It is not often easy to cook with organic or natural ingredients if you do not know where to look. Organic foods are often wrapped in high prices and clouded in judgment. Many are over-priced, and for what? Lesser, more qualifying ingredients? If you want to sneak some affordable organic foods in your family’s Thanksgiving dinner this holiday, it does not have to be an impossible task.

Fruits and Vegetables

Organic fruits and vegetables do not have to break the bank, although many are worth the few extra pennies per pound. If you are lucky enough to leave near a Trader Joe’s or a Whole Foods (they do seem sparse), the store brands provide a natural – not always organic – produce section that is worth checking out.

Spices and Condiments

An important part of every great feast is in the spices and sauces. Pumpkin pie needs clove, ginger, and nutmeg; mashed potatoes need salt and pepper; sweet potato bake surely needs brown sugar. Store brands like Whole Foods, and Target’s Simply Balanced and Archer Farms, provide affordable, natural seasonings for your Thanksgiving favorites.

Egg Nog and Hot Drinks

Surprisingly, organic and ‘all-natural’ (be sure to read the labels for these claims) coffee, tea, cider, and egg nog cost about the same as your favorite brands. Even Silk, which provides a soy alternative, only runs $2.99 per quart of nog. There is more expensive organic nog, such as almond milk ‘egg’ nog, but it is not something for the typical family meal. Brand to watch out for: Organic Valley.

Cheese and Other Snacks

Many people serve snacks and drinks before their Thanksgiving feast – cheese platter, veggie and dip, or crackers. These appetizers provide another opportunity to slip an all-natural side dish in for your family and friends.

Note: common stores like Kroger and Target both provide a private label organics line. These are affordable and accessible.

The hype would tell an average consumer that organic products are expensive and a waste of both time and money. However, it is natural to want to feed your loved ones foods that you can trace back to a farm, or a sustainable company. Sneak in a few organic apples in your husband’s pie and be comfortable in the fact that you can provide a natural, bountiful feast.

The post 4 Affordable Organics for the Thanksgiving Dinner Table appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

It is official. The holiday season is upon us which for some can mean more than just a few extra pounds thanks to grandma’s cookies.

In order to successfully survive the holidays, a plan is needed. Or in this case, a survival guide. Fret no more; from decorating for the big day straight through working off that extra glass.. Or bottle.. Of wine, this three-part guide is sure to take some of that holiday-induced stress off so you can focus on what is important!

Part 1: Decorating

For many (myself included), nothing encompasses the holiday spirit like decorating for it.  If you are tired of the same old cornucopia and wax fruit look, try some of these takes on the all-American tradition of Thanksgiving.

Remembering What Matters: The Thankful Tree
With the hustle and bustle, it is easy to forget that holidays are about more than just a big meal. Using a few simple and inexpensive (or completely free!) items, you can make these beautiful and festive decorations while incorporating the whole family to acknowledge what they are thankful for.

*Photo courtesy of Pinterest, as Found on familyholiday.net

How to get the look: Venture into the backyard and gather a few sturdy twigs. Grab an old jar and decorate it as you wish with ribbon or twine as shown. Now the fun part! Get everyone together to write down what they are thankful for. Then hang the families responses on the twigs and voila!

*Photo courtesy of Pinterest, Found on merricksart.blogspot.com

How to get the look: If venturing out into the cold isn’t for you, simply take some colored construction paper and cut out a tree shape to take wherever in your home you please!

Quick Decor
If all the prepping and constant running around has you short on time (kind of like every other day of the year) but you still want to decorate with unique and festive pieces, no worries! The following can be put together in minutes with things you probably already have around the house. AND! With mild tweaks can seamlessly be transitioned when it’s time to swap out for the next round of holidays.

*Photo courtesy of Passionate Penny Pincher

How to get the look: Hopefully that twine is still handy for this simple and elegant piece! Simply take a candle vase and candle that has a decent amount of surrounding room and fill with any festive piece you have laying around the house! If space permits, acorns could be substituted or even candy corn! Then, when Thanksgiving has passed, swap the corn out of tinsel. Beautiful, and CHEAP!

