5 per person for a complete holiday meal.

The deal includes turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and various sides. We can also get dessert options as part of the package.

Target prices their Good & Gather turkey at 79 cents per pound, which matches their 2024 pricing. This helps keep costs down for families on a budget.

The retailer calls this their lowest holiday price ever for a complete Thanksgiving dinner. We can find everything we need in one shopping trip.

Target offers the meal both in-store and online for our convenience. The company competes directly with other retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Aldi who offer similar holiday meal deals.

4. Costco Turkey and Sides Bundle

Costco offers a complete gourmet Thanksgiving turkey dinner that serves eight people for $199.99. This bundle includes 28 pounds of food total.

The meal comes with a 5-pound pre-brined turkey breast that’s ready to roast. We also get 12 gourmet dinner rolls included in the package.

For dessert, the bundle provides a 2-pound whole pumpkin pie and a 2-pound tray of apple cobbler. The Costco Thanksgiving dinner package gets shipped directly to our homes.

We need to pre-order by November 14th for delivery through November 21st. The price reflects a $70 discount from the regular cost.

Costco’s warehouse prices are typically 20-30 percent cheaper than regular grocery stores. This makes their Thanksgiving bundle a good value option.

The complete meal kit takes much of the prep work out of cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Everything arrives ready to heat and serve for our holiday gathering.

5. Whole Foods Thanksgiving Meal Kit

We found that Whole Foods Thanksgiving dinner packages start at $99.99 for 2025. Their meal kits include fully cooked organic turkey options along with traditional sides.

The store offers different package sizes to feed various group sizes. We can choose from turkey, ham, or vegan meal options depending on our family’s preferences.

Whole Foods provides recipes and ideas for Thanksgiving dinner on their website. We can also reserve our meal online for pickup at local stores.

Their classic Thanksgiving menu includes turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. The meals come with easy heating instructions.

We should note that Whole Foods Thanksgiving dinners cost more than traditional grocery stores. However, they focus on organic and higher-quality ingredients.

The convenience factor appeals to many families. We get pre-cooked meals that just need reheating, which saves us time on the holiday.

6. Sam’s Club Holiday Dinner Package

We found Sam’s Club offers one of the best deals around. Their Member’s Mark Thanksgiving meal feeds 10 people for under $100.

The package comes fully cooked and ready to heat. We like that it takes about 90 minutes to prepare the whole meal.

This year’s menu includes turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. The meal also comes with vegetables and pie for dessert.

Sam’s Club added new sides for 2025. The upgraded menu features green beans with cranberries and garlic herb corn.

We appreciate that they listened to customer feedback. The company improved their sweet potato mash based on input from over 50,000 customers.

The meal includes nine dishes total. Three of the sides are brand new this year.

Orders opened November 1st. We can pick up the meal at the store or get it delivered.

Sam’s Club also offers in-store sampling. This lets us try the food before we buy the full meal package.

7. Lidl Thanksgiving Dinner Deal

Lidl’s Thanksgiving meal deal feeds 10 people for under $36. That works out to less than $3.60 per person.

The deal runs from November 5 through November 26. This gives us plenty of time to shop before the holiday.

Lidl cut their Thanksgiving bundle price by nearly $10 from last year. We can save more money compared to 2024 prices.

The centerpiece is a whole turkey for just $0.25 per pound. We need to use the MyLidl app to get this price.

Lidl’s deal competes directly with Aldi’s $40 Thanksgiving bundle. Both stores lowered their prices from last year.

We get all the ingredients needed for a complete holiday feast. The bundle includes the turkey plus sides for our entire meal.

This makes it one of the cheapest options available from major grocery chains. Lidl designed this deal to help families dealing with rising grocery costs.

8. Bob Evans Ready-to-Heat Thanksgiving Meal

We found Bob Evans offers their popular Farmhouse Feast as a premade option that simplifies holiday cooking. The meal comes packed cold and ready to heat in your oven.

You can choose between turkey, ham, or both meats for your feast. Each meal includes mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans with ham, and sweet corn.

The complete dinner also features stuffing, cranberry relish, and fresh dinner rolls. A pumpkin pie rounds out the traditional holiday spread.

Bob Evans offers different sizes to fit your guest count. We noticed they have options that serve 4, 6, 8, or 10 people depending on what you need.

The meals are refrigerated and ready to heat in about 2 hours. This makes timing your dinner much easier than cooking everything from scratch.

Their Holiday Hot Family Meal includes tender slow-roasted turkey and smoky ham. The bread and celery stuffing adds a homestyle touch to the feast.

