A cool pumpkin carving stencil will make all the difference
Your kids have picked out their favorite Halloween costumes, and you’ve decided whether you’ll go trick-or-treating or attend a Trunk or Treat. Now it’s time to carve out a place of honor for your pumpkin in the neighborhood Halloween parade with one of our cool pumpkin carving templates. Whether you want a Ninja Turtle, Peppa Pig, or classic witch carving stencil, you’ll find a little bit of everything (and all skill levels) in our collection of pumpkin carving stencils. Feeling extra creative? Try your hand at these other amazing Halloween crafts for kids, DIY Halloween decorations, and easy Halloween-inspired treats.
What’s the History Behind Pumpkin Carvings and Jack-O’-Lanterns?
The tradition of carving pumpkins has origins in the Irish myth of Stingy Jack. People began carving faces in turnips to keep Jack’s (and other evil spirits) soul away, and when immigrants came to the United States, they started using pumpkins. Halloween is rooted in the Gaelic celebration of Samhain, which starts on Oct. 31 and ends on Nov. 1 and celebrates bringing in the harvests and ushering in the dark winter months. People would go from house to house in search of food and drink. They would also often carve makeshift lanterns out of potatoes and other root veggies, and as the years passed, several of these traditions blended to become what we now celebrate as Halloween.
How to Use a Pumpkin Carving Template
So, you’re ready to pick your pumpkin carving stencil and get to work. But, do you know the tips and tricks for carving a pumpkin? We love this tutorial from HGTV that offers advice on how to get the best-looking pumpkin on the block. We also recommend using tracing paper with a dry-erase marker or pencil on your pumpkin and having the best tools at the ready. A serrated knife is a must, as is a big spoon for scooping out the seeds and a paring knife is good for carving. You can also invest in a pumpkin carving kit, which will include everything you need to get started.
The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid was a smash hit, and while we adore Melissa McCarthy's take on the legendary Sea Witch, there's just something about the original animated form. Download the template here.
It's a jack-o'-lantern but with an ocean twist! This adorable California Sea Lion pumpkin stencil is one you won't see on many porches. Download the pumpkin carving template here.
Who says ghosts have to be scary? This adorable pumpkin carving template from Muse Printables is perfect for families with toddlers experiencing their first Halloween. Download it here.
Got a Lionel Messi fan in the house? Show your love of the game with a soccer ball pumpkin! If there's another sport that your family holds close to their heart, don't worry! There are pumpkin carving stencils for everyone. Check them out on Pumpkin Pile.
This classic Halloween-themed pumpkin carving template will look perfect next to your witch, zombie, or monster! Download the free printable pumpkin stencil at Free Stencil Gallery.
If your kid is a Minecraft fan, then this pumpkin carving stencil of Steve will thrill their little building hearts. Download the free pumpkin printable from pumpkinpile.com.
Donatello
The new movie came out this summer, so why not add one of your favorite teen turtles to the front porch? Download it here.
Peace Sign
This peace symbol pumpkin pattern will bring good vibes on Halloween night. Download it from Pumpkin Pile.
Simple phrases are fun, and this one is perfect for a house that has plenty of Halloween decor. Download the pumpkin carving stencil from Pumpkin Pile.
Hey, all you cool cats and kittens! This tiger pumpkin carving design is a way to give a shout-out to the docu-series that rocked our world when the pandemic hit in 2020. Download the pumpkin carving template over at SpookMaster.
Say it with an emoji this Halloween. Not only is this adorable, but this pumpkin carving design is perfect for beginning carvers. Download the template over at DLTK.
Witch Pumpkin Stencil
What's Halloween without a proper witch pumpkin stencil? We love this one from HGTV. It's a basic pumpkin carving template that'll pop at night.
Albert Einstein
Pumpkin Glow
This is an advanced pumpkin carving template, but it's an amazing one! Pay tribute to one of mankind's most luminous minds with this fun design. Download the template from Pumpkin Glow.
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley's iconic monster does not disappoint. We love Better Homes & Gardens version of the classic Halloween character.
Candy looters beware!! The Jolly Roger looms near. This fun skull and crossbones design is especially fun for pirate-loving folks. Grab the download over at Pumpkin Pile.
For your Jurassic Park fans, this fairly simple pumpkin carving template of an Indominus Rex is perfect. Download for free at Pumpkin Pile.
Meow
It wouldn’t be All Hallows Eve without a black cat lurking about, and we think this stencil from Woo Jr. is just the right balance of spooky and sweet.
In honor of the Emmy-nominated Wednesday, why not carve Wednesday's unforgettable face on your pumpkin this year? Download the design by leopard toes via Devian Tart.
Goofy Jack-O'-Lantern Template
A classic jack-o'-lantern is always fun, and this one gives a little goof to the iconic pumpkin carving template. Download the design from Pumpkin Pile.
Who You Gonna Call?
Keep the ghosts at bay with this perfectly themed template from Pumpkin Carving Templates. (And have your kiddo dress up as Holtzmann for bonus points.)
I Am Groot!
If you’re a Marvel fan, then you’ve got to make a Baby Groot pumpkin this year, even if only for the cute factor. Get the template from Pumpkin Pile.
Peppa Pumpkin
Everybody loves Peppa Pig, and she’ll look fabulous on your front step this Halloween. Grab the pumpkin carving template from Pumpkin Pile.
Pokemon is as popular as ever, and who doesn't love Pikachu? Parents, you’ll love how easy this design is to carve. Download the template.
Cool Cauldron
Double, double toil, and trouble! Give trick or treaters traveling by broom their own cauldron for the big night with this pumpkin stencil. The hardest part will be making sure the bubbles in the mysterious brew turn out just right. Grab the design over at Celebrating Halloween.
Super Mario
The Mario Bros. have a smash movie hit on their hands, and we are totally loving it! Keep the feels going with this fun carving template. Download the stencil over at Mario Mayhem.
Room on the Broom
Go the more traditional route with Home Life Weekly‘s classic carving, featuring the spooky silhouettes of a witch and her bat friend. Let the little ones carve the large parts like the witch’s hat, and you can take the reins for the details of the bat.
Simple Spider
Spiders love to drop in for Halloween, and with this pumpkin carving template, it's easy! The big sections that need to be carved out make this one perfect for beginners. Click here to grab the pdf.
If your Star Wars fans aren't so sure about joining the dark side, there are plenty of other characters to choose from too. See them all at Star Wars.
Owl Orb
Whoooo wants to carve a pumpkin? A simple and sweet design featuring an owl resting on a branch will make little ones smile. Get the pattern from Pumpkin Carving Templates.
We love the clever way HGTV uses a pumpkin to make a statement. With this candy arrow, no trick-or-treaters will be left behind.
Guide the Way
Little Wayfinders will be guided by the heart of Te Fiti when it glows brightly on Halloween night. This simple but stunning design will be a hit with the porch parade! Get the stencil over at Free Stencil Gallery.
Light the Way
For a different take on glowing pumpkins, try this candelabra design from HGTV. You can either go spooky with an eerie glow or make it classy with bright shiny light.
Vampire Pac-Man
This design from Woo Jr. takes us back to our days of Pac-Man and pinball machines—with a Halloween twist! The large blocks of pumpkin to be cut out make this a pretty easy design for little ones to pull off, too.
Spell It Out
This one simply says it all. Download it from Pumpkin Pile now!
Pirate Pumpkin
Arrrr! A pirate pumpkin is perfect for the plunder that is Halloween night. Your little buccaneers will even have a fellow matey to welcome them home after a night of collecting serious booty. Download the design over at Pumpkin Pile.
A classic Halloween character, this wrapped up moaning monster will be a fun addition to your porch this Halloween. Download the printable from HGTV.
Make sure to capture all the fall fun—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
It’s sweater weather! How many things can you check off this fall bucket list?
The weather might be cooling off, but that doesn’t mean your family adventures have to slow down. In fact, this is THE season for fun family activities, like pumpkin patches, corn mazes, Halloween costumes, and much more. Add any of these ideas to your fall bucket list to make sure it’s a truly epic season.
1. Take a weekend road trip. Turns out summer hasn’t completely cornered the market on family road trips. Fall is a great time to plan one too. From changing leaves to pumpkin patch odysseys, there’s plenty to see all season long!