*Photo courtesy of Mochatini

How to do it: The simplicity of this unique piece is amazing. Simply grab a few glasses that won’t  be missed for a few weeks, mix it up even on the style, fill with walnuts, acorns, chestnuts (anything!), and top with a silk flower. Beautiful!

*Photo courtesy of Pinterest via Dominique Rodriguez

How to get the look: More twine! All you need for this delectable look is a few candles, some old saucers, cinnamon sticks and glue gun. Glue the cinnamon sticks in a staggered pattern onto the candles and tie a piece of twine or ribbon around the perimeter to finish. Too easy!

*Photo courtesy of Babble.com

How to get the look: FINALLY… a purpose for the overabundance of candy corn. Simply fill a basin of your choice with the candies and insert any message you choose!

Family act
Decorations unique to your family hold the most sentiment; and can be the most fun! With some acrylic paint, canvas (that can be purchased pretty cheap at your local craft store) and some patience, you can be the proud owner of your very own masterpieces!

*Photo courtesy of SippyCupMom.com

How to get the look: Just a little paint and a lot of patience and you too can have your own turkey family portrait! Gobble-gobble!

*Photo courtesy of Pinterest Via Karen Littlefield

How to do it: Hopefully you didn’t put that patience away and remembered to grab a pair of googly eyes! With a little mess and a steady hand (and foot) this adorable and one-of-a kind turkey can be hanging in your home.

Now that your home is dressed for the part, it will soon be time to get the day going! Check back soon for Part 2 of this Holiday Survival Guide to get you through the day itself in one piece!

The post Holiday Survival Guide Part 1: Decorating to Get In the Spirit appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Thanksgiving time beckons for each of us to declare the things we’re thankful for. For many adults, the answer comes easily—our health, family, love or maybe a new job. Teaching kids thankfulness can be a little trickier. But once they are able to understand, they quickly realize the amazing feeling they get from giving back and feeling grateful. There are many fun and interesting ways to teach kids to be thankful from a young age. And the younger they start, the more engrained it will be as they get older.  Here are few ideas for helping to teach your kids thankfulness:

Start a thankfulness family routine—Start a family ritual of sharing things each family member is thankful for each day, possibly during dinner or before bedtime. Try to keep the emphasis off material things, such as, an X-Box or a toy they really like. Simply ask them one thing they are thankful for that day or week, and have a little discussion about why they are grateful.  You could even start a family thankfulness journal where you document the things you’re thankful for.  This is something that can be kept through the years and reflected upon.

Volunteer at a food bank or shelter—Collect canned foods or ask for donations to help fill the food bank. Asking people for change is a super easy way to get people to donate. Who isn’t willing to part with loose change in their pocket? Most soup kitchens are filled with volunteers on Thanksgiving, but not the remainder of the year, so consider volunteering after the holidays.

Daily Thank You Postcard—During the month of November, have your kids write a special note or picture on a postcard and send to someone you’re thankful for. This could be a grandparent, aunt, teacher, coach, pastor, friend, etc.  Include a reason you are thankful for this person on the postcard and mail.  Who wouldn’t love to receive a postcard like this in the mail?

Sign the family up for a local charity run—“Turkey Trots” are races held across the U.S. on Thanksgiving. Most often they benefit local charities. Not only are these runs for a good cause, but they’re also a way to burn calories for you and energy for the kiddos. What a fun event to get your family involved in and could become an annual tradition.

Thanksgiving Random Acts of Kindness—This takes a little work and forethought but such a worthy deed.  First pick a few people you’d like to gift with an act of kindness. Then decide what you’d like to give them.  Add a special note and deliver. This could be a turkey for a family in need, a box with warm gloves and hats for a shelter, an invite to your house for Thanksgiving.