We appreciate that Bob Evans focuses on traditional Thanksgiving flavors. Their ready-to-heat option works well for busy families who want a complete holiday meal.

9. Kroger Thanksgiving Meal Bundle

We found that Kroger’s 2025 Freshgiving meal bundle feeds 10 people for less than $4.75 per person. This puts the total cost under $50 for the entire meal.

The bundle includes 16 ingredients that combine Kroger’s store brands with national name brands. We appreciate that this gives us a mix of affordable options and trusted products.

Kroger brings back this popular Freshgiving meal bundle each year to help families save money during the holidays. The company focuses on providing fresh ingredients without cutting quality.

We can order these bundles online or pick them up in-store. Prices may vary by location, so we should check with our local Kroger for exact costs.

The meal comes with classic Thanksgiving foods and sides. This makes it easy for us to host a complete holiday dinner without shopping for individual items.

10. Publix Thanksgiving Heat-and-Eat Options

We found that Publix offers fully prepared Thanksgiving dinners that make holiday planning much easier. Their complete meals come ready to heat and serve.

The Publix Thanksgiving dinner starts at $44.99 for smaller groups. For families of 7-10 people, we see prices around $76.99 for a complete turkey dinner.

These meals include fully cooked turkey or ham with classic sides. We appreciate that everything comes ready to go with simple reheating instructions.

Publix offers different meal sizes for various group sizes. We can order dinners that serve about 15 people for larger gatherings. Additional sides and desserts can be added to customize the meal.

The complete turkey dinner provides an all-in-one solution for busy families. We like that it saves hours of kitchen time while still delivering traditional flavors.

Orders need to be placed in advance, so we recommend planning ahead. Publix makes it easy with both online ordering and in-store pickup options available for our convenience.

11. Safeway Complete Thanksgiving Dinner Kit

We found that Safeway offers Thanksgiving dinner packages starting at $79.99 for families of 6 to 8 people. Their complete kit takes the stress out of holiday cooking.

The dinner includes a fully cooked whole turkey weighing 10 to 12 pounds. We appreciate that the turkey comes ready to serve, saving us hours of preparation time.

Safeway’s meal package also includes 32 ounces of mashed potatoes and other traditional sides. This makes it easy for us to feed our whole family without extra shopping.

We can order these prepared Thanksgiving dinners ahead of time at our local Safeway store. The ordering process helps us plan our holiday meal in advance.

Safeway offers options beyond turkey, including ham and prime rib meals for families who want different proteins. This gives us more choices for our holiday table.

The grocery chain focuses on making Thanksgiving easier for busy families. We can enjoy good food and time with loved ones without spending all day cooking.

12. Trader Joe’s Holiday Feast Package

Trader Joe’s calls their approach the Thanksgiving Twist, offering quality essentials and exclusive items at great prices. We love how they make holiday cooking less stressful.

Their 2025 Thanksgiving lineup includes 41 different products perfect for our holiday menu. From appetizers to desserts, they cover every part of the meal.

We can find affordable side dishes under $6 that taste homemade without the extra work. These ready-made options save us time in the kitchen.

Their turkey shortcuts and decadent desserts have become holiday staples for good reason. We get crowd-pleasing favorites that don’t break the budget.

The best part is spending less time cooking and more time with family. Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving finds let us create a semi-homemade feast without sacrificing quality or flavor.

Their unique store-brand products give us memorable dishes that guests will talk about long after dinner ends.

13. Albertsons Thanksgiving Meal Deal

We found that Albertsons Thanksgiving dinners start at $59.99 for 2025. These fully cooked meals serve 6-10 people and come with easy pickup options.

The store offers three main protein choices. We can pick from classic turkey, spiral ham, or prime rib dinners.

Each meal includes traditional sides like mashed potatoes and stuffing. We also get gravy, cranberry sauce, and dinner rolls with our order.

Albertsons often provides special deals for loyalty members. We might find discounts for early orders or free add-ons through their mobile app.

The meals require 24 hours advance notice for pickup. We need to place our orders ahead of time to guarantee availability.

This option works well for families wanting a stress-free holiday. We don’t have to spend hours cooking or worry about timing multiple dishes.

The pre-cooked format means we just need to reheat everything. This saves us significant time and effort on Thanksgiving day.

14. Wegmans Thanksgiving Pre-Made Dinner

We found that Wegmans offers one of the most affordable complete Thanksgiving meals for $5 per person. The package is designed to feed eight people and includes all the holiday basics.