2. Jump in a leaf pile. It doesn’t get any easier than the tried-and-true “rake, gather and repeat” to help the kids hop into autumn.
4. Build a bonfire and make s’mores. While you can do this anytime, there’s something about those chilly nights that make this special. Amp up your s’mores game with these unique takes on the classic treat.
5. Take a wagon ride. That fall festival you’re attending? See if you can add a wagon ride in for old-fashioned fun.
6. Find or stash a Geocache. Let your phone guide you… to hidden treasures in your neighborhood. Seek one out, or stash one of your own for others to find. Get the whole story before you head out.
8. Pick apples at a nearby orchard. U-pick, we pick, your kiddos will love picking bright crispy apples on a sunny day. See our favorite U-pick orchards here.
9. Check out the fall foliage. Court fall’s most colorful stars by taking a stroll around the ‘hood or hiking a tree-lined trail. See our favorite spots by clicking here.
10. Host an apple cider tea party. Tea parties are always fun. But, an apple cider tea party? How many times have you checked that off your fall bucket list?
11. Hop aboard a fall train ride. From cider sipping to leaf watching, to visiting Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin patch, historic trains are taking families to fall’s hottest spots.
14. Go bird watching. Grab the binocs and a local birding guide from the library before heading out on this quiet adventure. Don’t forget to record your findings in a field note journal you can use year after year.
15. Jump in puddles. Embrace the changing weather and splash around a bit.
16. Visit your local botanic garden. Tiptoe through the fall colors at a botanic garden, where you’ll find more than just picture-perfect spots.
21. Take in one more ball game. Bundle up for one more game with peanuts, Cracker Jacks…and a specialty stadium hot dog, if you know what’s good for you. Through September families can catch a final baseball or soccer match before they focus their attention on football at one of our favorite family-friendly parks.
25. Go on a leaf scavenger hunt. Put your little sleuth on the case of the missing leaves (identify the ones to find ahead of time: maple, oak, pecan, evergreen, etc.).
27. Play ball. Throw, kick, or bounce your way over to the local outdoor sports court or grassy park for quality (family) game time.
28. Pick pumpkins at a patch. Nothing says fall quite like the annual pumpkin patch outing. Let your sidekick climb the hay bales or jump in the corn bin while you sip hot apple cider nearby. We gathered the best patches from coast to coast.
29. Read books in the backyard. The fall weather invites you to grab a blanket and read outside. See our favorite books of 2023 (so far) right here.
30. Make hot chocolate and sit outside until the sun sets.
31. Bundle up for a bike ride. Get more mileage from your outdoor time on your trusty two-wheeler. Whether you’re trailer-ing your crew or they’re balance-biking alongside you, there’s no denying the joy that comes from a family bike ride.
32. Make pumpkin-spiced something. You should have plenty of ingredients for this one because you’ve already been to the patch, right? Find your new favorite recipe here.
34. Tailgate at your favorite game. Whether it’s your alma mater or the local high school, setting up with snacks and hanging out with friends before kick-off time is classic fall fun.
35. Watch the birds fly south for the winter. Look up to see those V-shaped groups of feathered friends heading for warmer pastures.
36. Shop your local farmer’s market. Glossy red apples, stew-worthy root veggies, and a cornucopia of squashes are waiting for you at your local farmer’s market in autumn. Get some before the markets go on hiatus for the winter.
37. Stop and breathe. Take the kids outside and take a few deep breaths. As a bonus, ask them if they can smell anything that screams fall!
38. Go on one last picnic. Before the winter weather sets in, pack the basket full of everyone’s favorite picnic foods. Then find a grassy spot to enjoy the spread.
39. Watch a sunset. This might be the easiest thing to check off your fall bucket list. Bring your tiny tot out to enjoy the colorful show before she hits the hay.
41. Get lost in a corn maze. Fall is a great time to take advantage of old-school farm faves, like winding your way through a corn maze. Find our favorites here.
42. Plant winter veggies. Things like kale, spinach, lettuce, and asparagus will grow through the chilly months!
43. Plan out which Halloween treats you want to attempt to make.
45. Decorate your front door for Halloween. Make your home a wickedly welcoming one. We’ve got easy ideas here.
46. Plant bulbs. Get your little green thumb into the mud before the first freeze to plant bulbs so you can enjoy them this spring. Let your garden grow!
47. Find an Oktoberfest. Raise a glass to this festive family outing. Bundle up the kidlets for face painting, dancing, parades, and a few frothy mugs for mom and dad. Cheers!
50. Go to an amusement park that’s better in the fall. From LEGOLAND’s Brick or Treat to the Halloween Spooktacular at Sea World Parks, fun fall events and the crisp weather are perfect reasons to spend a day being thrilled.
Make sure to capture all the giggles—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
Fantastic feasts! These San Francisco restaurants offer take-out and dine-in Thanksgiving dinner for a stress-free Thanksgiving Day
Treat yourself and your family to a Thanksgiving without the stress or fuss this year by pre-ordering your turkey dinner to devour at home or skip the dishes all together and dine at one of our favorite Bay Area’s restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving Day. With either plan, you can relax, put your feet up, and actually have a chance to watch the Macy’s 96th annual parade (there’s a rumor that Bluey plans to make an appearance this year). These are our favorite to-go, delivery, and restaurants offering Thanksgiving dinners in the Bay Area. And once you’ve decided where and what to eat, don’t forget to make a plan to buy your Christmas tree, check out all the holiday light displays happening around San Francisco as well as see how many nearby holiday bucket list events you can check off this year.
In addition to takeout options for Thanksgiving (available for pick-up on Nov. 23 and costs $79/person—more information below), One Market will also be offering a four-course sit-down Thanksgiving dinner. The menu features traditional dishes, like a roasted Diestel turkey, but for non-turkey lovers—they also offer pork, salmon, and vegetarian options.
Chef Michael Mina and his culinary team introduce a very special dinner buffet from International Smoke. Available options include chilled shellfish, a carving station complete with cedar smoked salmon, turkey with cranberry sauce, and Wagyu prime rib, savory sides and sweet desserts—including Ayesha’s bread pudding.
A French Vietnamese restaurant, Le Colonial's menu includes (among many other tasty options!) a clay pot caramel organic turkey with sides of roasted beets, caramelized white pumpkin, and fresh turmeric mashed potatoes. Groups of four or more will be served family-style.
Enjoy Thanksgiving this year with fantastic views of the bay! Options include a cup of clam chowder, house salad, roasted turkey breast, gravy, house made stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, cranberry chutney and pumpkin pie a la mode.
Enjoy a three-course traditional Thanksgiving dinner served all day alongside all of The Stinking Rose's regular menu selections. This Thanksgiving, try the Bagna Calda—garlic cloves oven roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovies.
Feast your eyes on this three-course farm to table menu featuring organic turkey and all the sides. Your family will have a choice of inside or outside dining in a heated and covered parklet.
Looking for a unique way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year? Dine with live music this Thanksgiving while you enjoy Zingari Ristorante's three-course menu. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan selections are available. Pro Tip: book the piano room. It costs an additional $45, but your kiddos will love the live music.
This Thanksgiving, why not enjoy a meal near the Pacific Ocean? Park Chalet offers a 3-course prix fixe meal for adults and a two-course version for children. Start with oysters or fried calamari before moving on to butternut squash soup or radicchio endive salad. And then comes the main event. Choose between roasted turkey with all the fixings, pan seared seabass with stuffing, potatoes, root vegetables and cranberry sauce, or farro risotto.
Want a rock and roll Thanksgiving this year? The legendary Hard Rock Café can give you and your family something to dance about. The menu includes low-roasted turkey breast, roasted fresh vegetables, home-style classic stuffing, creamy sweet potato mash, cranberry sauce, and traditional turkey gravy. A Kids' Thanksgiving Menu is also available, as is pumpkin pie. After dinner, take in the views and explore Pier 39.
Where to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner in the South Bay & Peninsula
Porta Blu Restaurant at Hotel NIA
This fun buffet-style thanksgiving lunch features signature staples like a roasted turkey carvery, traditional sides and decadent desserts, but it also offers cheese and charcuterie plates, a "bruschetta bar" and live jazz from The Charged Particles jazz band.
