Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner can go one of two ways…very nice or terribly stressful. There does not seem to be an in between when it comes to holiday dinners of any kind. I’ve experienced both sides of that coin and have had to learn the hard way, what to do and not do. That starts with proper organization and this meal planner is just the tool to help with that.
I designed this template bundle, keeping in mind my propensity to over think everything in life! I’ve designed it to be straight forward, simple and festive, at the same time. It includes 5 different printable templates, covering all of the major areas of planning for a Thanksgiving Dinner. You can download and print the templates as many times as you would like and in any of 4 different sizes!
Yes, I thought about that too 🙂 Sizes. There are several popular types of planners out there, so it’s convenient to have all of the typical sizes in case you change planners. There is also plenty of space on the sides for hole punches.
Here are the templates that are included…
1. Guest List
This guest checklist is simple and to the point, while keeping track of all of the pertinent information on your guests. Keep track of how many place settings you will need for kids and then how many adult settings you will need with adult beverage glasses 😉 Check off the names as they RSVP and even record any food allergies or other special dietary requirements for your guests. With an accurate head count, you are already off to a good start!
2. Full Dinner Menu
Plan your menu ahead of time with this list and not have to worry about forgetting any important dishes. There are 6 different food categories to cover every course of dinner, as well as a separate area for tracking any drink choices to add along the way. Each of the food categories has 8 spaces, so there is plenty of room to jot down the basics and add to it as you need. Simple yet festive design and covers you on all of the major food preparations.
3. “Who’s Bringing What” Potluck List
Hopefully, you are not the only one cooking and preparing Everything for Thanksgiving dinner this year! Use this nifty checklist for keeping track of any items being contributed by family and friends, so you know what you are tasked with. There are 15 spaces for food related items, with a space for the type of food along with the coarse it pertains to, on the menu. For anyone who wants to bring along decorating supplies or tableware, etc., there’s an additional 5 spaces for that. Take the items from this list and add them onto your menu for better organization!
4. Inventory/Shopping List
Broken down into two major categories (food and non-food items), this list helps you to track what inventory you already have for the occasion, along with what you still need. I know anytime I have ever taken inventory and put together a shopping list from that, I’ve remembered everything I needed at the time. There’s nothing like being in the throes of preparing a holiday dinner and reaching for an ingredient only to find it’s still at the store! Who needs that stress? Use this checklist and all will be well 🙂
5. Thanksgiving Day Cooking Schedule
Thanksgiving day is typically one of the craziest, most hectic days of the year…for the host at least! Part of making sure dinner goes off without a hitch, is proper time management. Huge part of the day. This cooking schedule allows you to plan out all of the tasks you have to accomplish through the day. The schedule is broken down into 1 hr. increments, to cover a long day of festivities, from 5am – 9pm. If the festivities go later than that, I imagine you won’t need the later events scheduled 😉
That’s it! Everything you need to keep your holiday dinner organized and stress free, in one printable bundle! As mentioned, these templates can be printed out for filling in by hand. They can also be filled in digitally with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
While I do have this Thanksgiving Meal Planner listed in my Website Shop, I am offering the 5 template package to you for FREE!
If you’d like to see the full item listing OR my other organizational printables, hop on over to my Website Shop here.
To grab your FREE template bundle click here.
Don’t forget to check our new cookbook, “Crostini, Canapés, & Toasts: Elevated Appetizers Bites & Boards For Easy entertaining”, while you’re there!
Until next time, Happy Printing and I hope you have a Fabulous Thanksgiving Holiday!
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