Their meal centers around a 13-pound Shady Brook Farms turkey. We noticed they include traditional sides like mashed potatoes, stuffing, dinner rolls, and green bean casserole.

The Wegmans Thanksgiving dinner starts at $16 for smaller portions. They also include pies to complete the meal. We can order these meals online and pick them up at the store.

Most items in their Thanksgiving package are Wegmans private label products. This helps keep costs low while maintaining quality. We appreciate that they make it easy to add items to our online shopping cart.

The prepared dinner options vary by location. We recommend checking with our local Wegmans store for specific menu items and pricing. Some locations may offer extra services like catering or delivery for additional fees.

Orders are available through November 24th. We can get pricing details by visiting their website or calling our nearby store.

15. Hy-Vee Thanksgiving Food Bundle

We found that Hy-Vee offers one of the most affordable Thanksgiving options this year. Their Classic Thanksgiving Dinner bundle costs just $30 and feeds up to six people.

The bundle includes all the traditional ingredients we need for Thanksgiving dinner. We get a whole turkey or turkey breast plus dessert included in the price.

For families with dietary restrictions, we can choose the gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner bundle for $50. This gives us the same great value with safe ingredients.

We can buy these bundles both in-store and online from November 3 through November 26. This makes shopping easy for busy families.

The best part is that Hy-Vee now offers delivery for their prepared holiday meal packs. We don’t have to worry about pickup if we’re too busy.

This bundle helps us save money while still getting quality ingredients. At just $5 per person, it’s hard to beat this deal for a complete Thanksgiving meal.

16. Meijer Thanksgiving Dinner for Families

Meijer makes Thanksgiving dinner simple for busy families. We can choose from ready-made meals or buy ingredients separately.

The deluxe turkey dinner costs around $59.99 and feeds 6-8 people. This complete meal includes turkey, sides, and rolls that we just heat and serve.

For families who prefer cooking, Meijer brand frozen turkeys cost 49 cents per pound or less. We can also save up to 50% on more than 90 holiday grocery items.

The store offers stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, and other Thanksgiving essentials at reduced prices. These price cuts on Thanksgiving meal items help families enjoy traditional foods without spending too much.

Plant-based families have options too. Meijer sells tofurky and expects to sell nearly 10,000 pounds during Thanksgiving week.

We can pre-order heat-and-serve dinners for maximum convenience. This lets us spend more time with family instead of cooking all day.

17. Giant Eagle Thanksgiving Heat-and-Eat

Giant Eagle makes Thanksgiving dinner simple with their meal bundles starting at $69.99. These fully cooked meals are easy to heat and work well for families of different sizes.

We can order these dinners online or at any Giant Eagle or Market District store. The order deadline is Wednesday, November 19th.

Each dinner bundle comes refrigerated when we pick it up. Giant Eagle includes heating instructions to make preparation easy. They also provide an aluminum pan for the main dish and a reusable tote bag.

The dinners serve up to 6 guests, making them good for medium-sized gatherings. We can pick up our orders between November 23rd and 27th.

Giant Eagle’s heat-and-eat option saves us time in the kitchen while still letting us enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at home. The meals come fully prepared, so we just need to follow the heating instructions they provide.

18. H-E-B Thanksgiving Meal Kit

We found that H-E-B offers fully cooked Thanksgiving dinners starting at $99.99 for 2025. Their meal kits include turkey, ham, classic sides, and pies.

The store calls their offering Meal Simple by H-E-B Thanksgiving Dinner. We can order these meals for pickup or delivery.

H-E-B describes their meals as “stress-free and mess-free.” The company focuses on taking away the cooking hassle during the busy holiday season.

We can reserve holiday meals for in-store pickup through their ordering system. They also offer holiday sides separately if we just need to fill out our feast.

The grocery chain markets these kits as pre-made solutions for families who want to stay out of the kitchen. Their meals come fully prepared and ready to serve.

H-E-B provides holiday hours for both curbside and delivery services during Thanksgiving week. We can check their website for specific timing and availability in our area.

19. Food Lion Thanksgiving Package

We found that Food Lion offers a complete Thanksgiving meal for under $40 that feeds 10 people. This works out to less than $4 per person.

The deal runs from November 12-27, 2025. We can buy it in stores or order through Food Lion To Go for pickup.

The package includes a 14-pound frozen turkey as the main dish. Food Lion also adds classic sides and desserts to complete the meal.

We like that this Food Lion Thanksgiving dinner package provides all the holiday essentials in one bundle. It takes the guesswork out of planning portions for a large group.

