3 minute read
Extension o ers some tips for holiday meal prep, decorating on budget
Extension offers some tips for holiday meal prep, decorating on budget
By Savannah Hess - Correspondent
With the holidays quickly approaching, many families are preparing to celebrate together.
Inflation, however, is putting some families in a tough position. North Carolina Cooperative Extension has some tips on how to celebrate on a budget.
The first thing you need to consider when planning your holiday meal is what you are going to serve. For most holiday meals, meat is served as the main dish.
Unfortunately, your main dish is also going to be your most expensive. While dark meats are usually less expensive, Extension officials recommend lean, low-fat, white meats because they contain fewer fats and less sodium.
If you cannot afford to purchase meat, there are several alternative dishes you can serve such as stews, soups, chowders and bisque.
You are also going to want to choose what kinds of whole grains, vegetables and fruits you are going to serve. To save money on these items, consider buying them in bulk.
Additionally, low-income residents may qualify to participate in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. This program teaches participants how to make healthy meals on a budget and how to improve their health through exercise.
Next, you need to consider who is coming.
Because COVID-19 is still present and both it and the flu have worse outbreaks in the fall and winter, it is recommended that people gather in small groups of less than 20 people
Reducing the number of guests can reduce both your risk of catching COVID-19 and the amount of food you need to purchase. Extension experts recommends making about 1½ meal servings to ensure that no excess food goes to waste. They also recommend that hosts ask guests to bring inexpensive sectional plastic containers to make meals they can take home.
The first thing you need to consider when planning your holiday meal is what you are going to serve. For most holiday meals, meat is served as the main dish. Unfortunately, your main dish is also going to be your most expensive. While dark meats are usually less expensive, Cooperative Extension officials recommend lean, low-fat, white meats because they contain fewer fats and less sodium.
Photos courtesy NC Cooperative Extension
If you cannot afford to purchase meat for your holiday meal this year, there are several alternative dishes you can serve such as stews, soups, chowders and bisques.
If you do choose to participate in a large gathering, Albemarle Regional Health Services recommends you practice preventative and safety measures.
Prior to attending a large gathering, it is recommended that you get vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu, have unvaccinated guests wear face masks and practice social distancing. You also should wear a mask if you live somewhere where there are high levels of COVID-19 transmission, and participate in activities that involve increased respiratory effort outdoors.
ARHS also recommends that people practice typical health precautions such as avoiding being close to ill people, washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, and disinfecting objects that are touched frequently. Additional information can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/ infographic/holiday-health.htm.
Finally, you must consider how you are going to decorate. There are several decorations you can make using relatively inexpensive items that can be found around the house. Pom-pom garlands can be made with yarn, string, scrap wood and a pair of scissors.
Need some tabletop decorations? You can make small paper trees using green cardstock, a small wood dowel, and scissors.
