2020 has ushered in new meaning to how we share the holidays. Getting together for big family celebrations will not be possible (or prudent) for many of us yet we still long to share those family traditions. Food is not any different. I think that 2020 will be the year of sharing homemade gifts. Specifically, homemade food gifts as we look for ways to be together while celebrating apart. Of course, holidays are not just about gifts. They are about celebrating and sharing traditions, more than anything else.
There are many ways you can share food traditions across distance. Making a common menu, and sharing recipes, that everyone prepares at home then celebrating virtually is one option. The process is simple – compile a menu; have everyone share the recipe of the item they normally bring to the table; compile the recipes and menu then send to everyone;
- Compile a menu
- Have everyone share the recipe of the item they normally bring to the table
- Compile the recipes and menu together and send to everyone
Bonus: Add some family photos from previous celebrations and make it the start of a family cookbook you can share for years to come
- Make a distribution plan
- Distribution may end at sending out the menu and recipes or include making some items and delivering them to various family members
- Options will vary based on whether it’s local or long distance
- Stay focused on the sharing part to keep stress to a minimum during this already busy and stressful time
Share locally
You can deliver holiday items for porch drop off to family members that live close by. Maybe organize a physically distanced “swap” with family and friends. Put a “drop off” box and a “pick up” box on your front porch where items can be dropped off for you and a package picked up for them. If grandma is the Christmas cookie or pie queen, she can make the cookies, package them and put them in the “pick-up” box as guests drop off their specialty (seasoned vegetables ready for roasting for example) they can pick up their batch of cookies. If you participate in cookie swaps this may be a safe option for this year. Pick one or two locations that are central and secure, like grandparents’ house and so not everyone has to travel.
Share mixes and recipes
Not everything can be made ahead of time, nor does to make sense to do so. Fragile cookies or even cake recipes can be made into homemade mixes. Combine them with a recipe card and the recipient can have freshly made delights with a small amount of effort. Mixes are a great option because they travel well and are generally easy to make, making holiday favorites accessible to even basic level cooks and bakers. This method also comes with a nutrition bonus. If you are not making the cookies in the house, you are not sampling them either, keeping those holiday pounds at bay.
Share spices
Spice mixes are another option to help connect distanced tables together. Prepare spice mixes for turkey, ham, vegetables and any number of recipes. Include them with the recipe for the food and spice mix (so the recipient can make more later). Make sure to share healthier versions of recipes if you have them. I know I often “forget” to tell guests when I serve a healthier version of a recipe and wait to see if the notice. Most of the time they do not and some have become family favorites over the years. Share the healthier recipe, no need to label it as such, “<Insert name> Famous Broccoli Casserole” sounds just fine.
These are just some of the options for sharing holiday food traditions. Whether made ahead, ready to bake/cook, mixes or simple recipe cards, we can share our food traditions even when we are celebrating physically distanced.
Enjoy the Holidays and Look for the Joy.
If you have questions about lifestyle change and nutrition feel free to contact me via email at [email protected]. Thriving during the holidays and preventing weight gain does not mean ignoring its importance in our celebrations. My “How to eat Mindfully and Mindlessly lose weight” program explores psychology of eating, mindful eating and our relationship with food drives our eating choices. It is packed with details about this topic and practical tips you can use right away to help in your everyday and holiday life. You can preview the course content before you register. Click here to access the course and select the preview button in the course curriculum.