Visit a retirement home and bring treats—Many elderly people spend the holidays alone, especially if their families and kids live far away. Life can be very lonely living in a retirement home, add in the sadness of spending a holiday without friends and family.  But there’s one thing most all older people love and it’s children! Bake cookies or put together a little gift bag and hand them out at your local retirement home. You’ll be making a holiday a bit brighter for the elderly and teaching your kids the importance of giving back

“Caught You Being Thankful” Jar—Take a different approach to teaching kids gratefulness simply by catching them in the act and noticing.  When you witness your kids thanking a sibling for sharing a toy or saying thank you for dinner, reward them by putting a bean in a jar.  When the jar is full, you’ll donate $5 (or any amount you choose) to your child’s favorite charity. This also creates a little healthy competition between siblings which can be a very positive thing and push kids to try a bit harder to show their thankfulness!

Show off your model behavior—Make sure you’re modeling the behavior you want your kids to learn. Watching you will help them to better understand this very important lesson. Let them witness you in small gestures such as taking a meal to a family who just had a baby, taking cookies to an elderly neighbor who doesn’t get out much, shoveling snow for a neighbor or sending cards to our Troops.

Consider incorporating some of these ideas into your daily routine so you have a focus on thankfulness every day not just during the holiday season.  Kids will naturally follow your lead.  Even if you make a daily habit of sharing one thing you’re thankful for each day at dinner, your kids will develop the attitude of being grateful for the small things that happen in your daily lives.

About Jennifer Chung & Kinsights:

Jennifer Chung is a parenting expert and co-founder of Kinsights.com: part parenting community, part online health record. Kinsights provides parents with a safe place to seek answers to their questions while also helping them track their child’s health information. Organize your child’s growth and developmental milestones, immunizations, medications, allergies, and more.  Connect with Kinsights at https://kinsights.com to learn more and sign-up! You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter (@kinsights).

The post The Art of Teaching Kids Thankfulness appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Crispy Roast Duck with Giblet Gravy

Servings: 8

• 2 Maple Leaf Farms Whole Ducks (5 pounds each), thawed if frozen
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 onion, unpeeled and quartered
• 2 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 2 small sprigs fresh sage
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 3/4 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
•  Salt and pepper, to taste

Remove giblets and orange sauce packets from ducks and reserve for another use. Rinse ducks; pat dry with paper towels. Place breast sides up on rack in large shallow roasting pan. Roast according to package directions.

Place remaining duck giblets and necks in large saucepan. Add broth, water, onion, carrots, sage sprigs, bay leaf, thyme and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer gently uncovered 1 hour. Strain broth; set aside giblets and discard remaining solids. If broth measures less than 2 cups add water to equal 2 cups.

Remove roast ducks from oven and transfer to rack of broiler pan. Preheat broiler. Pour off and reserve drippings from roasting pan. Add vermouth to pan and cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until mixture is reduced by about half, 2–3 minutes.

Spoon off 1/4 cup fat from reserved drippings; transfer to medium saucepan. Add flour; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat 1 minute. Add 2 cups strained duck broth and wine mixture to saucepan. Add drippings to saucepan. Cook, stirring frequently, until gravy thickens. Chop reserved giblets and add to gravy. Simmer 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Broil ducks 5–6 inches from heat source until skin is well browned and crispy, 6–8 minutes. Cut each duck into quarters and transfer to serving plates. Pass gravy separately. Garnish with sage sprigs, if desired.

For more recipes, visit www.mapleleaffarms.com. 

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

Prep time: 45 minutes

Servings: 14

• 2 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups 2 percent milk
• 1 cup Daisy Sour Cream
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Asiago cheese
• 1/8 teaspoon paprika

Butter 11-by-7-inch (2 quart) baking dish and set aside. Slice potatoes to 1/8-inch-thick circles. Place potatoes in large saucepan or Dutch oven; add water to cover by 1 inch. Cook until tender and cool slightly.

