Adapting Thanksgiving: Navigating Grocery Inventory Fluctuations and Price Increases

As we approach the holiday season, many families are adjusting their usual traditions due to challenges in grocery inventory and rising food prices. This year, for example, we're planning to change our Thanksgiving meal preparation significantly to ensure a successful celebration.

No Drama, Just a Dinner and a Glass of Wine

While we typically have a festive gathering with great food and company, this year we're keeping things simple but enjoyable. No drama! We'll have a meal, enjoy a glass of wine, and do the dishes as usual. If turkeys are scarce or too expensive, we can always use chicken or pork instead. Our usual menu consists of mashed potatoes, gravy, a cooked vegetable, and a salad alongside the meat. I have some canned pumpkin and pastry ingredients, so my mother-in-law will make the pumpkin pie she loves. Ice cream may be a challenge, but if not, a jug of custard will do just fine.

Adapting to Scarce Inventory: A Garden Harvest Feast

Our preparations begin with our expanded garden at home, which provides us with a variety of fresh produce. A large free-range chicken from our neighbor's farm is also on our list. We're abundant in sweet potatoes and have plenty of acorn squash and potatoes from our garden. Everything will be roasted and prepared as usual, just like always!

Planning Ahead for the Best Deals

Looking ahead to next year, we are making several changes due to last year's challenges. We've expanded our garden and are now buying a greater amount of locally produced farm produce for canning, freezing, and drying. We are also stockpiling on staple items such as beans, rice, flour, sugar, and seasonings. Our goal is to prepare more dishes from scratch to save on costs, though this comes at the expense of convenience.

We plan to order turkeys, hams, and other meats earlier than usual to distribute the costs over a longer period. This will help us avoid being caught short by supply interruptions or high prices just before the holidays. We understand the importance of budget planning and preparing for the worst-case scenarios.

Expanding Our Circle of Guests

While we value the no-fuss nature of our tradition, we are also expanding our guest list. This is a thoughtful gesture, considering not everyone can afford to host a large meal for many people. We encourage everyone to bring a dish so no one carries the burden of an enormous expense.

Our primary goal for the holiday is for everyone to be together, enjoying each other's company. We find comfort in the idea that we can adapt and still celebrate regardless of the challenges. As we have done every year, we will navigate through the changes with grace and ensure a memorable Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving will happen on schedule, and we're excited to see how it unfolds. Our approach remains steadfast: plan for the best while preparing for the worst, and enjoy the journey ahead.