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11/19/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/20/2024 01:36

10 Tips for Hosting a Fabulous Friendsgiving

10 Tips for Hosting a Fabulous Friendsgiving

Photo via iStock/GMVozd

Thanksgiving

10 Tips for Hosting a Fabulous Friendsgiving

Easy and affordable Turkey Day meal ideas, pointers on food safety, and simple shortcuts

November 19, 2024
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This coming weekend is the last one before Thanksgiving break, making it the most popular for annual Friendsgiving feasts before friends separate for the holiday. But Thanksgiving in college is a little different from Thanksgiving at home, thanks to limited funds, subpar kitchen and equipment availability, and, understandably, fewer skills. All of these factors make it a challenge to replicate a traditional Thanksgiving meal, but shouldn't deter students from hosting this special meal.

Below are our tips for tackling Friendsgiving.

1. Plan ahead and buy as soon as possible

Joan Salge Blake, a Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences clinical professor of nutrition and director of nutrition programs, recommends buying dishes and ingredients now since most foods go on sale prior to Thanksgiving. For instance, turkey can be as inexpensive as 47 cents a pound if it's bought far enough in advance. "It's really important that you understand how supermarkets work. They put turkeys and potatoes and things on sale for ridiculous prices," says Blake (Sargent'84, Wheelock'16), host of nutrition and health podcast Spot On!

2. Use coupons and flyers

Blake suggests getting hold of the flyers and coupons from your local grocery store so you know exactly what's going to be on sale, and when. Also, she advises, sign up for the store's loyalty programs, as they often email coupons to their customers. "You want to look at what is on sale and then plan your meal around it," Blake says.

3. Don't forget to defrost

Supermarket turkeys are sold fresh and frozen (best deals are on frozen), and it's up to you to defrost it if you buy frozen. To avoid food poisoning (and a story that will follow you until the end of time about how you poisoned everyone on Friendsgiving), give your turkey enough time to defrost before you cook it. Blake says for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey, defrost the bird in the fridge for 24 hours. This means that if you have a 15 pound turkey, it should be in the fridge three days before cooking.

4. Try a chicken instead

Thanksgiving is all about traditions, so why not start a new one? Instead of tackling an entire turkey, cook a chicken instead, which tends to be less expensive, easier to cook, and, if we're being honest, yummier. Plus, it's easier to find a pan that fits a roast chicken (or two) than a massive turkey.

5. Create a shared Google Doc to keep track of the menu

To avoid four green bean dishes and no turkey, make a shared note or Google Doc to let everyone know who's bringing what. Even better, if you create the shared notes, you have first dibs on what you want to make.

6. Casseroles are your best friend

If you and your friends don't have enough time to properly prepare meals, opt for casseroles instead. Typically, prep time is a lot shorter than cooking an entire bird, and once it's popped in the oven, you don't have to worry about it until it's done. Plus, they're delicious.

This recipe includes all of the Thanksgiving dinner components, including turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, and gravy.

7. Not a chef? Not a problem

Luckily for college students who either don't have access to a kitchen or might not have the cooking skills required for turkey roulade, the majority of Thanksgiving meals come in microwaveable forms. Grab some instant mashed potatoes or microwaveable stuffing, put it in a separate dish, and chances are no one will even notice you didn't make it yourself. You can even make single-serving apple pie in a mug.

8. Offer to bring the decorations

If you are inept in the kitchen, maybe opt to bring decorations instead. Head to the local dollar store for some funky Thanksgiving-themed decorations or order these disposable tablecloths you can color on Amazon. Red, orange, brown, and yellow streamers and balloons are both great options or you can even make your own "Happy Thanksgiving" banner.

9. Make the playlist

Thanksgiving, specifically Friendsgiving, is all about the vibes (especially when your friends have questionable cooking chops). Therefore, the atmosphere of Friendsgiving is just as important as the food on the table. Offer to provide the playlist or some form of entertainment during dinner if you don't have the time, money, or skills to contribute to the actual meal.

10. Check out the BU dining hall

If this whole Friendsgiving idea has you overwhelmed, Marciano Commons is hosting a traditional Thanksgiving meal on November 28, from 5 to 8 pm. Thanksgiving classics are on the menu: turkey, gravy, traditional side dishes, sweet treats, and vegan options. Just be sure to register by November 25. Visitors are welcome and can to join you by paying $21 at the door or using a guest swipe if the accompanying student is on a meal plan. Register here.

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