Grandma-Approved Thanksgiving Dinner Preparations

Grandma-Approved Thanksgiving Dinner Preparations

It’s your turn to host Thanksgiving dinner for the family, and that means lots of football, stuffing your face with food and drink, and the annual reminder as to why you moved away in the first place.

But throwing a Thanksgiving dinner party involves more than opening the door for your in-laws to eat turkey, unzip their pants, and pass out on the couch. With these grandma-approved Thanksgiving preparation tips, which will cover everything from décor to food to even your attire, your family won’t have as many criticisms about you as they did last year. And the year before that. And the year before that. And the year before…let’s get on with it. 

The clothes

If this was a more intimate occasion with your significant other and kids, we’d fully endorse a you-can’t-wear-that-out-in-public-dad ensemble (i.e. your favorite pair of pajamas, your loosest eating sweatpants, a frayed holey sweater, etc.).

But since you have company, you don’t want to look like a slob (or face your wife’s wrath). What your wife would want you to wear What we think you should consider are clothes that maintain some class, but still offer some comfort and stretch for all that turkey and beer you’ll be filling up on.

fitted-sweater-tall-man

You can’t go wrong with either a tall heavy flannel shirt or a smart, fitted V-neck sweater. While the latter is fitted, the 72% viscose/28% nylon makeup ensures plenty of stretch for when it’s time to unleash that glorious beer gut. For the bottom half, we suggest either a tapered-fit pair of polished tall chinos, or a semi-relaxed pair of tall jeans. If you’re a shoe guy, check out our blog on the best sneakers for tall guys to complete your Thanksgiving day getup.

The décor

Now that you’re presentable, it’s time to give your home the same treatment. Plaid and pumpkin will always have a place, but there are so many creative ways to add an autumnal twist to your space:

  • A pumpkin centerpiece – Easier than a jack-o’-lantern, and not as scary. Hollow out a large pumpkin and fill it with seasonal blooms.
  • Apple candleholders – Pick the last few apples from the orchard, and use them as candle holders throughout your home. Be sure to save some apples for a pie though.
  • DIY pumpkin menu – Pumpkin makes another appearance, but with a more functional purpose. Write down tonight’s dinner menu on a pumpkin in white ink (if it’s a feast ahead, you may need multiple pumpkin menus).
  • Plaid Thanksgiving tablecloth – Match your tablecloth with your shirt.
  • Cozy table setting – If you’ve got the fire going, make the evening extra cozy with knit pillows, faux-fur throws, and accent rugs all around.
  • Paper fall leaf garlands – Put the kids to work – er, let your kids have some fun, we mean – and have them create bright and festive garlands using autumn-colored construction paper.

The food

It’s why everyone begrudgingly came to your place, and why Uncle Edgar wore pants for a change: the Thanksgiving dinner.

Here are our picks for a full-course Thanksgiving meal:

The appetizer: Cranberry brie bites – A new way to enjoy cranberries outside of sauce form, and it’ll change the way you look at brie for the rest of your life.

The drink: Apple butter old-fashioned cocktail – A simple recipe that tastes incredible. Again, be sure you’re saving some of those apples for pie.

The turkey: …a big turkey – You know the main course is going to be turkey, we know the main course is going to be turkey. Don’t screw it up, tall guy.

The dessert: Thanksgiving apple crumble – See, we told you to save those apples. Apple crumble is just the best, most well-rounded dessert in our opinion.


From all of us at joyouslyvibrantlife, we hope you have a safe and food-filled Thanksgiving holiday! If you ate too much turkey and your pants don’t fit, we’ve got a wide selection of comfortable clothing for tall guys.