Heat oven to 350°F. In 2 1/2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook 1 minute. Stir in flour and salt. Cook until mixture bubbles. Gradually stir in milk and cook until mixture boils. Reduce heat to low. Stir in sour cream and cheese. Cook on low until cheese is melted, stirring constantly. Layer half of potatoes in baking dish. Pour half the sauce over potatoes. Repeat with remaining potatoes and sauce. Sprinkle potatoes with paprika. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until bubbly and top starts to brown.

For more recipes, visit www.daisybrand.com.

Brown Sugar Pecan Pie

Prep time: 35 minutes

Chill time: 1 1/2 hours or overnight

Bake time: 15–20 minutes

Cook time: 40–45 minutes

Servings: 8

Crust:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) ground pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, cold
• 1 egg yolk
• 3–4 tablespoons ice water, divided
•  2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Filling:

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup pecan halves

To make crust, mix flour, nuts and salt in large bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until pieces are size of small peas. Mix egg yolk, 3 tablespoons ice water and lemon juice in small bowl. Add to flour mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring lightly and tossing with fork until moistened and dough just holds together. Add remaining ice water, if needed. Gather dough and shape into 1-inch-thick disk.

Refrigerate, wrapped in plastic wrap, 1 hour or overnight.

Heat oven to 425°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, rolling from center to edge, to form 12-inch circle. Fold into quarters; ease and unfold into 9-inch pie plate. Press pastry gently against bottom and sides of pie plate, easing out any air. Trim edge leaving 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang under; flute edge. Refrigerate, covered, at least 30 minutes.

Line piecrust with aluminum foil; fill with pie weights. Bake in oven until pastry is set, 8–10 minutes. Remove foil and weights; pierce pastry all over with fork. Bake until pastry is golden brown, 5–7 minutes longer. Cool completely on wire rack.

Heat oven to 350°F. Beat eggs, brown sugar, sugar, butter, vanilla and salt in medium bowl until well blended. Arrange pecan halves evenly in bottom of piecrust. Carefully pour egg mixture over pecans.

Bake in center of 350°F oven until knife inserted midway between center and edge of pie comes out clean, 40–45 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Note: Pastry dough can be made in food processor. Also, ground almonds, walnuts or hazelnuts can be substituted for pecans.

For more recipes, visit www.IncredibleEgg.org.

*Family Features

The post appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

With the shortest holiday shopping season ever approaching –  only 25 days in between Thanksgiving and Christmas – now is as good a time as any to start getting ahead on your holiday shopping list.

One of my favorite ways to get ahead is by taking advantage of Cyber Monday: the Monday following Thanksgiving where online retailers offer exceptional bargains to persuade customers to shop their sites. And it offers more than just sales! Cyber Monday lets you to beat the long lines, hectic parking lots, and holiday crowds by shopping from home, work, or my favorite – from bed!

As a mother of three and founder of the popular daily deal site, STEALS.com, I’ve dedicated my life to finding the best deals for both myself as well as my customers. Here are some of my favorite and most-useful Cyber Monday shopping tips I’ve collected from over the years, to help you save time and money this holiday season:

Make a List: Avoid approaching Cyber Monday like a shopping spree. Even with deep discounts, it’s likely that you’ll make purchases outside of your regular budget. In order to prevent this, I make a list of must-have purchases ahead of time to prevent over shopping. Knowing what’s on sale and what you need to purchase this holiday season, will help you stick to your budget and reduce impulse purchases on items you don’t need.

Pre-Shop: A lot of retailers are really good at making a full priced item look like a bargain. To ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, browse through online stores over the holiday weekend to learn more about all the sales promotions and prices available. My favorite tip for finding the best sale is to sign up for your favorite retailer’s newsletter or email list weeks before the sales begin.  It’s a good way to learn about special sales and to get the scoop on prices for Cyber Monday before everyone else!

Know The Rules: Each Cyber Monday offer has different guidelines about when it starts and how many items are available. Read the sale rules ahead of time to know when sales are running or if a better sale is scheduled for later or earlier in the day. Being aware of the fine details ensures that you’ll be prepared for when each sale is going to start – you wouldn’t want to sleep through the sale and miss out on a fabulous deal!