The $40 price point puts it among the more affordable options we’ve seen from major grocery chains. Food Lion makes it easy for families to celebrate without spending too much money.

We can order online or shop in-store to get this deal. The 10-person serving size works well for medium to large family gatherings.

20. Stop & Shop Thanksgiving Dinner Deal

Stop & Shop offers one of the best Thanksgiving deals we’ve seen this year. Their Thanksgiving dinner feeds 10 people for under $40.

The deal runs from November 14 through November 27. This gives us plenty of time to plan our holiday shopping.

Stop & Shop created this deal after listening to customer feedback. They wanted to offer lower prices without compromising on food quality.

The grocery chain also provides a lowest price guarantee on turkeys. This means we can shop with confidence knowing we’re getting a good deal.

At $4 per person, this deal makes Thanksgiving dinner very affordable for large families. The complete meal package takes the guesswork out of holiday shopping.

We can find this deal at Stop & Shop stores across their service area. The timing works perfectly since it’s available right up until Thanksgiving week.

This competitive meal deal shows how grocery stores are responding to customer concerns about high food prices during the holiday season.

21. Sprouts Farmers Market Thanksgiving Kit

We found that Sprouts offers complete prepared holiday dinners with turkeys, meats, and fully prepared meals. Their kits start at competitive prices and focus on fresh, natural ingredients.

The store provides both traditional and vegan options. Their vegan Thanksgiving meal feeds 8-10 people and includes a plant-based protein loaf, vegan gravy, and classic sides.

We appreciate that Sprouts asks customers to order 48 hours in advance of pickup. This gives them time to prepare quality meals properly.

Fresh Thanksgiving meals start from $43.99 according to recent pricing. The meals are ready-to-heat, which saves us cooking time on the holiday.

Sprouts operates in 23 states across the country. We can also get Thanksgiving essentials delivered through Instacart in as fast as one hour.

Their holiday menu includes high-quality turkeys, hams, roasts, and party trays. Orders stay available through Thanksgiving Day for last-minute planners.

<p>The post Grocery Store Thanksgiving Dinner Comparisons: 21 Ready-Made Options to Make Your Holiday Stress-Free first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>

The other day as I was realizing that I was feeling really low energy and unmotivated. In theory, I was doing everything right—exercising, getting plenty of fruits and vegetables, sleeping (ok, maybe not sleeping enough, but getting some sleep)—but I was still dragging and then it came to me: greens.

I wasn’t getting enough leafy greens.

Many (most) of us don’t get enough leafy greens, but they are so important.

They are great for circulation and respiratory support, they boost our immune systems, and they provide a great energy boost. I hadn’t been eating them, though, because as the weather gets colder I am less drawn to smoothies and salads.

So out came my sautéed and wilted green recipes to provide me some warmth, while still giving me all the benefits of the greens. And it worked! While I may not be stress-free and perky, I am definitely feeling much more alert and focused.

This wilted kale salad is a great one. It is quick, simple, and delicious.

It has just the right amount of crunch from the walnuts, some creaminess from the feta, and just a touch of sweetness from the dried cranberries.

In the quantities listed here, this makes a great salad for two or a wonderful side for four. Plus it would be a wonderful addition to a holiday dinner—helping to balance out all the heaviness of the dishes at this time of year.

So if you are feeling draggy, tired, or down, try this out. It may just be the thing your body has been asking you for.

Print

Wilted Kale Salad: A Cure for the Winter Blues

Course Salad, Side

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 minutes minutes

Total Time 13 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Jessica Braider

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of kale
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 6 tablespoons chopped walnuts
• ¼ cup crumbled Feta
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

• Rip the kale off the stems and rip the leaves into bite-sized pieces. Rinse and dry the kale. Mince the clove of garlic.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. When it starts to shimmer, add the minced garlic and stir until fragrant.
• Toss in the kale and balsamic vinegar and stir until the kale just turns bright green but hasn’t yet wilted.
• Take it off the heat and mix in the walnuts and feta. Salt and pepper to taste and serve warm.

<p>The post Wilted Kale Salad: A Cure for the Winter Blues first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>

Other than my mom’s poached pears, however, there are few dessert recipes that are considered essential (and even that one isn’t made every year). So when The Recipe Redux announced the challenge for this month: “The holiday baking season is upon us. Time to pull out all the stops. Show us the healthy holiday dessert you will be sharing with family and friends this season.” I was excited to see what I could come up with. I wanted to create a recipe that would not only have some redeemable nutritional aspects to it, but that would also be a simple one that anyone could do. My goal of simplicity was a bit selfish because I hoped that in making one that was easy, perhaps I could entice the boys to start making it with me and that over time it could become their special recipe to contribute to future holiday meals.

