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Thanksgiving Computation for Portion Planning

Operations Thanksgiving: turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, and sweet potato pie are in your future.

Or you can skip the turkey and adopt a turkey instead.

If you’re throwing Thanksgiving yourself, it’s time to start getting honest about the prep situation. 

It can be overwhelming.

I once prepared a Thanksgiving feast for over 50 guests.

I was a newlywed, eager to entertain my in-laws.

It was a beautiful meal, and I am, to this day, still very proud of it.

A few years later, I made a more intimate Thanksgiving for eight.

My dad and my grandmother were there.

The meal was beautiful, but there was no gravy.

I had no idea how to make it from scratch.

My dad commented, and my grandmother said, “I suppose some traditions are lost with each generation.”

She told me, and I went into the kitchen and made gravy.

BUCKETS of gravy.

There was SO much gravy.

We went from gravy-drought to being rich in gravy.

Today, we laugh about it.

At the time, I cried.

I was so overwhelmed.

I just wanted it to be perfect.

Both meals, while beautiful, were stressful.

I had no idea how to calculate how much of anything I would need to make.

Common Stress Factors:

How big of a turkey do I need?

How much pie?

What about all the side dishes?

It can be nerve-racking, and nothing is more defeating than making a knock-your-socks-off-dish and not having enough–or listening to the family complain they are still eating the fruits of your labor.

Operation Thanksgiving computation starts now.

While we realize our friends and families aren’t all that average, the serving estimates are based on the average adult.

Work out the proper poundage and roast it right. Always make enough stuffing, don’t forget those dinner rolls, and don’t forget that people will have more than one piece of the pie.

The Savory put together an infographic to serve as the ultimate recipe for hosting a perfect Thanksgiving.

It offers Stress-Free Holiday Family Meal Planning Tips

Whether you want to know how many pounds of turkey to cook for that small intimate Thanksgiving of 5, or for the extended family dinner, how many dinner rolls to pick up, or exactly how long to brine a turkey, let this infographic guide you and through Thanksgiving.

It’s something to be thankful for.

infographic showing how to calculate how much food you need per guest

Keep in Mind:

There is no exact formula for cooking for a group of people, so you have to consider your people.

Do they really enjoy eating?

My children can tell you a time when a guest ate TWO. WHOLE. Blueberry pies.

I didn’t expect that.

Will many children be present?

Are most people in your crowd weight-conscious?

All these questions and similar ones impact how much food you prepare.

This infographic makes Thanksgiving planning manageable.

It’s what you need to know at a glance.

Start your shopping list and enjoy your time in the kitchen.

Check it out:

Here are 10 Thanksgiving Menu Ideas for Full and Happy Bellies

Take a deep breath.

You got this.

May you have more to be thankful for each day.

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