Prepare to Shop Quickly: Unlike in-store shopping, online shopping does not guarantee that the items in your cart will be there when you’re ready to check out. If you spend too much time at each site, your desired item may already be sold out. One thing I’ve noticed while shopping on Cyber Monday over the years, is that items heavily discounted will go fast! Once you see an item you want, it’s time to check-out to ensure it doesn’t sell out.

Keep an Eye on Shipping Times: When shopping online, one of your considerations will be how you will receive your order. Since many flash sale sites don’t have the items in stock, it may take longer for some sites to ship than others.  Always be sure to look into the ‘cut off days’ to see how long it will take for the item to ship. And even after you learn about your estimated delivery date, make sure you still have some leeway in between then and your family gathering – added time can still be tacked on due to the high volume of the holidays.

But don’t stop here. There’s plenty more ways to save on Cyber Monday this year and beyond – the more prepared you are for the holiday, the better chance you have of saving some serious money.

Jana Francis is the founder and president of Steals.com, a network of daily deal sites offering limited-time, hard-to-find discounts on the best brands for baby, kids, women, and more, with next-day shipping and fanatical customer service year-round. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and three children. www.steals.com

The post Cyber Monday Shopping Tips: How to Save Time & Green appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

The holidays are approaching and before you know it, you’ll be thinking about that daunting task of cooking a turkey. This holiday season, make sure your bird impresses all the guests and relatives by conducting a dress rehearsal for your turkey. More than 88 percent of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, according to a National Turkey Federation survey. But before doing so, why not do a dry run and prepare a turkey, or try a smaller bird like chicken, using a brining technique that is sure to be a crowd pleaser?

It’s the hot new culinary trend that’s got everyone from celebrity chefs to home cooks buzzing. But even though brining may be the latest technique to sweep kitchens, it’s hardly new. Mankind has been brining since ancient times. It probably started out, hundreds of millennia ago, as a way of preserving seafood with sea salt. The technique has come a long way since, and now food lovers everywhere, in typical what’s-old-is-new-again fashion, are rediscovering the benefits of brining.

Think you don’t have the tools to brine? Chef Helen Roberts, director of culinary development at Kikkoman, has perfected the turkey brine. The brine is simple: salt, sugar, water, dried spices and the magic ingredient: soy sauce. Pull out your refrigerator drawer or a large, deep bucket to brine your bird. After you’ve stirred your ingredients and placed your turkey in the liquid, let the brine work its magic overnight.

What’s the secret behind brining? Brining has a tenderizing and moisturizing effect. The brine is absorbed and diffused throughout the meat as it soaks overnight. In addition, Roberts explains that soy sauce has a savory effect that seals in the turkey flavor and moisture. “Brining makes a big difference when you’re roasting meat. You’ll have the juiciest bird you’ve ever tasted,” says Roberts. But, as we all know, a turkey isn’t the only thing on the kitchen table – check out some recipes here that will leave your taste buds craving for more.

Savory Turkey Brine

Ingredients (Recipe for a 16 to 24 pound turkey)

• 2 gallons cold water 
• 10 ounces Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce 
• 1/2 cup kosher salt 
• 1/2 cup sugar 
• 2 tablespoons dried sage 
• 2 tablespoons dried celery seed 
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Instructions

The night before roasting, remove giblets and turkey neck; rinse turkey inside and out. In a large stock pot or 5 gallon bucket, mix water with remaining ingredients. Stir well until all the salt is dissolved. Place turkey in the pot, cover with a lid and refrigerate overnight or at least 8 hours. Remove turkey from the brine, rinsing well. Follow your regular cooking instructions.

Brining isn’t just for meat though. Brine veggies for a rich, savory taste. Perhaps one of the trendiest veggies, Brussels sprouts, are a prime candidate for a soy sauce brine. Sick of the same old side dishes? Now that you’ve brined your turkey, get creative with your side dishes too. Put a spin on classic mashed potatoes with the Wasabi Mashed Potatoes recipe found on www.kikkomanusa.com. The spice and heat will balance out the creamy texture of the mashed potatoes. If you have leftover turkey, try a completely new dish instead of just reheating. Keep enjoying your juicy turkey by adding to a stir fry, include in a salad or in a tetrazzini. For leftover mashed potatoes, use panko to transform into crunchy, warm Panko Mashed Potato Cakes.