Outside of its simplicity, I love this recipe for a couple of reasons. The first is that it is not too sweet. Don’t get me wrong, it is sweet and definitely tastes like dessert, but it tastes like a refreshing end to a meal rather than another brick in the stomach. Another is that I love the tartness of the cranberries. They enliven my senses and remind me that desserts should have layers of flavor and interest to them. Plus I think the specks of red throughout the cake is really pretty. And finally, I enjoy knowing that the moistness of the cake is due to the yogurt rather than a heavier alternative.

Yogurt in general is a great ingredient to use and you can quickly prepare other snacks, dips and sides like the 1-Minute Dessert: Sweet Yogurt Dip.

This cake is so easy to prepare! No beating of eggs, no sifting of flour, just simple mixing and baking. It is also easy to adjust. If cranberries aren’t your thing, you could add raisins or other chopped dried fruit instead. If you do this, I would recommend cutting the sugar down to one cup since you won’t need to counterbalance the tartness of the cranberries. And chopped nuts would make a delicious addition as well! If you want to boost the nutritional content even more, you could use white whole wheat flour or replace half of the all purpose flour with spelt flour. It may come out a little bit more dense, but the moisture of the yogurt will keep you in the delicious zone.

If you don’t feel like making the glaze, you can also just dust the cake with a little bit of powdered sugar, which you should do just before serving, as it will soak into the cake.

So whether it is for Thanksgiving or some other holiday celebration this season, I highly recommend trying this cake out and please let me know what you think!

Print

Cranberry Yogurt Cake with Maple Glaze

Course Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Author Jessica Braider

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups whole milk plain yogurt you could also use lowfat yogurt, if you prefer
• 2/3 cups extra virgin olive oil
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoons baking soda
• ¾ teaspoons cinnamon
• ¾ teaspoons ground clove
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped fresh cranberries chopped
• For the glaze optional:
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 Tablespoons milk

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 and spray a Bundt pan with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, olive oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
• Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Make sure that all of the flour is mixed in well (no little lumps).
• Chop the cranberries and gently mix in.
• Pour the batter into the Bundt pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
• Turn the cake out onto a cooling rack and immediately, but gently, turn it over.
• Let the cake cool completely. While it is cooling make the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar, maple syrup, and milk together in a small bowl.
• Once the cake is completely cool, place it on a serving plate or platter and drizzle the glaze over.

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<p>The post Cranberry Yogurt Cake with Maple Glaze: A Simple Dessert for the Holiday Season first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>

The kids.

My kids are getting super excited about the arrival of Halloween and the other day they pulled out their trick or treating pumpkins to discover this in the bottom of my 8-year-old’s pumpkin.

They were shocked and I was pleased. Why? Because that meant my plan had worked! Over the past few years I have tried to help my kids to learn how to negotiate the steady stream of “junk” foods with a simple rule that lasts all year long: one treat per day (with exceptions made on very special occasions). They know that each day they are allowed one treat and that they can have it whenever they want and can choose what it will be, based on what is available. I have done this for two reasons, 1) to put a stop to the constant begging for treats and 2) to help them to understand that treats are a normal part of life and don’t need to be gorged on when they are around. On Halloween we do it a little differently, here’s what we do:

• On Halloween night they are allowed to gorge on candy (within reason)
• For the next few days they can have 2-3 pieces a day
• After a few days I invite them to go through their piles and pick out what they want to keep and what they want to donate and for every 10 pieces that they donate they get a small thing (last year it was a dollar store pack of pokemon cards for every 10 pieces of candy)
• After that the candy is an option for their daily treats until it runs out or they forget about it

What we have found in the past two years of doing this is that as we get further into the treat season they just forget about the candy as they get excited about all the other treats that show up. And it all happens without negotiations or drama!

For me.

For years I found this season really stressful. I was constantly worried and thinking about what I was eating and whether I was going to gain weight. I would fixate on the rich and indulgent offering, making deals with myself about what to eat and when. I would feel deprived and frustrated and disappointed in myself. It sucked. But overtime I developed a new system that has worked much better.

