Planning Your Thanksgiving Table: Don't Forget These 3 Turkey-Day Must-Haves!

Here are Some Things to Remember for the Best Thanksgiving This Year!

We all know the standard Thanksgiving mistakes to avoid, like talking politics, setting the house ablaze with a turkey fryer, and not having enough dinner rolls. However, there are also a few additions to a Thanksgiving table that are often overlooked! 

With that in mind, here's what not to forget this year so that you can have happier guests and a better turkey-day dinner spread!

What not to forget this Thanksgiving?

There are a few things that you should remember if you’ll be hosting dinner this Thanksgiving. Three things often overlooked are appetizers, good (fresh) after-dinner coffee or tea, and dish options for guests with food sensitivities. A few other things to add to your turkey-day shopping list include trash bags, paper plates, cutlery, toilet paper, and Ziploc bags (or something similar) for storing (or sharing) leftovers. 

Here’s a helpful shopping list of items that you may not have already thought of:

• Fresh after-dinner coffee to accompany dessert 
• Wraps or containers to store leftovers
• Disposable cutlery and plates
• Food items and dessert options for those with dietary restrictions
• Toilet paper 
• Spices and herbs that are fresh and flavorful 

3. Snacks and Appetizers

First and foremost, your Thanksgiving Day meal is supposed to be an event in and of itself. After all, this is THE annual feast of the holidays. It’s a time to relax, talk, and take an inventory of everything you’re grateful for. All this, while spending meaningful time with friends and family! 

With that in mind, you don’t want to rush your dinner because the crowd is getting restless.  It's wise to have a few pre-dinner appetizers ready for your guests to snack on until the main event begins. 

There are plenty of great options including charcuterie boards, cheese and cracker platters, vegetable dips, and other light snackable items that won't fill your guests up but also won't leave them ravenous when dinner time starts. 

Here are some great appetizer ideas to consider having available for your guests while you finish things up in the kitchen! You can see a full list of top Thanksgiving Day appetizer ideas here. In the meantime, here are some crowd-pleasing highlights: 

• Stuffed Mushrooms
• Cheese and Cracker Platters/ charcuterie board 
• Bacon-Wrapped Chorizo Dates
• Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers 
• Spinach Dip / Chips and Dip
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• Veggie Platters 
• Meatballs 
• Hummus 

2. Options for Those with Food Sensitivities 

These days, dairy, gluten, egg, and nut allergies are more prevalent than ever. Most Thanksgiving dishes implement a combination of all of these ingredients. Moreover, many people are practicing restrictive low-calorie or low-carb diets like ketosis, Atkins, paleo, or something similar.  It’s nice to give these individuals options that won't ruin their dietary goals. Also, some people don’t consume certain foods for religious reasons.

A thoughtful Thanksgiving host will have a few options available for those who can’t or don’t consume certain foods. You don't have to overthink it or make your dinner plans too complicated, just have a few extra dishes prepared for the guests attending who have dietary restrictions. Or, plan ahead and remind those individuals to bring a few dishes to share. 

Here’s an in-depth article about planning Thanksgiving dinner while being mindful of guests who have dietary restrictions!

1. Outstanding Coffee

You definitely don't want to skimp out on the beverage department this Thanksgiving. Most people will remember to buy a case of soda, pick up a bottle of good wine, or a craft bowl of punch. Still, it can be nice to have some other beverage options available besides wine, pop, or water. Namely, fresh-roasted coffee!

Particularly, you should make sure to have some amazing gourmet coffee available for your guests to enjoy with dessert! (In both regular and decaf.) After all, what goes better with sweet, sticky pecan pie or spiced pumpkin pie like a fresh cup of delicious grade-A coffee? 

You can wow your guests with a fantastic selection of coffee flavors or K-Cup pods so that they can kick back and relax while enjoying a sampling of fabulous Thanksgiving day dessert options. Good loose-leaf tea and cider can be great to have on hand as well. 

Find awesome flavored single-serve K-Cups at www.onegreatcoffee.com. Or, click here to browse a top-rated selection of gourmet fresh-roasted coffee options! These coffee blends can make great Christmas presents as well, if your guests happen to fall in love with them.