Cost: $110/person; $85/kid (12-18); $65/kids (6-11); kids under 6 eat for free
Inspired by the season’s best produce, the talented chefs at Quattro Restaurant & Bar offer a meal to be thankful for, in addition to takeout options detailed below, they're offering in-person dining. On the menu is a roasted leg of lamb carving station, cold appetizer buffet, hand crafted charcuterie, buttermilk brined turkey, ash-crusted beef tenderloin, smoked salmon and more! If you have room, enjoy a decadent dessert buffet by Pastry Chef Guillermo Soto.
There is a turkey option, but why not opt for a bone-in ribeye or a petite filet mignon this year! With a full holiday menu, complete with lobster bisque, mashed potatoes, green beans with apricots and onions, and cinnamon orange cranberry sauce—your family is sure to be satisfied. The children's menu is similar to the adults with additions like a cheese and cracker appetizer and a mac and cheese main course.
Get ready for a traditional holiday feast for the entire family. The Macaroni Grill offers three-courses, including turkey, all the usual trimmings, and desserts like pumpkin cannoli, traditional cannoli, and pumpkin tiramisu.
The sister restaurant to Beach Chalet, this East Bay eatery features a delicious three-course turkey dinner and other temptations such as pan seared sea bass and farro risotto.
Cost: Menu is a la carte or 3-course prix-fix $85/person; $37.50/kid
Celebrate a vegan Thanksgiving Day feast with seitan country fried steak with lots of 100% plant-based sides! Souley vegan's Authentic Louisiana Creole Flavor is sure to be a hit for vegans and non-vegans alike! To-go options are also available!
For the first time since their opening, alley & vine will be offering dine-in Thanksgiving. The three-course menu is vegetarian-friendly with substitutions offered across the board, but the classic turkey entree will remain. If you're not into turkey, guests can alternatively order the Wild Alaskan Halibut. Seating will be available both indoors and outdoors.
While the Carneros Resort is offering Turkey To-Go meals, they’re also offering a thoughtfully designed (by Chef John Carney!) multi-course family-style Thanksgiving dinner featuring all the classics with produce straight from their culinary gardens.
Start with a bowl of clam chowder and a Ceasar salad before moving onto the main event—turkey breast with gravy, stuffing, cranberry relish, potatoes, veggies, and pumpkin pie.
This 4-course prix-fixe dinner includes butternut squash soup, Fuyu persimmon salad, and a traditional roasted turkey with mashed potatoes, stuffing, Brussel sprouts, candied yams, and orange cranberry relish. Or—if turkey isn’t to your liking, try the salmon with roasted root vegetables, the butternut squash and kale ravioli, or the grilled pork chop. All meals come with a choice of pumpkin or apple pie. Bonus: There’s a special kids menu, too, a 2-Course Prix Fix for $15.
Thanksgiving dinner with all of your favorite foods! Start your meal off with family style appetizers (spiced pecans and marinated olives). Enjoy butternut and sweet potato soup and a little gem wedge salad before moving on to your entrée. You’ll have a choice between roast turkey with traditional sides, or grilled salmon with melted leeks, Brussel sprouts, squash and wild mushrooms. Sweet dessert options include pumpkin pie, chocolate, cheesecake, and sorbet.
Cost: $78/person; $30/kid (12 and under)
120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. San Anselmo Online:insalatas.com
Where to Pre-Order Prepared Thanksgiving Dinner in San Francisco
Below are some of our favorite spots that are offering mouth-watering Thanksgiving-themed dinners for pre-order and pick-up across San Francisco. But if you can't commit to just one delicious spot and would rather get your favorite items a la carte like your favorite pie from that amazing bakery across town or your turkey from across the Bay? Enter Locale—the food delivery service that offers family-style meals, baked goods and more from local favorites like Bouchon Bakery and Frog Hollow Farms, along with a slew of other noteworthy restaurants, cafes and grocers. It’s like shopping from the best of the best, with one low delivery price of $5.
Good to Know: Products aren't restricted to your geographical area—you can get your favorites from across the nation too. Thanksgiving pre-orders are now open.
With a wide variety of raw birds, Luke’s Local offers a smoked (whole or half) turkey from Willie Bird Farms. And you can choose from a wide selection of sides. Some options are more traditional, like stuffing, candied yams and mashed potatoes, but other seasonal options include arugula salad with persimmon, candied walnuts and goat cheese or stuffed squash with quinoa and pepitas. Pies are also available. And whether you’re hosting or not, why not throw in a seasonal bouquet or holiday wreath?
Cost: Whole House-Smoked Willie Bird Turkey is $148
Scopo Divino offers a Thanksgiving dinner to go that will make your mouth water. Complete with herb-rubbed & roasted split turkey, Madeira gravy & cranberry sauce, deviled eggs, stuffing, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, autumn salad, and pumpkin pie with homemade chantilly cream. This meal serves 2-4 people and can be picked up on Nov. 23. And don’t forget to add some champagne and wine—award-winning Scopo Divino is one of the best wine bars in the city.
Cost: $130/person
2800 California St. Unit 101 San Francisco Online:scopodivino.com
Lily
This Thanksgiving, Lily is offering a three-course set menu. It features a choice of salad or soup, salt-baked Diestel turkey breast, confit turkey sweet potato hash, baby bok choy, shrimp and lap xuong fried rice, black truffle mushrooms jus, and scallion ginger relish. Personally, we can’t wait to try the “Change Your Life” Warm Pumpkin Pie. Pay ahead and pick up your meal at noon on Thanksgiving day.
Credo is offering Thanksgiving to-go for pick-up on Nov. 22 & 23. Your Thanksgiving Dinner Kit feeds a family of 6-8 people and includes the following: organic sous-vide turkey (14-16 lbs.), Yukon gold mashed potatoes, chestnut sage stuffing, balsamic roasted carrots, roasted forest mushrooms, classic Caesar salad, roasted turkey gravy, and cranberry orange sauce.
One Market is also offering a pick-up three-course Thanksgiving menu featuring a Pear & Arugula Salad, Roasted Willie Bird Turkey with cornbread-sausage stuffing (non-sausage version available), root vegetables and shallot-thyme gravy, along with a pumpkin tart with peach caramel. Pick up your meal on Nov. 23.
A-Five Meat Company, a distribution company that provides the finest cuts of wagyu to the world’s top chefs, is now available to the consumer at home. Order the new Wagyu Feast, which features 6 pieces of wagyu and wagyu ground beef and includes Kobe beef and the Sanuki Olive Fed A5 Grade for a turkey alternative with a group. The company also offers a Wagyu Sampler and Wagyu Essentials pack.
This boneless turkey breast dinner serves 2-5 people and comes with all the fixings: butter whipped potatoes, andouille cornbread dressing, green beans, biscuits, and cranberry compote. And to fill your kitchen with autumnal holiday aromas, add spiced wine or cider! Pick-up is on Nov. 23 for both locations.
Chef Matt Accarrino offers an Italian-inspired Thanksgiving feast in two packages—one for 3-4 people and the other for 6-8 people. Both packages include: roast turkey, black truffle gravy, root vegetable stuffing, insalata rossa, prosciutto, salumi & cheese with focaccia, baked crespelle, four side dishes and a choice of one pie.
Where to Pre-Order Prepared Thanksgiving Dinner in the East Bay
Pomella
Mica Talmor’s mains, sides and desserts, made with her distinctive Mediterranean and Eastern Europe influence, are returning for another Thanksgiving Day treat! Order a la carte from a special holiday menu that includes roasted turkey, mushroom “Bastilla,” Moroccan-style phyllo pie, Yukon gold and celeriac mashed potatoes, shaved Brussel sprouts with butternut squash and brandied cherries, house-made biscuits, sweet potato cheesecake with candied ginger, pecan-caramel bars, and more! And apple pie from Oakland-based baker Edith’s Pie will be available whole and by the slice. Order by Nov. 17 for pick-up on Nov. 22 or 23.
Pitmaster Matt Horn (best new chef, Food & Wine Magazine 2021) is at it again! This year, he offers smoked turkey ($150), whole smoked brisket ($250) or smoked beef rib slab (3 bones) ($120). Sides include mac & cheese, collard greens, and Granny’s potatoes. For dessert, try the banana pudding or the bread pudding. Pick-up is on Nov. 23.
This traditional Thanksgiving feast for a family of four to six is a steal at $80/person! The turkey with all the trimmings will be just as delicious as their famous pies and with a couple of locations around, there's one bound to be nearby.