• I wait to eat. In the old days I would often gravitate immediately to the drinks and food because I just felt more comfortable if I had something in my hands. Now I will go and get a glass of wine but I will hold off on the food until I have hit my social stride and feel more comfortable. I have found that once I am comfortable I am more likely to make better food choices.
• I make sure to eat the healthier stuff first. In other words, I focus first on the vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins that are offered. This helps me to make better choices about the treats because I am not hungry and I am well-nourished/my body feels in better balance.
• I make sure to stay hydrated. Drinking water helps my body to stay balanced so that I can getter gauge when I am hungry and what I actually want.
• I never deprive myself of the treat, if I want it. For years I would go into these situations telling myself that I would be “good” and not have any of the sweet offerings. I would then stand there thinking incessantly about what I wasn’t allowing myself to have. I would eventually break down and have some, even if it was something I didn’t normally enjoy, and then I would feel guilty. No more! Now I tell myself it is fine to have some of the treat, if I want it. So I will look and see if there is something that is appealing to me and, if there is I will have some. If not, then I know it isn’t worth it and there are always treat options later.
• I start with a small serving of the treat. Studies have found that that the first bite is always the best and that every bite after that doesn’t taste quite as good, but that we often keep eating because our brain is hoping for that first bite sensation again. When I learned this little piece of information it really resonated with me and since then I have found that if I start with a small serving first and take the time to really savor it I usually feel satisfied with the small portion.
• I allow myself seconds if it is something I truly love. This is key for me. I love getting seconds and always have. So starting with that first smaller portion makes it easier for me to go back and have a second helping, if it is something I truly enjoyed.
• If I don’t love it, I leave it. Have you ever taken a dessert at a holiday gathering, taken a bite and then realized it is not your cup of tea? When that happens do you keep eating it or do you put it aside? I used to keep eating it because I felt like I was locked into my choice. No longer! Now I will just discreetly put it aside and not take in those extra calories.

Do you have tricks for negotiating the treat season for yourself or your kids? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

<p>The post Managing Treat Season for Ourselves and Our Kids first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>

I hope this list will help you in your gift buying this year!

Gifts for Kids:

Kids Apron: What kid doesn’t love a costume? Help them get into the mood for cooking with this great apron!

Chop Chop Cookbook: A beautiful, fun, and delicious cookbook written for kids. They also clearly lay out when kids need adult help and when they can do the steps on their own. The recipes are manageable and will teach real cooking skills. My kids love this book!

The Dutchess Bakes a Cake: A family favorite!  I also read this to my students in my kid cooking classes and they always love it. This funny book will get anyone inspired to bake a lovely, light, luscious, delectable cake!

Gifts for New or Reluctant Cooks:

Immersion Blender: A game-changing kitchen appliance! Great for pureeing vegetable soups and sauces, making salad dressings, blending smoothies, whipping cream, and much, much more. Plus you just throw it in the dishwasher!

Slow Cooker: An essential appliance for anyone who is very busy and doesn’t have time to cook when they get home. Also a great way to start cooking if you haven’t done much cooking before because many recipes call for dumping in ingredients, turning it on, and leaving it alone for many hours–can’t get much easier than that…

How to Cook Everything FAST: This is a great cookbook for anyone, but is especially great for new and reluctant cooks because nothing in the cookbook takes more than an hour to make (many take only 30 minutes) and, perhaps even more importantly, it has a wonderful section that offers really practical and concrete lessons on how to cook efficiently.

10-Day Cooking Challenge: The 10-Day Cooking Challenge, which starts in January, is a great introduction to cooking for those who either haven’t cooked much before or don’t really enjoy cooking. I help participants to learn how to cook quickly and efficiently, which still producing delicious meals, in a fun and interactive way.

Gifts for Avid Cooks:

Cast iron skillet: I use mine almost daily. They are wonderful to cook in, easy to care for, and will last forever.

Knife sharpener: The key to quick, easy, and safe cooking is sharp knives. This knife sharpener is easy to use and does a great job.

Chef sleeve for iPad: Many cooks now use their iPad to refer to recipes as they cook. These sleeves will keep the iPad clean and safe from spills and splatters!

The Flavor Bible: A fantastic and fun addition to the cookbook library of any serious home cook! This book helps cooks to become truly creative in the kitchen. I love this book and refer to it all the time!

Kitchen and Pantry Evaluation with me!: Contact me and we can arrange for your loved one to have a kitchen and pantry evaluation with me. I will help them to think about ways to make their kitchen more efficient and fun to cook in. This can be done in person or over video chat, so location is not an issue.

What is the best cooking-related gift you ever received?