Have you ever wondered … why turkey for Thanksgiving? Turkeys became a Thanksgiving staple after the Native Americans introduced turkey to the Pilgrims back in 1621 during the first Thanksgiving meal. As you prepare to celebrate the holidays, try this brining recipe to keep turkey juicy and moist, and you are bound to enjoy a wonderful meal with friends and family.

The post Practice makes perfect: a dress rehearsal for your turkey appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

With the month of November comes Thanksgiving, which reminds us all to be thankful for the wonderful things each of us has. Throughout my 26 years of being a dad I’ve learned to express thanks and gratitude for something everyday, whether big or small. And I’ve tried hard to instill that same sense of thanks in each of my six children. Teaching kids to be thankful is not always the easiest task, and it doesn’t happen overnight, but if you follow my tips you’re sure to be headed in the right direction.

Lead By Example: First things first, it’s extremely important to lead by example. Allow your children to watch you express gratitude to a friend or a neighbor for their kind acts of generosity. It’s also important to thank your child when they act in a positive way or do something special for you. Your acknowledgement will make them want to do more good things to receive those special thanks.

What Are You Thankful For: Traditionally families discuss things they’re thankful for around the dinner table on Thanksgiving; however, I would encourage each of you to expand this tradition outside of November. If it works for you to mention one thing you’re thankful for everyday – that’s great. If not, make sure you make a special time for each family member to share what they’re thankful for once a week or once a month. Turning this Thanksgiving tradition into a routine will encourage your child to reflect more often upon what they’re truly thankful for.

Do Nice Things for Others: Doing nice things for other people is one of the greatest things we can do, as parents, to instill gratitude and thanks in our children. It’s the simple acts of kindness that allow us to experience thanks and gratitude from others. Bake a loaf of bread for your nanny along with a special card your child can help decorate, let your child give the UPS man a bag of homemade cookies along with a “thanks for delivering our packages,” etc. Brainstorm, with your child ways in which they can do nice things for others and then work through that list together.

Encourage Helping: Having your child help around the house will ensure they don’t take you or mom for granted. If you always clear the table or sort the laundry or pick up your child’s toys then they won’t know what effort each activity takes. Encourage them to help you with chores or give them a couple of their own chores – that way you can give thanks and appreciation for their help, and they will give you thanks and appreciation for all that you do to keep the house running smoothly.

Remember teaching children to be thankful doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a process. Be patient and take it one day at a time trying to express gratitude at every opportunity you receive.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 6, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gear for dads, and the Daddyscrubs.com blog where he covers topics about parenting and the latest baby and kids gear, all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post Teaching Kids to Be Thankful appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is here again. Soon, our houses will be filled with the comforting smells of turkey and stuffing wafting from our kitchens, the sound of children running and shrieking excitedly down the hall and the warmth created not only by the oven, but also the close proximity of our family and close friends. Much less stressful than Christmas, Thanksgiving offers the best of holidays – good food, drink and company – without any added pressure of present buying and limitless party going. 

Like any big holiday meal, however, a Thanksgiving feast can entail hours of work. With so many things to do, it’s easy to think it will go faster if you do it alone. In some ways, you’d be right. Having to supervise children who are baking cookies while you’re grating carrots and basting a turkey does sound overwhelming. But if you organize their tasks beforehand, having them help with the preparations can be an enjoyable and even fun experience for everyone. 

Not sure what tasks to give them? Here are a few of our favorite suggestions:

Set the table: Depending on their age, have kids fold napkins, place the cutlery or even lay plates for the meal. It’ll keep them busy while you’re working on other things and provide you with one less item on your to-do list.