229 Broadway Oakland Online: buttercupdiner.com
Montperi Caterers
Order Chef Lamont’s Thanksgiving specials for pick-up or delivery. This years menu includes a 15-18 lb. turkey ($200) or maple glazed ham ($70), and traditional sides in either small (6-8 servings, $40) or large (10-12 servings, $60). Think stuffing, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, cranberry sauce, Brussel sprouts and citrus green beans. For dessert, you have an option of pumpkin pie ($25) or apple cobbler ($35). Run, don’t walk—Montperi Caterers have limited availability.
Good to Know: Delivery is available throughout the Bay Area
This Thanksgiving, from the comfort of your home, savor a fully prepared meal by the chefs at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley. Each family-style menu includes butter-basted young turkey, Beechers cheddar whipped mashed potatoes, smashed yams, roasted squash, baby carrots and parsnips. Also included is a celeriac and roasted apple soup. Your choice of dessert includes pumpkin pie or white chocolate cheesecake with caramelized apples. Place your orders on the Hotel Website from Oct. 18 to Nov. 17. Pick-up at the hotel’s Quattro Restaurant & Bar on Nov. 24.
Cost: Meals for four are $450, for 6 is $550, and 8 is $650
This year, Manresa Bread features seasonal favorites made with house-milled flour: Panettone, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Babka, Apple Pie, Butter Buns, Snack Tins, and more! Pre-order now for pick-up on Nov. 22 or Nov 23.
The entire menu is a la carte so feel free to create the Thanksgiving meal of your dreams. Think organic turkey (10-12 lb.: $125; 24-26 lb.: $265), traditional stuffing, Brussel sprouts with chestnuts, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, cranberry-orange relish and more! Place your orders by Nov. 20 for pick-up on Nov. 23.
Where to Order Prepared Thanksgiving Dinner in Marin County
via iStock
Carneros Resort & Spa
Carneros Resort is offering Turkey To-Go meals for those that want to enjoy the deliciousness of FARM's award-winning culinary team within the comfort of their own home. The package features a Willy Bird organic grain-fed turkey with traditional sides, all featuring the abundant flavors of Napa Valley. It's $385 for 4-6 people. To order, email market@carnerosresort.com.
Thanksgiving at Insalata’s looks a little different this year, but we're sure it will be just as delicious. With large a la carte options for sides and desserts, there is no turkey this year, but there IS a turkey kit (how fun!), which includes herb butter, sage leaves, onion, lemons, oranges, thyme, and Chef Taylor’s instructional video. Your house will smell as delicious as your meal will taste! Cocktails for six adults and wines by the bottle are also available.
120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. San Anselmo Online:insalatas.com
More Spots to Order Prepared Thanksgiving Dinner throughout the Bay Area
Jessie & Laurent: Save your sanity and order up a gourmet meal from Jessie & Laurent this Thanksgiving. This San Rafael-based company has delivered delicious, chef-made meals to the Bay Area for nearly 40 years. Thanksgiving offerings from Jessie & Laurent include:
Traditional Whole Diestel Turkey Dinner for 4-6 people ($195) or 8-10 people ($395). Sides include classic stuffing with crimini and oyster mushrooms baked to a golden brown, creamy whipped potatoes, roasted Brussel sprouts w butternut squash, a winter chicory salad, some cranberry apple pear chutney, and last but not least—a large Amaretto pumpkin pie
A la carte options (like a whole cooked turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and homemade square ravioli) for those who want to do some cooking, but not all of it.
Local Artisan Cheese & Charcuterie Platter ($75)
Stuffed and Glazed Cornish Hens for two (with potatoes, roasted Brussel sprouts with butternut squash, gravy, cranberry apple pear chutney, a winter chicory salad, and a small Amaretto pumpkin pie! All for $110)
Whole Foods Market: Whether you want an entire Thanksgiving feast for 12, just sides, soups and sauces, or a vegan celebration, give Whole Foods a try. With options of a fully cooked or raw turkey and sides fully prepared or just the ingredients, they really do cater to everyone.
Omaha Steaks: Build the perfect Thanksgiving dinner at Omaha Steaks. With dinner packages for families or 4, 6 or 8, you can customize your holiday meal. Want a whole roasted turkey or a fully cooked prime rib roast? Why not try the turkey roulade or the the country ham? Available sides include everyone’s favorite green been casserole, creamed corn, garlic mashed potatoes, caramel apple tartlets, and more!
Williams Sonoma: Not only does Williams Sonoma offer beautiful cookware and dinnerware collections, they also offer a full Thanksgiving feast to be simply heated at home and served to your eager guests.
Wondering where you can sit down for Thanksgiving dinner in Seattle? Make a reservation at one of these kid-friendly restaurants
For some, there’s nothing better than a home-cooked meal on Thanksgiving. Others prefer a turkey that isn’t dry or burnt. All kidding aside, what makes the holiday special is spending time with loved ones and family, whether it be in your home or at a favorite restaurant. When it comes to enjoying Thanksgiving dinner in Seattle, families have options. Whether you’re hoping to have a chef cook the meal for you or you want to bring home a prepared meal for the day, we’ve compiled a list of kid-friendly restaurants that are offering delicious Thanksgiving dinner for families. So, sit back and relax. It’s time to let someone else do the cooking for a change.
These Seattle Restaurants are open on Thanksgiving Day
Goldfinch Tavern
1. Goldfinch Tavern
At Goldfinch Tavern, an Ethan Stowell Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, Executive Chef Brian Doherty and his team are really going all out this year. The festive brunch/dinner begins with an appetizer buffer (fruit, house-made pastries, seafood, charcuterie, cheeses, Ellenos yogurt parfaits, and salads), a choice of entrees (roasted Tom turkey, shaved Iberico ham, roasted dry aged Wagyu striploin, smoked king salmon, or Delicata squash cannelloni) and finishes with an amazing dessert buffet. The kids will gobble up their own menu with also an appetizer buffet (fruit pops, organic vegetable crudité, house-made strawberry granola bars, peanut butter & jelly pizza, and pastries), a choice of entree (turkey platter, salmon, chicken tenders ,or mac & cheese) followed by a dessert buffet (including an apple pie "chips 'n dip" and pumpkin whoopie pies).
Good to Know: Bottomless mimosas are $25/person
Date: Nov. 24, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Cost: $150/adult; $70/kids, ages 3-14. Plus a 20% service charge.
With outstanding views of the Snoqualmie Falls and River, The Dining Room at Salish Lodge & Spa provides the perfect backdrop for your Seattle Thanksgiving dinner. The traditional feast will include a three-course meal starts off with either butternut squash soup or a winter chop salad (dried cranberries, Beecher's cheese, candied pecans and a honey vinaigrette). Then it's on to tougher choices—do you stick with the traditional Thanksgiving dinner or go with the rosemary garlic prime rib, pan-roasted king salmon or wild mushroom raviolo? Pumpkin mousse or bourbon pecan tart finish off the decadent meal. If upscale is how your kiddo rolls, this is definitely the spot to be. The children's menu is similar but starts with a tomato soup.
A sweeping view, twinkling lights and outdoor/tented seating makes Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails a welcoming spot this Thanksgiving. Instead of a set menu this year, Chef Michael Grande is offering a special holiday menu of starters (crispy brussels & bacon, seafood chowder, PNW charcuterie are some of the choices) and main dishes that include roast turkey (with wild mushroom stuffing, potato puree and sage gravy), wild mushroom gnocchi and salt-crusted prime rib. For dessert, enjoy the pumpkin spiced cheesecake or apple cobbler.
Expansive views of Lake Washington are only part of what make this Thanksgiving Day celebration special. The other is spending it with your family. Water's Table Restaurant invites you to celebrate the harvest with a sit-down dinner with your family from their lakeview dining room or the spectacular Grand Ballroom. The adult buffet includes the obligatory roasted turkey as well as ham, king salmon, and a seafood bar. You'll also find a composed Waldorf salad, cauliflower & potato soup, roasted marble potato, chestnut stuffing, and more. Kids can feast on Caesar salad, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, pizza, and fruit. Everyone will enjoy the selection of desserts including mini pecan pies, mini apple tartlets, pumpkin spiced latte choux, and cranberry chocolate pots de crème.
Good to Know: Children ages 1-6 will have complimentary access to the buffet.