<p>The post 2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Great Cooking Gifts for Everyone on Your List first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>

But for many of us Thanksgiving can also be overwhelming. It is a lot of work to produce so much food. There is a lot of pressure to have it be the perfect day. And that is where I think we need to shift our expectations. For me, the importance of Thanksgiving is in the coming together of people, it is in the sharing of plenty, and it is in the expression of gratitude for all that we have, which feels especially poignant to me this year as we are witnessing so much misery around the world.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving this year, this time of year to give thanks, I wanted to advocate for all of us to be kind to ourselves and to take the stress out of the day, so that we can truly focus on the important aspects of this holiday.

So here are my tips for ways to make Thanksgiving a little more relaxed and pleasurable, so that you can stay present and enjoy the day for what it is meant to be.

1. Develop a plan. If the quantity of food and how much you may eat is stressing you out, take a minute to come up with a plan. What foods are the most important to you? Which could you pass on? Will you want to go back for more? If so, what size portions should you take the first time around?
2. Don’t feel guilty. If you overindulge, don’t worry. It is one day. It does not have to undermine your long-term health goals. If you get wrapped up in the guilt and regret, you risk sending yourself down a path of giving up for the whole holiday season. Don’t do it! Instead, just look back on the meal with gratitude and happiness and move on. Tomorrow is another day.
3. Go for a walk. The walk after the big meal is actually my favorite part of Thanksgiving. I always love the fresh air, the stretching of legs, the jovial conversations. If this isn’t a part of your tradition, try suggesting it this year. I bet you will find there is at least one other person who is eager to join you!
4. Make the space for gratitude. Whether it is with the whole group or just quietly to yourself, take a moment to pause and say thanks for all that is before you and for all that has come in the year. It may feel cheesy, but how often do we really take the time to take stock of all we have to be grateful for? It is pretty wonderful when we actually think about it.
5. Keep it light. Whether it is politics, religion, or favorite sports teams, if there is a topic of conversation that you know would stress you or others out or cause strife, avoid it. And if someone pushes it, be honest and say, “I know that this is something we should talk about at some point and I want to, but let’s find another time to do that, so that we can really enjoy this day.”
6. Have fun! Play a game, listen to great music, have fun conversations. Enjoy the time off and the ability to be present for a day.
7. Help out! This is probably the most important one of all. If you are hosting, ask for help! If you are a guest, offer to help and be specific. Maybe it is bringing a dish or two, maybe it is helping to set up, maybe it is cleaning up, in any case make sure that the work is not all on the shoulders of one or a few. This way everyone can enjoy.

<p>The post 7 Tips to Help You Actually Enjoy Thanksgiving first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

This one takes all of 10 minutes to prepare and is a family favorite. Pair it with crackers and cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches for dipping, and you’ve got a complete meal!

Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats

This is a great one to keep breakfasts on track. Make a big batch, freeze the leftovers, and you are set for a whole bunch of mornings. Some of our favorite toppings are: chopped up apple, defrosted frozen blueberries, chopped nuts, dried fruit, and a little bit of maple syrup.

Slow Cooker Fall Veggie Stew

This is a great, warming, comforting meal, and the leftovers freeze well, too!

Real Mac n Cheese

In the same amount of time that it takes to make the boxed stuff, you can make this!

Waffle Omelets

This meal can be made in 8-15 minutes (depending on how many you are making) and always makes my kids giggle.

Do you have favorite, quick, and easy dinners that you use at this time of year to keep your family eating well in the midst of all the craziness?

<p>The post 5 Recipes to Help You Stay Sane and Healthy During the Holiday Season first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>

1. An immersion blender

Before I got an immersion blender, making soups was a chore that I often avoided. The scooping hot liquid into either the blender or the food mill was time consuming and left many dirty dishes. Now, homemade pureed soups are a staple in our house because they are a one-pot meal that is packed with vegetables. Other foods I use the immersion blender for: salad dressings, whipped cream, smoothies, adding vegetables to a pasta/pizza sauce, and homemade mayo.

2. A good vegetable peeler

For years I struggled with mediocre vegetable peelers and I honestly thought that peeling vegetables was one of those necessary tasks that took a really long time. Once my godmother got me this OXO peeler I realized how wrong I had been.

3. Cast iron skillets

I use these almost daily. I love how they distribute the heat, that they are nonstick without the yucky chemicals, how sturdy they are, and how simple they are to care for (really).

4. A salad spinner

Not only does a salad spinner make putting a salad together that much easier, but it is a great way to get your kids into the kitchen. I have yet to meet a kid who didn’t love to use the salad spinner!

