Six Ways to Shake Up Thanksgiving Day

 
Thanksgiving, in theory, sounds great. The thought of getting together with family and friends to break bread gives me all the warm feelings. But—reality check—in my world, it never plays out like that. Someone is always crabby or too hungry to wait for the meal to finish cooking, and the kids are bouncing off the walls. Thanksgiving can be stressful, especially if you are in charge of cooking a massive and complicated meal, so I am considering starting some new traditions that embrace the idea of spending time with loved ones, without stressing out the host(ess). Here are six ways to shake up Thanksgiving Day:
 
1. Call a caterer. The obvious first option is to have your dinner catered. I will still clean my house like a manic if I go with this option, but it will reduce part of the stress. Luby’s, Honeybaked Ham, Central Market, Whole Foods, Bill Miller’s, and more all have great options to pick up and take home. Or google local caterers, many of whom offer specials, to keep your job low-maintenance. You pretty much just have to heat up the food. Meal delivery services like Hello Fresh or Blue Apron all have a Thanksgiving meal option for groups. However, those do take some extra prep and cook time. Consult ACMB’s Thanksgiving Roundup for more Thanksgiving takeaway options.
 
2. Go to a restaurant. Many restaurants are open on Thanksgiving, from Jim’s to Mi Tierra (open 365, 24/7), and even high-end options like Biga on the Banks. For a full list of dining options, check out ACMB’s Thanksgiving Roundup. Open Table has compiled some options open as well. Green Vegetarian Cuisine is open for a vegan Thanksgiving feast. And you don’t have to stay as an overnight guest to take advantage of the nice dining options at area resorts like brunch at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa. Yes, eating out will be pricey. But can you put a price on the lack of post-meal cleanup? Nope.
 
3. Skip the food focus and opt for exercise. Just because most people associate Thanksgiving with food, doesn’t mean you have to! Grab your kiddos and sign up for a family workout. Check out the San Antonio Food Bank’s 5K Turkey Trot or the Texas Tough Turkey Chase, which is a 5K, 10K, and Kids Half Mile Run. 
 
4. Enjoy a family activity. Consider spending time together somewhere other than around the table. Not everything is closed on Thanksgiving, and animals need love on Thanksgiving Day. The San Antonio Aquarium is open from 10:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M., the San Antonio Zoo is open from 10:00 A.M.–9:00 P.M., and SeaWorld San Antonio is open from 1:00 P.M.–9:00 P.M. Plus, the Zoo and SeaWorld will have their Christmas lights and decorations up by Thanksgiving Day. 
 
5. Take a “Thanks-cation.” With the kids out of school, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to take a family vacay, particularly to the Texas Coast. Port Aransas, Galveston. and South Padre Island all boast mild weather and great off-season rates. My family and I all enjoy the perks of visiting the coast in November: the beach is all yours, it isn’t sweltering hot, and there isn’t pressure to go, go, go like there is in the summertime. For a shorter drive, check out the super family-friendly Jellystone Park Hill Country, which is having a park-wide potluck and special events. 

6. Volunteer. Families with older kids can volunteer to help prep for or serve meals to senior citizens during the 38th annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner. Kitchen helpers must be 14 and older, but children as young as eight years old and older can volunteer the day of the event. Or load the family into the car and help deliver Thanksgiving meals to senior citizens through the Meals on Wheels program. 

Whatever you choose to do on Thanksgiving, I hope it’s a memorable one. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Stacey
Before she had kids, Stacey would have described herself as an alternative rock lover, bibliophile, foodie and adventure seeker. She started her career working as a DJ at radio stations, then as a news reporter and somehow ended up in advertising and marketing. But now, she identifies as all of those things but in addition, she is a mom. Stacey has two boys (4 and 7) and her eldest is high-functioning Autistic. She is sensitive and aware of the challenges and opportunities moms with special needs kids have. Plus, she has two nieces (when she needs girl time) and a big old Golden Retriever named Bolt. Stacey's currently working part-time at an ad agency.