Date: Nov. 24, noon-7 p.m. Cost: $95/adult; $23/kids, 12 & under. An additional 18% gratuity will be added.
1053 Lake Washington Blvd. N. Renton, WA Online: waterstable.com
Flora Bakehouse
5. Café Flora
When it comes to vegan and gluten-free Thanksgiving meals, Café Flora is hard to beat. This year their families can once again dine at the restaurant (inside or outside their heated outdoor patio) and enjoy a fabulous four-course feast. It includes a bowl of heriloom potato and celery root soup; fresh radicchio, frisee and Belgian endive salad; a puff pastry with porcini mushroom cream sauce or delicata squash stuffed with quinoa, wild rice and root vegetables; a variety of sides and either pumpkin pie or bourbon peacan pie for dessert. Kids can celebrate with a menu that consists of cauliflower tots with housemade ranch dressing, a green salad with apple, grapes and pomegranate and a Shepherd's pie. Make your reservation by calling 206-325-9100. Online reservations aren't available.
Good to Know: Take home a pie (pumpkin or bourbon pecan) or fresh-baked caramelized onion rolls from The Flora Bakehouse for your feast at home. They will be available for pick-up Nov. 23.
Bring the kids to sit down at Hearth on Thanksgiving for a three-course meal. This Eastside restaurant puts its signature on each creative dish so things taste familiar but excitingly different at the same time. Choose the traditional three-course roasted turkey dinner or go off the board with a meal of braised short ribs, pan-roasted wild salmon or roasted squash risotto. Finish off with pumpkin cheesecake (with a cranberry compote) or apple tarte tatin.
Sit down to a traditional Thanksgiving meal that you don't have to cook at this Bellevue restaurant. It's Thanksgiving the way you would cook it, without the hassle. The three-course meal, designed by Chef Jason Wilson and Chef de Cuisine Thomas Cullen, is described as a "refined and classic meal with choices for everyone in the family ranging from turkey to squash to Wagyu.
The Lakehouse also offers a "Thanksgiving To Go" menu. Pickup is Nov. 23 between 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Items will be fully cooked with re-heating instructions included. The traditional home package includes all-natural turkey breast and thigh, dinner rolls with sage butter, wild mushroom stuffing, roasted garlic-miso mashed potatoes, cranberry preserve, brown buttered Brussels sprouts, sprouted ancient grains and squash salad and individual pumpkin pies. The cost is $61/person. Vegan and children's meals as well as ala carte options are available too.
They may be known for serving the best steak in town, but The Metropolitan Grill may earn a new place in Seattle families' hearts with their Thanksgiving Meal delivery which is back this year due to popular demand. Executive Chef Stan Ross and his staff have worked hard preparing a delicious feast that includes all the fixings so you don't have to. Wondering what you'll serve? Choose from prime rib, Kurobuta ham with citrus-honey ginger glaze or herb roasted turkey for your main. Then prepare to dig into classic sides like garlic mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, traditional stuffing and brussels sprouts. And for dessert there's mini pies (apple and pumpkin) sized just-right after a filling meal.
Good to Know: The take home meal serves four people and orders must be placed by November 16. Meals are available for pickup or delivery.
Chef Makini Howell has been preparing vegan Thanksgiving dinner for over 16 years and this year is no exception. Expect the same creativity and passion in this year’s take-home feast that feeds four. It will include the classic maple glazed seitan roast, mashed potatoes, skillet gravy, flavorful sides like bacon green beans, sweet cornbread, citrus pear cranberry sauce and everybody’s favorite (especially your kiddo’s) mac and yease. Save room for the salted caramel apple pie. These feast feeds five to six people. Ala carte options are available as well.
The Husky Deli's Thanksgiving meal is becoming legendary. It's back once again! It comes with more than just Husky's beloved ice cream too (although that's definitely a perk). No matter who's sitting around your table this year, you can easily pull off the perfect Thanksgiving because this prepared meal includes turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rolls, green beans and a half gallon of the ice cream goodness mentioned above. It'll feed 5-7 people and just needs to be reheated. All you have to do is remember to place your order by November 21.
Pick-up: Nov. 23 Cost: $185
4712 California Ave. S.W. Seattle Online:huskydeli.com
Tired of cooking the turkey every year? Put your feet up and let these Chicago restaurants serve up Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends and feasting—not freaking out about meal planning or burnt birds. Skip the hassle of time-consuming food prep by treating yourself and your loved ones to a Thanksgiving dinner that didn’t come from your kitchen.
Even better, there’s plenty of options on how to make the most of this special holiday meal. You can order provisions to-go, have Thanksgiving dinner catered, or do one better . . . and dine out. From smoked turkeys to pumpkin pies to all the traditional fixins’, Chicago’s best chefs have you covered. You only need to decide one thing: dine at your table or theirs?
Eataly Thanksgiving might not be an Italian tradition, but Eataly believes in giving thanks for bountiful harvests and fresh ingredients. Their turkeys are organic and raised humanely, so you can bring the signature Italian quality to your Thanksgiving feast. Complement your meal with their curated salumi & fromaggi board of cured meats and cheeses, freshly baked bread, or go for a selection of fresh seafood platters. Complete the meal with housemade Torta di Mele (apple tart) or Tiramisù della Nonna.
Pre-order before Nov. 19 by emailing Eataly at chi-catering@eataly.com. Available for pick up only November 23 & 24.
43 E. Ohio St. River North Online: eataly.com
Whole Foods Whole Foods has catered Thanksgiving meal packages for up to 12 people. They even have a vegan option for four. Meals includes sides such as green beans with roasted shallots or cranberry orange sauce. Order must be placed at least 48 hours in advance of pick-up.
Alinea
For the first time, world-renown Alinea is offering a Thanksgiving Dinner for either four or eight people. Indulge with baked brie en croute, roasted garlic and sage stuffing, cranberry and orange compote, and more. Be even more decadent by adding on French Winter Truffle Mac & Cheese.
Farmhouse Evanston Farmhouse is known for their hearty Midwestern comfort food, making them a great Thanksgiving Day option. Their Thanksgiving Buffet will run from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and includes classics like turkey, ham, buttermilk smashed potatoes, green bean casserole, maple candied yams and more. $44 per person, $21 for children 10 and under.
I|O Godfrey I|O Godfrey at The Godfrey Hotel invites guests to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving buffet featuring staffed action stations. This festive meal prepared by Executive Chef Alfonso Martinez offers something for everyone. $59 for adults. $15 for kids. Additionally, I|O is offering Thanksgiving To-Go for those doing home celebrations for 8-10 people. Thanksgiving To-Go orders must be placed in advance by Nov. 23rd.
Maggiano’s
Enjoy Thanksgiving family-style at Maggiano’s. Maggiano’s is serving up a three-course menu plus balsamic tomato bruschetta compliments of the chef, two pasta dishes, and two additional sides. Add a pitcher of sangria or rum punch!
Various locations throughout Chicagoland Online:maggianos.com
River Roast What could be better than feasting riverside for Thanksgiving? River Roast will be serving up a spectacular Thanksgiving dinner featuring herb brined & roasted turkey, grilled carrots, stuffing with house sausage, whipped Yukon potatoes and more! Finish it off with carrot cake, apple cobbler or pumpkin pie. $75 per person. Kids under 10 eat free.
RPM Steak
RPM Steak‘s special Thanksgiving Feast features local turkey breast, halibut, or a prime mid-west strip steak alongside traditional holiday sides and pecan pie. The four-course holiday spread is $105 per person.
The Smith Indulge in a three-course prix fixe menu with a choice of turkey three ways—roasted breast, braised leg or turkey pot pie, along with other options for non-turkey lovers. Dinner is $75 per person and includes fixings for the whole table.
Tortoise Supper Club Have turkey or hand-carved prime rib, and save room for the iced oysters and decadent pumpkin pie, at Tortoise Supper Club's Thanksgiving Grand Buffet on Thanksgiving Day, 11:45 a.m.-8:15 p.m.
Wildfire
Enjoy a family-style Thanksgiving dinner featuring roasted turkey, glazed salmon, beef tenderloin and all the traditional side dishes. Gluten-free items will also be available. The meal costs $64.95 per person, and $29.95 for children 12 and under. If you’re entertaining family and friends at home, Wildfire is also offering a Thanksgiving Party Platter Menu of all your favorites for carryout.
