Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends and great food. If it’s important to you to eat whole, fresh foods for the holiday, consider grabbing the ingredients at your local farmers market. You’ll be supporting your community and getting some of the freshest ingredients around. This blog post will share why it’s easy to do your Thanksgiving prep at the farmers market.
1. Prepare the perfect menu
What will you serve for your Thanksgiving feast? Besides the traditional Thanksgiving turkey recipe, some holiday favorites like stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie can be made with ingredients from the farmers market. Many local farm services offer pre-orders for Thanksgiving turkeys, ham, dishes or pies. Search for a farm box provider or farmers market near you that allows you to order ahead of time.
Pinterest is the ideal resource to find recipes to add to your menu. I use the same sweet potato casserole recipe every year — and it’s on Pinterest!
2. Choose your proteins wisely
When it comes to Thanksgiving, the turkey is usually the star of the show. But if you’re looking to mix things up, there are plenty of other options available at the farmers market. Consider buying a locally raised turkey, ham or even beef roast. You can also go vegetarian or vegan for your meal by enjoying a feast of sides or tofu.
3. Go for fresh and seasonal veggies
One of the best things about shopping at the farmers market is that you can get your hands on some of the freshest produce around. Make sure to take advantage of this by filling your cart with seasonal vegetables like sweet potatoes, squash, carrots and green beans.
4. Get creative with your side dishes
There are endless possibilities when it comes to side dishes. At the farmers market, you’ll be able to find all the ingredients you need to make traditional favorites like mashed potatoes and stuffing. But you can also get creative and try something new. For example, why not roasted root vegetables or a savory grain salad?
5. Make your own cranberry sauce
Cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving staple, but store-bought versions can be loaded with sugar and preservatives. So instead, head to the farmers market for fresh cranberries and make your own sauce from scratch. It’s easier than you think!
6. Don’t forget the dessert
No Thanksgiving feast is complete without a delicious dessert. And there’s no shortage of sweet treats at the farmers’ market. From pies and pastries to seasonal fruits and homemade jams, you’ll be able to find everything you need to make a show-stopping dessert.
Every year I buy organic Granny Smith apples to make an apple pie with this recipe.
7. Get the family involved
One of the best things about preparing a Thanksgiving meal at the farmers market is that it’s a great way to get the whole family involved. Let everyone pick out their favorite dishes, pick out the veggies at the market and then pitch in to help with the cooking. You’ll create some amazing memories – and an incredible meal – that you’ll be talking about for years to come.