Before you know it Thanksgiving will be upon us. In just over a week we will sit down once again with our families (biological and/or chosen) and gorge upon a feast until we need to unbutton our jeans and snooze on the couch. Whether you are vegetarian or go the traditional turkey route, the holiday is often a pre-programmed excuse to overeat, over drink, overspend, and generally overdo it. Thanksgiving TurkeyBelieve me, I know firsthand. The first time my partner and I hosted Thanksgiving for both our families (total 6 people in attendance) we made 10 pounds of mashed potatoes. What the hell were we thinking as our electric mixer struggled in the deep mountain of mashed substance? Neither of us are mathematically challenged (although I am challenged in the area of spatial relations), but for some reason we got swept up in the “do we have enough?” and meeting people’s expectations that we temporarily lost our minds.

So, how do you have a super Thanksgiving Holiday without breaking the bank or compromising on quality? Thoughtful planning and some conscious decision making.

This year we’re doing it again — hosting Thanksgiving (not losing our minds) — and have a different approach. We know our priorities and are sticking to them. We’ve also gotten over the need to do it all and several guests are bringing side dishes and desserts. That leaves us with the core of the meal and beverages to contend with.

Let’s start with my favorite topic — the wine. Kim and I are total wine nuts and oftentimes I think if I had to choose between food and wine, I’d take just the wine, ma’am. It MAKES a meal for me. However, our guests are not nearly as savvy nor interested as we are. I’ve let go of the expectation that some relative is going to suddenly become an oenophile. That means choosing wines we enjoy that stand up to the myriad of food served as appetizers and at the table. Now is not the time to break out a special bottle from the wine cellar that cost a pretty penny (and no one will appreciate). One of the best articles I’ve read on Thanksgiving and Wine (read Part I ; Read Part II) can be found at Good Wine Under $20. These articles have some great rules of thumb and suggestions for both wine lovers and those more indifferent to the grape.

The Thanksgiving meal can be traditional or eclectic based on your willingness to experiment. While I could go wild with experimentation, once again the family is very traditional and has a low tolerance for culinary adventures. Thus, we stick to the standard: turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, stuffing, red cabbage, cranberry sauce, and gravy finished with apple and pumpkin pie.

For the most part, the side dishes are inexpensive and easy to prepare. Plan ahead, beat the crowds and buy what you can from the store this week. The closer you get to next Thursday the more the stores look like the evening of an impending blizzard in the Northeast – utter destruction in the aisles.

The only other major expense you’re faced with is the bird. (If you’re serving tofu or some other vegetarian meal, you get to skip this conundrum and expense.) When I grew up a turkey was a turkey was a turkey. Mom went off to the store, bought some large frozen thing, and that was it. Of course I grew up to be a conscious-living, culinary oddity so to me a turkey is no longer just a turkey. A turkey is a reflection of my values. That means I care about how the turkey was raised, what it ate, how it was slaughtered, and how it ultimately tastes and affects my health. (Remember — garbage in = garbage out.) We’re opting for a locally raised, antibiotic free, organic bird. In our area outside Philadelphia, anything that is not a conventional supermarket bird (meaning the range of choices from antibiotic/hormone free to organic to free range to organic heirloom birds) will set you back a fair penny ranging anywhere from $2.50-$4.00 a pound. When you figure we want at least a 20 lb bird so we can make broth, soup, and leftovers, you’ve got an investment, not just a meal. However, if you’ve been steeped in reading “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” like I have, this sort of local, organic purchase may ultimately be the most economical in terms of “total cost” (to the environment, our health, etc.). For me, the added cost is worth it for a variety of reasons I won’t wax poetic about here. If you’re more of a mainstream, buy it at the grocery kind of shopper, your out of pocket cost will be less. If that is the case, once again get out there early so you can grab the best deal and find the size bird you want without having to pretend you’re back in high school playing center on the basketball team and needing to box out and throw elbows to achieve your goal (land your bird of choice). In addition, keep an eye out for coupons or frequent shopper deals. Oftentimes you can get your bird for cheap because they want you in their store to buy all the fixings.

If you want to catch the new rage on Yahoo Food you can search for recipes, preparation, and other tips. Now is the time to check it out (before you’re panicked last minute). If convenience trumps cost, you can order a variety of birds online at iGourmet .

However you choose to spend the holiday — may it be filled with the most important ingredients: love and gratitude for the people you care about the most.

If even the thought of the Thanksgiving Holiday stresses you out, check out my article “Top 7 Secrets for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving” over at my blog.