Locations in Chicago, Oak Brook, Lincolnshire, Schaumburg and Glenview Online:wildfirerestaurant.com
Restaurants That Will Cater Thanksgiving Dinner in Chicago
BLVD Steakhouse Toss the apron and make room for BLVD. Chef Johnny Besch has prepared a special menu full of Thanksgiving favorites for pickup Nov. 23 with offerings like confit turkey legs, brussel sprouts, and PQB sourdough stuffing. Order via BLVD's tock.
FireLake Enjoy Executive Chef Leonard Ventura's delicious food at home. The special Thanksgiving to-go menu includes packages that serve up to 12 people and include turkey and ham, served with imaginative and traditional sides like fire roasted mushrooms with crispy shallots, maple glazed yam and apple, green beans, cranberry stuffing, cheddar herb mashed potatoes with cider gravy, and more.
Frontier A hot Wicker Park restaurant specializing in game, oysters and tap brews brings the bounty to your home with their Thanksgiving-to-go package. Executive Chef Brian Jupiter offers guests the option of ordering a whole smoked Amish turkey to-go. The antibiotic- and hormone-free turkeys are offered cooked and cooled. Available sides include five-cheese mac & cheese, traditional mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, Brussel sprouts and string beans. Orders must be placed by Fri., Nov. 18, with pick-up up to Thanksgiving morning from 9 a.m.-noon. Meals can also be enjoyed in-house.
Prairie Grass Cafe Prairie Grass is taking all the thinking out of Thanksgiving dinner with a preset family-style meal, with wine pairings if you'd like, available for pickup on Thanksgiving Day. Orders must be placed by November 18, but beware, they may sell out!
The Smoke Daddy
Whole turkeys at this Wicker Park and Wrigleyville BBQ bastion are slow-smoked until heady and crisp; opt for Southern-style pulled turkey if you prefer your birds on the tender side. Or, skip the turkey this year and go with a glazed ham. Since families can’t exist on meat alone, the restaurant has housemade cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy at the ready, available by the quart. Orders are being taken through Nov. 18th for pickup on Nov. 22 & 23.
Weber Grill
Thanksgiving is finger-licking good when you’re greeted with a whole smoked turkey feast, and Weber Grill has flavor-filled party platters featuring all your fave fixins. We’re talking about maple whipped sweet potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, Weber sausage stuffing, and classic pumpkin or apple pie. Whole turkey orders must be placed by Friday, Nov. 18th. All other orders must be placed by Tuesday, Nov. 22nd. Pick-up with reheating instructions on either the 23rd, or Thanksgiving Day between 10am and noon.
And, if you want Weber Grill to do all the heavy lifting, the restaurants plan to be open and are accepting reservations for a three course turkey dinner. $39.95 for adults. $15.95 for children under 12.
Fresh Picks In the spirit of their mission to make fresh, organic food readily available to everyone while supporting local farms, Fresh Picks is offering a Thanksgiving option. For those who would like to serve a locally grown feast, Fresh Picks features locally grown produce commonly found in holiday recipes. It's a great way to support local businesses, with the added benefit of skipping the grocery store lines. Plus, turkeys will additionally be available to order through two different Fresh Picks farms. Orders can be placed now!
Meal Village Meal Village offers affordable locally made, non-subscription-based comfort food on a same-day delivery basis. Look to them for all your made-from-scratch sides and sauces.
Get your autumn season off to a great start with these ideas for the most photo-worthy spots that Dallas has to offer for fall
Hot summer temperatures have dipped and families are gearing up for their favorite autumn festivals. With November on the horizon and Halloween around the corner, now is the perfect time to plan all your fall family activities in Dallas. The city offers so many fun things to do, not the least including an eye-popping autumn display at the Dallas Arboretum.From corn mazes to stargazing, there are tons of ideas here to get your family out and exploring this fall.
Gabby Cullen
1. Plan a fall family road trip to nearby Fredericksburg. From hiking to local history and even a kid-friendly winery or two, there's plenty of adventure to be had in Hill Country.
3. Get everyone out to explore some of the beautiful waterfalls that the Dallas area has to offer. The area has more than you'd expect and Prarie Creek tops the list.
4. Head to the Texas State Fair, which should be brimming with fun fall activities in the barns, on the rides, and onstage. It's in town through October 23 so you have plenty of time to get in on the action.
5. Pick the perfect gourd at one of these local pumpkin patches. We know the kids will go wild for the one that offers face painting and shave ice along with Halloween activities.
6. While you are there, run through a corn maze and see how fast you can make it out! YEsterland Farm in Canton, TX opens for the season on Sep. 17 and the whole family will love it.
7. Then snag one of these pumpkin carving templates and go to town! Will your pumpkin be a cowboy or a minion this year?
8. Enjoy the cooling fall weather (and a bit of people watching!) by sitting outdoors at these restaurants with patios. Rockwall's Standard Service has live music while is the perfect excuse to get out there.
9. Build a bonfire and make s'mores. While you can do this anytime, there's something about those chilly nights that really make this a special fall activity. Amp up your s'mores game with these unique takes on the classic treat.
16. Shop your local farmer’s market. Glossy red apples, stew-worthy root veggies, and a cornucopia of squashes are waiting for you at your local farmer’s market in autumn. Get yours before the markets go on hiatus for the winter.
17. Spend a day at the Dallas Zoo. This 106-acre spot is the oldest zoo in Texas and full of fall activities with its family programs, giraffe feeding, reptile house, and so much more. You might have to come back for another day!
18. It's a crime to miss the fall season at the Dallas Arboretum. Autumn is arguably the best season there with autumnal flowers, gourds, and pumpkins all over the place.
20. Enjoy autumn views from the top of the Reunion Tower. This iconic building offers a 360-degree perspective of Dallas and its surrounding areas from a glassed-in open-air observation deck.
If the idea of coming up with a recipe and finding time to hit up the grocery store is too much to bear, this list of amazing meal delivery services in Dallas for families is the easiest way to get dinner on the table when you’ve got a busy plate (pun intended!) and exactly no time to plan. From heat-and-eat options for when you just can’t cook another meal, to meal kits that will have the kids cooking with you, there’s something on this list that will satisfy every family. Get ready to get cooking!
Front Porch Pantry
iStock
Since 2016, Front Porch Pantry has been feeding Texas families cost-effective, gourmet meals with no prep involved. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner delivered to your door when you want them, no subscription required. We love the honey lemon dijon chicken with rice pilaf and the steakhouse dinner with pup fries for family-friendly options. Not sure what to order? Try a "Taste of Front Porch Pantry" that includes 6 meals for $84/week.
Based in Austin with stores across Texas and in Philadelphia, Snap Kitchen offers fresh and healthy, chef-designed meals that are ready to heat and heat, no meal prep or cooking required. All Snap Kitchen meals are personally designed by a team of registered dietitians and chefs, with curated lifestyle plans including low carb, keto-friendly, Whole30, paleo, high protein, vegetarian, balance and best-sellers. Committed to only using ingredients that promote optimal health and reduce the risk of disease, Snap Kitchen meals are made fresh daily and do not contain any gluten, antibiotics, added hormones, or artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.
Snap Kitchen stores across Texas are open and convenient curbside pickup and delivery will still be available for contactless shopping. Stock up with fresh, healthy, no-work-required meals for the week by ordering online or via the iOS app.
Cost: The six-meal plan costs $14/meal and the 12-meal plan is $11/meal. Save $10 on an order of $50 via this link.
Sun Basket provides meal kit customers with organic produce and clean ingredients with paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and family menu selections. Consumers can also upgrade to premium meats like grass-fed filet and jumbo shrimp. Broaden your culinary horizons with family-friendly meals like chicken tagine and Taiwanese noodle soup. You can even select "super speedy" meals which can go from box to table in less than 20 minutes or "one pot" meals which keep the dishes to a minimum. Hooray!
Parents will love how Sun Basket encourages kids to participate in the cooking process (which has been shown to create more adventurous eaters). Each recipe includes a "Kids Can" section with suggestions of how kids can contribute to the meal prep by juicing a lemon, timing the orzo or strip the mint leaves.
Sun Basket recently released their Fresh & Ready meals and families will want to try them out for sure. Fresh & Ready is an ideal weeknight meal solution—the meals feature a complete dinner that is pre-cooked, packaged and can go straight into the oven or microwave, ready in 6 minutes or less, no additional prep required.
