Thanksgiving for teens means a lot of forced family fun time that's anything but fun. Here's how to get through the day and actually enjoy yourself.
Before Dinner:
- If your family's cooking, offer to make your own side dish or dessert. It's more fun than being your parents' kitchen assistant all day, and everyone will "ooh" and "ahh" over the finished product (even if it doesn't turn out that great). How about trying one of these easy Thanksgiving dessert recipes?
- Make plans to get brunch with a couple of friends on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Spending time with your family will be less of a stress when you have something to look forward to the next morning. And this way, you won't have to worry about coordinating a hangout on Thursday night.
- If you need some private time and you're feeling creative, spend Thursday afternoon making a Thanksgiving centerpiece for the dining room table. It's another good way to get some space without getting hassled by your folks.
- When you're getting dressed for dinner, skip the heels and tights and put on something comfortable. After dessert, you'll be happy you did. And don't worry what people think of your outfit - your family's a far cry from the fashion police.
At Dinner:
- Try a teeny bit of each food, even if you're pretty sure you won't like it. It's way easier to swallow down a bite than to get into an argument or hurt someone's feelings.
- If you're worried about all the calories, don't starve yourself. Fill your plate with skinless white meat turkey, veggies and cranberry sauce, and pace yourself so it lasts through everyone else's second helpings. Your best bet for dessert is pumpkin pie without the whipped cream.
- If you're a vegetarian, bring your own Tofurky or other vegetarian main dish to eat along with the veggie dishes already on the table. That way, you'll eat what you want without making things tough for your host.
- Don't feel like you have to finish everything on your plate (or go back for seconds). If you overeat, you run the risk of feeling stuffed, sleepy and crabby, which won't do anything to lighten your mood.
- Make a point of chatting for at least a couple minutes with each of your relatives. It'll make the day go faster - and make it a little more interesting - if you interact a little.
- If you're bummed about missing a football game, do as the pilgrims did and TiVo it (or just check out the highlights online later). You're better off saving your breath and catching up on it later than arguing about it.
All Day Long:
- Remember what this holiday's all about: being thankful for everything you have, and taking some time to sit back and appreciate it. No matter who you are, there's always a ton of stuff to be thankful for. Make a list - it'll help you keep things in perspective.
