11 Reasons Why You Should Eat Out for Thanksgiving

I have to be honest, at first, I couldn’t imagine eating out for Thanksgiving. With a modicum of apprehension, I had to be persuaded to eat out the first time. However, surprisingly enough, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think you’ll also enjoy it. To help you decide, below are 11 reasons why you should consider eating out for Thanksgiving.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO COOK

This is the most obvious reason, of course. But even those of us that love to cook know the Thanksgiving meal is a doozy to pull off. I can only imagine the dread if you don’t like to cook.

Electing to eat out for Thanksgiving frees up a lot of your time. This, in turn, removes the stress from your plate, leaving only the turkey and mashed potatoes.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO CLEAN UP

Thanksgiving is usually hosted at my house with anywhere from 15 to 25 guests. And don’t get me wrong, I love it. But the clean-up is as much an ordeal as the prepping and cooking. Worse still, you have to clean up on a full stomach. UGH!

The chore of cleaning up after Thanksgiving is part of the reason why I don’t go shopping for Black Friday. I’m simply too exhausted!

The clean up is a chore no more if you go out to eat, and that’s certainly something to be thankful for.

“QUALITY” TIME WITH FAMILY

I don’t know about you, but as the Thanksgiving hostess, I’m often running around everywhere, making sure everyone and everything is properly tended to.

This can be a massive undertaking for a large feast that can span days when you take into account the accommodation and entertainment of out of town guests that come a day or two prior, and leave a day or two after.

With all that, I rarely have time to spend actual quality time with my family members.

Eating out provides ample time to spend with loved ones. You’re provided an honest opportunity to share and truly connect — which is what the holidays are all about.

YOU’RE RESTED

Gone is the tired, haggard hostess who collapses at the end of the night, still a bit hungry because she didn’t actually get to eat like everyone else.

Did you make a thousand runs to the grocery store? Nope.
Did you spend three days preparing a meal? Nope.
Did you spend $500.00 on food items and decorations? Nope.

Did you instead wake leisurely, enjoy a bath, gussied yourself up, and step out relaxed, ready to enjoy the day?

A resounding Yes, Yes, Yes!

You’ll be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed enough to go hog-wild on Black Friday after all!

DESSERT

Although I always start with the best of intentions, once I get through dinner — which includes appetizers, sides, turkey, ham, and possibly a beef tenderloin depending on the guests — I don’t have the energy to make dessert.

Every year I want to try my hand at a luscious homemade apple pie, pumpkin coffee cake muffins, or blueberry lemon galette. And every year I never get to it.

Eating out for Thanksgiving opens up loads of time to have fun in the kitchen. The kind of fun you used to have when you were younger and Grandma was in charge.

After dinner you could invite your family back to your home to enjoy homemade desserts and partake in after-dinner activities like holiday-themed games, Christmas movies, or whatever strikes your fancy.

YOU CAN EAT WHAT YOU LIKE

This is particularly beneficial for the person who doesn’t care for turkey as much as everyone else. That person (The Hubster) will be very thankful with a big, juicy steak or rack o’ ribs.

Or perhaps you’re on a special diet like Keto or Gluten-Free. Either way, the decision is yours to dine on what you like instead of what can ruin your dietary lifestyle, or make you ill because of food allergies.

SET THE STAGE FOR CHRISTMAS

This year Thanksgiving falls on the last Thursday in November which means there are only 3 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We’ll already be knee-deep into the Christmas season and we haven’t even digested the Thanksgiving meal yet!

Although it’s more important this year than most, eating out removes the stress of one holiday, which invokes a refreshed state of mind for the next one, which just happens to be right around the corner.

PAY IT FORWARD TO STAFF

Whether you eat out or not, restaurants remain open during Thanksgiving for a multitude of reasons.

Remember, there are many people who don’t have family around, are far from home, don’t celebrate Thanksgiving for any number of personal or religious reasons, and the restaurants can’t afford to close anyway.

These establishments need to provide staff regardless, and they don’t get to be home for holiday.

Eating out for Thanksgiving offers you an opportunity to be giving to the staff member serving you, which takes the edge off of having to work during the holiday. You might even elicit a genuine smile.

We’re mindful to keep “complicated orders” to a minimum. We thank them verbally for the time they spent with us, instead of home with their own families. And we provide a healthy tip to our servers. We try to make it worth their while.

You get a chance to pay it forward when you eat out for Thanksgiving. And this is the perfect holiday to be generous with your kindness and good will.

YOU GET TO WEAR A NICE OUTFIT

Maybe this is a little vain, but the holidays are special occasions and I love dressing up for them.

Eating out for Thanksgiving lets you dress up and look nice, without hiding the outfit behind an apron, or not bothering at all because of the apron.

As for me, I usually don a festive dress, set my hair, apply perfume and look nice for my hubby, which I still like to do. There’s a girlie side to me and I don’t mind indulging her every now and then.

I don’t know if it’s the spirit of the season, or the general merriment across town, or the fact that the family is all together, but dressing up adds to the splendor.

Furthermore, the selfies will look phenomenal! LOL

ONE MORE GLASS OF WINE

You really could have one more glass because you’re not exactly hosting….right? Designated Drivers accounted for, of course.

Okay, maybe this one isn’t a valid reason, but those of us that love the Sublime Vine would beg to differ.

Truthfully, a rushed glass or two while you’re getting dinner on the table can’t be enjoyed properly.

When you eat out for Thanksgiving, you can linger over that glass, sip slowly, enjoy the flavors along with unhurried conversation and merry-making.

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Don’t fret if you don’t have family nearby to celebrate the holidays with. And don’t feel as if you have to be invited somewhere for a Thanksgiving meal, or eat home alone.

Eating out for Thanksgiving is the perfect time to make connections with other people in your community.

Take this opportunity to go out, meet new people, or try a new restaurant or cuisine. You could maybe start a new holiday tradition or implement a Friendsgiving with church members or neighbors.

The world is your holiday oyster-stuffing. Make use of it and have some fun!

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

All things considered, eating out for Thanksgiving isn’t necessarily something you should do every year, nor should it be.

However, every few years or so, eating out is a different way to enjoy the holiday and can be put into the rotation of , “What are we doing this year?”

Eating out also reinvigorates the occasions when you do host the holiday meal at home.

Adopting the option to eat out for Thanksgiving changes your routine. Your holiday traditions will feel fresh and new. The newness helps keep your focus on what Thanksgiving is all about: grateful for blessings, humble in fortitude, and loved.

Would you give eating out for Thanksgiving a try?
Or, what out-of-the-box traditions does your family share?
Please feel free to share your comments below!
If you liked this post, I’d surely appreciate a share on Pinterest or FB, thanks

Happy Thanksgiving & Be Well!

Cynthia
385Life
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