Chef-made, nutritionist-designed meal delivery service Territory Foods delivers meals free of gluten and refined sugars to families. With over 35 options that are updated weekly, you choose what you want, the items are cooked to order and delivered twice a week to keep your fridge stocked. Pause or cancel at any time. Try the chicken stir fry or BBQ pork with mashed potatoes as easy kid-friendly options.
The goal of HelloFresh is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner Martha. The partnership gives Marley Spoon access to Martha's archive of over 18,000 tried-and-true recipes to feature in their meal kits. They promise quality purveyors offering grass-fed beef, Berkshire pork, American-caught shrimp and artisanal cheeses. The menu features 22 choices every week and the website tags meals as family-friendly, under-30 minutes, gluten-free and other categories.
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are good for you and good for the planet. Choose from Quick & Easy, High-Protein, Gluten-Free or Chef’s Choice dinners and customize your choices to your liking. All meals are meat-free and easy to prepare. You can add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning and prep, and all that cleanup! Gobble shops, chops and delivers gourmet three-step recipes for one-pan cooking with zero prep required. What have you got to lose when it's just a one-pan cleanup?
Cost: Prices start at $15/serving. Dinner for two (3 nights a week) starts at $90. The first week of shipping is free.
Freshly is a weekly subscription service delivering fresh (not frozen), chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in three minutes. Unlike meal kits, all you need is a microwave, fork and plate (optional!) to get a satisfying lunch or dinner on the table. Think “nutritionist meets personal chef” vs. TV dinner when it comes to quality and flavor. With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps.
Cost: Customers can order 4-12 meals a week starting at $9/meal.
This meal delivery service is focused on kids. Carefully sourced fruits and veggies, and perfectly balanced—lunches, dinners and snacks from Yumble are nutritionist approved and kid approved, too! Choose your kids meals for the week and they'll be delivered free to your doorstep. Each box comes with new activities for kids, making mealtime a breeze for you and a joy for them.
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose among two-serving, four-serving, wellness and vegetarian menus to pick the options that are right for you. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Choose from three plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer. Menus change every week.
Cost: Meals start at $13/serving and $10 shipping.
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered weekly. With a variety 19 different recipes that rotate on a weekly basis, most recipes include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or preferences. Skip a week any time you'd like, the meals are convenient and kid-friendly.
Farmbox Direct offers various size boxes packed with seasonal, farm-fresh fresh fruits and vegetables to your door. You select the shipment size and customize your box, and check your doorstep for easy monthly deliveries.
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. The choices are totally kid-friendly. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
How about 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees, soups, and juices that just show up at your front door whenever you want them to? Then look no further than this healthy bunch (bonus: they deliver nationally, too).
There are no, zero, zilch animal products of any kind, here, ever! Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte, in full-on Meal Packs, and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight loss menu plan. As with most vegetarian cuisine: most meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy, but all meals are completely dairy-free and don't contain other allergens.
The end-of-summer checklist is long, but we found the perfect hack to shorten that to-do list! Meal kits. We rounded up a host of meal kit delivery services that cut your prep work so you have more time for things like back-to-school shopping. There are 14 amazingly delicious and outrageously healthy services that now ship to the Washington, DC area. Convenience…it’s what’s for dinner!
1. Yumble
Yumble
This meal delivery service is focused on kids. Carefully sourced fruits and veggies, and perfectly balanced—lunches, dinners and snacks from Yumble are nutritionist approved and kid approved, too! Choose your kids meals for the week and they'll be delivered free to your doorstep. The Bowl of Yays Pasta with veggie marinara and the Mighty Meatballs and Veggie Chili are crowd pleasers for sure. Each box comes with new activities for kids, making mealtime a breeze for you and a joy for them.
Green eggs and ham? Not quite. Think: Green as in USDA-certified organic, GMO-free ingredients sent to your doorstep direct from local farmers. This meal kit delivery service is for the family that makes a conscious effort to eat clean dinners. Order the family meal plan, which sends two wholesome dinners for a family of 4 and the cooking is done in 30-45 min. Examples of the scrumptious meals you can be serving up include Hawaiian Pork Fried Rice, Steak & Smashed Potatoes, and Crispy Dijon Chicken.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner Martha. The menu features 22 choices every week and the website tags meals as family-friendly, under-30 minutes, gluten-free and other categories. Favorites include: chicken fajita bowl, bacon-wrapped skillet meatloaf and lemon-brown butter salmon. The website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for careless cooks and kids who want to help.
Say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning and prep, and all that cleanup! Gobble shops, chops and delivers gourmet three-step recipes for one-pan cooking with zero prep required. How about picky eaters? Try Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Béarnaise Sauce or Crispy Chicken Sandwich & Napa Cabbage Slaw with Caraway Vinaigrette. What have you got to lose when it's just a one-pan cleanup?
Cost: Prices start at $15/serving for dinner for two.
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose among two-serving, four-serving, wellness and vegetarian menus to pick the options that are right for you. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Freshly is a weekly subscription service delivering fresh (not frozen), chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in three minutes. Unlike meal kits, all you need is a microwave, fork and plate (optional!) to get a satisfying lunch or dinner on the table. Think “nutritionist meets personal chef” vs. TV dinner when it comes to quality and flavor.
With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps. For example, Chicken Parm is coated in almond flour vs. bread crumbs and topped with marinara sauce sweetened with honey instead of refined sugars; Mac and Cheese is made with brown rice pasta and cheesy sauce blended with a purée of cauliflower and butternut squash; and Turkey Meatballs are packed with mushrooms and served over zoodles for a lower-carb alternative to pasta.
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered weekly. With a variety 19 different recipes that rotate on a weekly basis, most recipes include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or preferences. Skip a week any time you'd like, the meals are convenient and kid-friendly. The 15-minute meal kits include options like Honey Garlic Chicken with Broccoli and Carrots. Or, opt for more sophisticated meals from the culinary collection like Steak and Garlic Thyme Butter with balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Parmesan Twists.
The goal of HelloFresh is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes. Family-friendly meals include Tomato Tortellini Bake, Ginger Plum Chicken and Pork Chops with Apple Rosemary Pan Sauce.
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. The choices are totally kid-friendly with options like sweet and sour Swedish meatballs, turkey burgers and enchiladas. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
Healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Choose from three plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer. Menus change every week and you'll enjoy options like Steak & Cheddar Melts, Salmon with Creamy Chimichurri, and Creamy Baked Penne Pasta.
Cost: Meals start at $13/serving and $10 shipping.
How about 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees, soups, and juices that just show up at your front door whenever you want them to? Then look no further than this healthy bunch (bonus: they deliver nationally, too).
There are no, zero, zilch animal products of any kind, here, ever! Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte, in full-on Meal Packs, and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight loss menu plan. As with most vegetarian cuisine: most meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy, but all meals are completely dairy-free and don't contain other allergens.
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are good for you and good for the planet. Choose from Quick & Easy, High-Protein, Gluten-Free or Chef’s Choice dinners and customize your choices to your liking. All meals are meat-free and easy to prepare. You can add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Sun Basket provides meal kit customers with organic produce and clean ingredients with paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and family menu selections. Consumers can also upgrade to premium meats like grass-fed filet and jumbo shrimp. Broaden your culinary horizons with family-friendly meals like chicken tagine and Taiwanese noodle soup. You can even select "super speedy" meals which can go from box to table in less than 20 minutes or "one pot" meals which keep the dishes to a minimum. Hooray!
Parents will love how Sun Basket encourages kids to participate in the cooking process (which has been shown to create more adventurous eaters). Each recipe includes a "Kids Can" section with suggestions of how kids can contribute to the meal prep by juicing a lemon, timing the orzo or strip the mint leaves.
Sun Basket recently released their Fresh & Ready meals and families will want to try them out for sure. Fresh & Ready is an ideal weeknight meal solution—the meals feature a complete dinner that is pre-cooked, packaged and can go straight into the oven or microwave, ready in 6 minutes or less, no additional prep required.
Chef-made, nutritionist-designed meal delivery service Territory Foods delivers meals free of gluten and refined sugars to Dallas families. With over 35 options that are updated weekly, you choose what you want, the items are cooked to order and delivered twice a week to keep your fridge stocked. Pause or cancel at any time. Try the chicken stir fry or BBQ pork with mashed potatoes as easy kid-friendly options.
