Less Panic - More Pudding!
A Time Management Guide to Christmas Cooking
When I had a young family, my husband always cooked Christmas dinner, whilst I took care of the snacks, drinks and the Boxing Day buffet. Even though I wasn’t in charge of the main event, there was still lots of preparation to do before the holidays. Looking back, I wish I had been better organised - forward planning would have saved a lot of stress and time.
Nowadays, I have learned a little preparation goes a long way. As a Time Management Coach, my goal is to help you do the same - to make sure you’ve allowed yourself enough time to prepare for the culinary festivities of Christmas, so you can enjoy a calm, stress-free holiday.
Here are my top tips for managing your time, and your kitchen, in the run up to Christmas.
Think ahead about your menus. Plan not just for the big day but also for snacks, drinks and breakfasts. Create two shopping lists; one for non-perishables that you can buy well in advance and one for fresh produce you will need to buy closer to Christmas.
Schedule your shopping. Decide when you will do your shopping and allow time for it on your calendar. Consider online shopping or click and collect to avoid the crowds.
Order in advance. If you need special items - meats, hampers or hard-to-find ingredients, order early to avoid last minute stress.
Allocate prep time. Be realistic about how much time you want to spend preparing food. You might cook everything from scratch, or you might prefer to buy ready-made options - either way, block out appropriate prep time on your calendar.
Put aside some time for research. There are wonderful online ideas for time saving recipes, budget friendly options and for reducing food waste. Take some time out to see what appeals and what you want to use.
Check your equipment. Review what utensils, serving dishes and pans you’ll need. Make sure everything is clean, accessible and in working order. Borrow or buy anything missing.
Delegate. Don’t try to do it all yourself. Get family members involved in prepping, serving or cleaning up - teamwork counts.
Share the load. If you’re hosting, invite guests to bring a dish or contribute to drinks and desserts.
Create a cooking timeline. For bigger meals, plan what needs to go in the oven and when. Include resting times, oven temperatures and any stovetop prep. Post the timeline on your fridge and make it your stress-busting guide for the day.
Enjoy! Christmas is all about connections and not perfection.