5. Glass storage containers

I love, love, love my glass storage containers. Having good food storage containers makes it much easier to cook in bulk, which means you don’t have to cook as often. You can use these babies in the freezer, fridge, and oven. I also use them for my husband’s lunches on a daily basis. And possibly the best perk, I don’t worry about nasty chemicals leaching into our food.

Out-of-the-box Gift Idea: A kitchen and pantry evaluation with me!

Whether in person or via skype, I help people to go through their kitchens and figure out better ways to organize the space they have and ways that they can simplify and healthify (yes, that is a made up word) their pantry. If you know someone who would benefit from a kitchen and/or pantry evaluation with me, email me at Jessica@balancedkitchen.com and we can talk details.

<p>The post 5 of My Favorite Cooking Gifts: Not too expensive gifts that can help make cooking more efficient and enjoyable first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>

This was my husband’s status update on Facebook yesterday evening and it made me laugh and also gave me hope because I. am. tired. This week (actually the past month) has been a marathon of busyness. Between birthdays, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, travel, visits from out of town friends, school events, crunch time at my husband’s work, and, oh yeah, that keeping-a-brand-new-business-going thing life has been pretty rushed. But as I take a moment to breathe and acknowledge that my to-do list to end all to-do lists is increasingly a collection of crossed off tasks rather than things left to be done, I am grateful.

I am also acknowledging that there is something different about this year for me. In years past, by this time in the season my husband and I would have had a huge blow-up fight about who was doing what. I would have been resentful about having taken on so much of the present buying and logistics planning and he would be frustrated because he was willing to take on some of the tasks but just wanted to know what was expected (this is the busiest time of year for him at work, which always adds a wrinkle to the dynamic). But this year we haven’t had that fight and I haven’t had the resentment. And there are three reasons for this that I think are helpful things for all of us to keep in mind:

1)   I have asked for help. In the past I have always felt guilty asking him to do things because I know that work is completely insane and I didn’t want to put more on him. This year I let go of that and asked for the help. And, not surprisingly at all, he totally stepped up.

2)   Self-care. While I am not making time for massages or pedicures, I have made sure that each day there is some time for me. Whether it is working up a little earlier to start the day with a work out or ending it with some quiet time reading, I have made sure to not let that slip. It is amazing how much of a difference that can make! I mean, I always tell others to do it, but I never have been so good at consistently doing it myself. But now I get it!

3)   Not everything needs to be perfect. The house has been messier than it usually is. The boys have watched a little bit more video than they usually do. I have resorted to grilled cheese sandwiches or quesadillas a bit more than usual. And on some other nights, dinner has been later than usual. And letting go of that need for the best has really helped to take the edge off and has given me time to enjoy what I am doing more- whether it is my work, playing with my boys, or spending time with my husband. And that makes it worth it. It is sort of like that gingerbread man- sure, he’s missing an eye and his hands are in his armpits, but he’s happy! I mean, just look at that smile…

<p>The post Easing the Holiday Stress first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>

I think that a lot of people feel this sort of pressure about cooking. They worry that it won’t be perfect, that someone won’t like it, that they will be a failure. I think this is especially prevalent with holiday dishes. It is a time when we make meals we don’t usually make, dishes we aren’t necessarily comfortable cooking. It is a time when there are more people present, should we fail. It is a lot of pressure.

But then I read this post today by Real Mom Nutrition and it suddenly took a lot of the pressure off, both for the Thanksgiving turkey and for all of the meals I serve other people. I didn’t go into this work because I believe in a specific diet or lifestyle approach and I don’t live with rigid food guidelines. I just try to do the best I can with the knowledge that I have, while also trying to keep my sanity and sense of balance.  Yes, I try to include healthier options wherever possible. Yes, I try to offer my kids a variety of healthy and exciting food options. Yes, I advocate for increasing our vegetable intake and decreasing our processed foods. But it is also true that I offer my kids dessert almost every night (sure it is homemade and usually on the healthier side, but it is still dessert). And I do often have pretzels, and even sometimes pirate booty, in my house. Because I believe that food is about nourishing our bodies and giving us energy, but it is also about fun, community, and enjoyment, and sometimes that includes “junk.”

So I think for this Thanksgiving turkey I am going to give myself permission to let go of that need for perfection. I am going to remember that this holiday is, of course, about the food, but it is also about being together and being grateful for all that we are blessed with. Sure, I am going to do my best to make a great bird, but I am going to do it in the way that I am comfortable with and the way that I will enjoy it the most. Maybe it won’t be the healthiest approach, may be it won’t be perfection, but it will be good.

<p>The post Letting Go of Perfection first appeared on The Balanced Kitchen.</p>