Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, which means it’s time to gather around the table with loved ones, have some bonding time, and share a great meal. Aside from taking a little extra time to think about what we’re grateful for, Thanksgiving is all about the food — turkey, mashed potatoes, corn bread, green bean casserole, pie — but, let’s be honest — not everybody is a great cook. And that’s OK!
Just because you’re not the cook of the family doesn’t mean you can’t help out this Thanksgiving. (And no, sitting on the couch and watching the parade does not count as “helping out” … as much as we might want it to.) The food might be the main event, but it’s not the only thing required to make a great Thanksgiving — or the only thing you can help with to make the host’s holiday go more smoothly.
Check out all the ways to contribute to Thanksgiving without setting foot in the kitchen.
More from CafeMom: Here’s What Really Happens When You Take Over the Thanksgiving Feast
Clean the House
Whether you’re having people over for Thanksgiving or just holding an intimate dinner with your immediate family, it always feels good to eat a holiday meal in a clean house. If you know you aren’t going to be able to help with cooking the meal, make it easier for the host by cleaning the house! Kids and teens can help with this chore.
Decorate
Who doesn’t love eating surrounded by beautiful decorations? Hang a festive wreath on the door, decorate the table with fall leaves and gourds, and light some elegant candles. If kids want to get involved, they can make hand turkeys and hang them on the fridge!
Do the Shopping
Just because you won’t be cooking the meal doesn’t mean you can’t shop for the food. Have the cook write out a detailed shopping list, and head to the grocery store and buy everything you’ll need for the meal. Don’t forget to pick up whatever you’ll need for dessert!
Set the Table
Having the perfect table setting is an important part of making Thanksgiving dinner feel special. Whether you’re going for a casual look (just a tablecloth, plates, and napkins) or a formal look (with candles, decorations, multiple sets of silverware, napkin rings, the whole shebang), it’s a big help to set the table. Want to make everyone feel really special? Make place cards so everyone knows exactly where to sit.
Amp Up the Ingredients
Want to help out the chef without actually cooking? Bring some gourmet ingredients as a gift! Consider things such as flavored finishing salts, black garlic, raw honey, truffle oil, or gourmet vinegar. Two of our favorites gourmet ingredients perfect for Thanksgiving are Maple Craft Syrup (Maple Craft Foods, from $8.99) and The Governor Premium Edition Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Kyoord, from $69.00). Maple Craft Syrup comes in all sorts of flavors (such as bourbon barrel, salted caramel, apple cinnamon, pumpkin spice, gingerbread, and peppermint bark), which are just right for Thanksgiving classics such as candied yams, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, or pecan pie. The Governor Olive Oil works well for roasting or sautéing vegetables, crisping up the skin of the turkey, or boosting the flavor of any other savory Thanksgiving dishes.
Entertain the Kids
The last thing a cook needs is a gaggle of kids running around the kitchen. If you’re not cooking, you can help by making sure kids stay entertained all day long. After watching the parade/dog show/football game, have fun with them by playing games and doing crafts.
Take Care of Drinks
Not going to help with food? Take care of the drinks instead! Make sure there’s something for everyone — a holiday cocktail (such as mulled wine or spiked apple cider), wine and beer, and sparkling cider for the kids. Bringing some soda and juice can’t hurt, either.
Do the Dishes
After a big meal, the last thing the cook wants to do is clean up. Help out by doing the dishes (whether that’s loading the dishwasher or washing dishes by hand), packing up leftovers, and wiping down the table. They’ll remember this gesture forever!
Take Photos
Everyone wants great family photos, especially candid snaps taken around the holidays. This Thanksgiving, take on photographer duty! Capture photos of the family, the food, and all the holiday action. You’ll treasure these pictures for years to come.
Kick in Some Cash
Let’s face it: Cooking dinner is expensive, especially when making Thanksgiving foods for an entire family. If you can’t help cook and money is tight for your host, sometimes the best way to help is simply by contributing financially.
Offer to Host
If you’ve got the space, why not let the host use it? That way, they won’t have to worry about keeping their home presentable, and letting them use your kitchen might help you feel a little less guilty about not cooking. You get to help, and they get to go home to their own house at the end of the night.
Play Sous Chef
This one does have to do with the food prep, but it doesn’t involve any actual cooking! If you can use a knife or a potato peeler, you can help with all of the prep work that will cut down on time and effort for the one who’s making all that Thanksgiving magic happen in the kitchen.
Plan the Post-Dinner Entertainment
After everyone’s bellies are full, what happens next? Be the one to plan some activities, whether that means coming armed with a deck of cards and your favorite board games or choosing a couple of movies that everyone can watch together while they’re digesting.
Bring Food That Doesn't Require Cooking
There’s no law that says all Thanksgiving food has to be homemade. You can contribute to the meal by grabbing something at the store, such as a veggie tray for an appetizer, a dessert, or maybe even some freshly baked bread from a bakery.
Play Taxi
Thanksgiving usually means that family is coming from out of town, and adding an airport, bus, or train pickup to the to-do list can be a lot for someone who’s also hosting Thanksgiving. Volunteering to do those errands for them instead can be a lot of help!
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