Decorate: Thanksgiving happens at one of the most beautiful times of the year. Take advantage of the spectacular colours in your backyard or nearest park by having kids gather leaves, acorns and other seasonal treasures for the table. Create a centerpiece by adding a tall candle in the middle of your natural finds.  But never leave it unattended when lit, especially with dry leaves. Tip: If you’re decorating a day or two early, place the leaves inside or under a heavy book to keep them flat.

Create place cards: Children love to do crafts. Simply draw around your child’s hand on a piece of paper and cut out the image. Then, draw and cut a gizzard, beak and legs from a different coloured piece. Show kids how to glue the items together to produce a turkey. Then give them a list of your guests’ names. Once everything is glued, the kids can colour in their turkeys and write a guest’s name on each one. Cut a toilet paper roll in one- to two-inch rings, cutting a slit in each side to hold your turkey up. Then voila, you have a festive, standing place card. Tip: make sure to help younger children with the cutting.

Seating plan: Not sure where to sit your overbearing Uncle Ted this year? Why not let the kids decide? Letting them have a say in who sits where can make children feel a sense of responsibility and could help to mix up the conversation in a way you never thought of. An added bonus: getting to choose who sits beside them could make the thought of having to sit at the kids’ table feel less humiliating for older kids.

Plan the menu: Ask children what they like to eat on Thanksgiving and add it to your menu.  Then ask if they have other suggestions for dishes to add to your turkey day repertoire. They’ll be much more likely to clean their plate if they had a hand in making and choosing what goes on it. 

Prepare side dishes: Younger kids can easily help dish out cranberry sauce from a jar or arrange vegetable slices on a plate. Have them place bread rolls in a basket or spoon things from the cooking pots into your serving dishes. Tip: make sure the items aren’t too hot or heavy for small fingers.

Mini chefs: Kids love to get involved with cooking. If you’re planning on making a pie, chop the fruit and then have them put it into the pie dish or help you mix the filling in a separate bowl. They could also help measure ingredients or use their muscles to mash potatoes. Another idea: let them top candied yams with marshmallows.

Play time: Don’t forget the importance of play. Whether you make time while the turkey is cooking or enjoy a game post-meal with all of your guests, going outside to play football, baseball or walk around the neighborhood will instil fun holiday memories, not to mention help you to work off a few of the extra pounds you’ll be consuming.

Organize party games: Kids love parties, especially when they have a say in how they’re run. Let little ones choose the games to play with their cousins or friends. Here are a few suggestions: Thanksgiving freeze dance (when the music stops everyone has to freeze) Pumpkin Twister (regular Twister but everyone has to hold a mini pumpkin while playing) Duck duck turkey (everyone sits in a circle while one child taps each player’s head as he walks around the circle saying “duck,” “duck.” When he says “Turkey,” the player he tapped gets up and races him back to the empty seat. The loser is “it” the next time around.) Guess who I am (stick a piece of paper with a Thanksgiving-themed name to each player’s back and have them guess who they are by asking questions. Good ideas include: pumpkin, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing, apple and turkey.)

Add fun to the kids’ table: It’s hard for kids to sit still at the best of times, let alone when they’re over-sugared and over-excited about a holiday. Help keep them entertained by leaving Thanksgiving-themed coloring pages and crayons on the table. Or place a few pieces of paper with jokes, questions or conversation ideas for older kids to help stir up discussion. Tip: Have the kids choose and print the coloring pages they’d like before dinner. You can add a few jokes and conversation starters while you help with the computer. 

Clean up: You’d be surprised how many children will actually enjoy scraping leftover food from dishes into the garbage. They can pile the scraped plates on the counter for easier dish washing or older ones can help load the dishwasher.

Movie night: A long day spent cooking and cleaning is exhausting for everyone. Turn on a kid-friendly movie and let them put their little feet up to relax while you and the other grownups unwind in your own way.

Be thankful: Don’t forget to thank your little tykes for their work and praise them for helping to make this year’s feast one to remember.

The post How to make Thanksgiving fun for kids appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.