Thanksgiving Affirmations

+ Your Full Make Ahead Thanksgiving Menu

Hello neighbors,

The holidays can bring out the best and worst in us (especially after a stressful election season!). I wrote these Thanksgiving affirmations for anyone who struggles with this season. Whether its the stress of hosting, struggles with body image or food, the pressure of feeling joyful all the time, or the grief of missed or broken relationships, the holidays can feel heavy for many of us.

I believe food is the greatest reminder of our common humanity, a thread that both ties us to one another and honors our splendid diversity. I hope as you gather this year, the table feels like a place of healing and nourishment.

Thanksgiving Affirmations

1. I can ask for as much help as I need. I will be bold in my requests for assistance from my family and my guests. I do not have to do it all. 

2. My house is worthy of celebrations no matter how clean or decorated (or not) it is. The cleanliness of my baseboards does not make me any more or less worthy of love and community.

3. I will use paper plates or store bought shortcuts or any other thing that helps me be more present and less stressed on this day. 

4. I will allow myself to feel all the feelings that the holidays bring, whether it is grief or joy or a jumbled mix of many things.

5. I will do my best to make my home a place of welcome and safety for my guests as well as for myself. I will not be afraid to set healthy boundaries.

6. I will not dwell on the things that didn’t get done or weren’t as great as I hoped. I will embrace the beauty of good enough.

7. I do not have to earn this meal through restriction or excessive movement. I will listen to my body, be kind to my body, and be kind to other people’s bodies.

8. I will enjoy the delicious mix of traditions, culture, memories and love that’s represented at the table today and practice gratefulness for all the ways food connects us through time and space.

If you’re looking for a great playlist for your time in the kitchen, this soothing Mellow Mix is my go-to. It’s fantastic chill vibes for an Autumn day.

A few notes before we dive into the schedule:

1. I don’t expect anyone to make all this food by themselves. I certainly am not! Think of the schedule more as a guide to show you what can be made ahead of time and organize/prioritize your time leading up to and on Thanksgiving.

2. You can download and print the schedule and menu as is, or you can click on the link below to be taken to an editable copy on Canva. There, you can add your own favorite recipes, delete what you don’t want, and add any helpful notes. In either format, the links will take you directly to the recipe on NeighborFood.

3. To edit the doc, you will need a free Canva account. You can sign up here.

4. My goal was for this to be reusable for you, so you can come back to it year after year, changing and tweaking it to fit your needs. The last page is just for notes so you can keep track of what worked, what didn’t, and what you might want to change for next year, etc. This is a way of loving and looking out for your future self!