They also recently started offering Territory Grocery. Options: Produce Box featuring a 15+ lb. mix of garden veggies, root veggies, fruit, leafy greens and herbs; or Produce & Pantry Box including all of the above plus 2-3 lbs. of grains and legumes.
With the school year and work in full swing, now is the time when you might look to shortcuts for your family meal plan. With these local (and some not-so-local) meal kit delivery services, you can add another feather to your already full cap and whip up something delicious faster than you can load everyone in the car for take-out. Keep reading for our favorite meal delivery services in Atlanta, and let someone else do the cooking (or at least the shopping and prep) for a change.
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Instead of Flowers
This Atlanta meal delivery service offers ready-made dinners for diners who prefer to leave the prep work to someone else. With meal delivery from Monday to Friday between 3 and 6 p.m., Instead of Flowers guarantees you'll have a hot meal on the table before the last kids gets home from practice. Choose between complete meals or a la carte options, and be sure to check out the special kids' menu, as well.
Insider tip: When you gift a meal from Instead of Flowers, they contact your recipient, take their preferred order and delivery date, and even include an enclosure card letting them know that the dinner came from you. Sounds like an easy way gift for new parents to us.
With a weekly menu with multiple options—as well as three to four à la carte kits—and a delivery zone both ITP and OTP on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays (plus multiple pick up locations), Garnish & Gather is as big on offering their customers options as they are on offering quality local ingredients. They work with Atlanta's best chefs for meal kit recipes, recently featuring menus from the chefs of Miller Union, Banshee, Revival and Tiny Lou's.
Insider tip: Garnish & Gather has "kid approved" menu items, like lemon caper chicken, that take 20 minutes or less to prepare. They'll also deliver local groceries from Georgia farmers and artisans to your doorstep.
Owner Carol Rice's goal has always been to help families of all sizes get supper on the table because she knows what it means to be a busy parent of younger kids. Expect family friendly meals that are totally customizable for your family (you add the desired amount of spice to all entrees from the included bag yourself). If you want something left out or put on the side, or low sodium, or vegetarian or gluten free, or want to switch meats, all you have to do is make a note of it during check out. Menus include 16-20 choices that change monthly, and delivery includes all of metro Atlanta.
Insider tip: We love that Carol used to have her children's friends over to taste test upcoming menu items. Clearly these meals are crafted with the family table in mind.
Bag'd Atlanta is your source for local vegetables and fruits delivered to your door, also featuring a variety of add-ons and health and wellness products. While this isn't a prepared kid per se, the robust local fruits and veggies have a week's worth of produce to inspire any aspiring chef. Serving Intown Atlanta, and offering free delivery to Decatur and Avondale Estates for orders over $25 (and a small delivery fee elsewhere), Bag'd lets you get dinner in the bag.
Insider tip: Check the website for availability of dairy, eggs, and meat, all sourced from Georgia farmers and can be delivered to your door.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner Martha. The menu features over 45 choices every week, and the website tags meals as Family-Friendly, Under 30 minutes, Vegetarian or Vegan and other categories. Our favorites include: chicken fajita bowl, bacon-wrapped skillet meatloaf and lemon-brown butter salmon. The website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for careless cooks and kids who want to help.
The goal of HelloFresh is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes. Family-friendly meals include Tomato Tortellini Bake, Ginger Plum Chicken and Pork Chops with Apple Rosemary Pan Sauce.
Cost: starting at $10/serving + $10/box for delivery
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. The choices are totally kid-friendly with options like sweet and sour Swedish meatballs, turkey burgers and enchiladas. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
Healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Choose from three plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer. Menus change every week and you'll enjoy options like Steak & Cheddar Melts, Salmon with Creamy Chimichurri, and Creamy Baked Penne Pasta.
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are good for you and good for the planet. Choose from Quick & Easy, High-Protein, Gluten-Free or Chef’s Choice dinners and customize your choices to your liking. All meals are meat-free and easy to prepare, or you can select from prepared meals to be delivered to your door. You can add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Good to know: We’re crushing on Purple Carrot’s Plantry ingredients like cauliflower snacking crackers and chocolate-covered oat bites that kids can grab and eat.
How about 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees, soups and juices that just show up at your front door whenever you want them to? Then look no further than this healthy bunch (bonus: they deliver nationally, too). There are no, zero, zilch animal products of any kind, here, ever. Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos, and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte, in full-on Meal Packs, and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight loss menu plan.
Good to know: As with most vegetarian cuisine: most meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy, but all meals are completely dairy-free and don't contain other allergens.
Sun Basket provides meal kit customers with organic produce and clean ingredients with paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and family menu selections. Consumers can also upgrade to premium meats like grass-fed filet and jumbo shrimp. Broaden your culinary horizons with family-friendly meals like chicken tagine and Taiwanese noodle soup. You can even select "super speedy" meals which can go from box to table in less than 20 minutes or "one pot" meals which keep the dishes to a minimum. Hooray!
Parents will love how Sun Basket encourages kids to participate in the cooking process (which has been shown to create more adventurous eaters). Each recipe includes a "Kids Can" section with suggestions of how kids can contribute to the meal prep by juicing a lemon, timing the orzo or strip the mint leaves.
Sun Basket recently released their Fresh & Ready meals and families will want to try them out for sure. Fresh & Ready is an ideal weeknight meal solution—the meals feature a complete dinner that is pre-cooked, packaged and can go straight into the oven or microwave, ready in 6 minutes or less, no additional prep required.
Chef-made, nutritionist-designed meal delivery service Territory Foods delivers meals free of gluten and refined sugars to Dallas families. With over 35 options that are updated weekly, you choose what you want, the items are cooked to order and delivered twice a week to keep your fridge stocked. Pause or cancel at any time. Try the chicken stir fry or BBQ pork with mashed potatoes as easy kid-friendly options.
They also recently started offering Territory Grocery. Options: Produce Box ($60) featuring a 15+ lb. mix of garden veggies, root veggies, fruit, leafy greens and herbs; or Produce & Pantry Box ($70) including all of the above plus 2-3 lbs. of grains and legumes.
When it comes to feeding families, One Potato has got you covered. Co-founder Catherine McCord's best selling Weelicious recipes are the basis of the One Potato meals. There's nothing fussy here—the organic, non-GMO ingredients come pre-chopped, pre-measured and ready to get from box to table in no time. Each recipe will be ready in less than 30 minutes, which makes weeknight meals a cinch. Bonus: there's cookie dough included in every box!
One Potato understands that not every family has two adults and two kids so they offer plans for two to six servings per meal. By indicating how many children are in your family, you'll receive kid-sized portions (about half of an adult-sized portion) for them. Choose two or three meals to be delivered per week, or skip that week if you'll be out of town.
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose among two-serving, four-serving, wellness and vegetarian menus to pick the options that are right for you. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Freshly is a weekly subscription service delivering fresh (not frozen), chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in three minutes. Unlike meal kits, all you need is a microwave, fork and plate (optional!) to get a satisfying lunch or dinner on the table. Think “nutritionist meets personal chef” vs. TV dinner when it comes to quality and flavor.
With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps. For example, Chicken Parm is coated in almond flour vs. bread crumbs and topped with marinara sauce sweetened with honey instead of refined sugars; Mac and Cheese is made with brown rice pasta and cheesy sauce blended with a purée of cauliflower and butternut squash; and Turkey Meatballs are packed with mushrooms and served over zoodles for a lower-carb alternative to pasta.
While this meal kit delivery service isn't exclusive to Atlanta, it only preps and delivers gourmet three-step recipes (fist bump!). Their one-pan cooking with zero prep required means you cut down on the clean-up time, too. Plus, menu items are marked as "Certified" Gobble Kid Friendly, making it easy to pick the most foolproof meal for your little foodies.
Good to know: Gobble sends meal kits with the intent of 15 minutes or less of prep time, so you can spend more time hanging with your little gobblers—instead of stirring away over a hot stove.
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered weekly. With a variety of more than 20 different recipes that rotate on a weekly basis, most recipes include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or preferences. Skip a week any time you'd like, the meals are convenient and kid-friendly. The 15-minute meal kits include options like Mini Pesto Pork Pizzas. Or, opt for more sophisticated meals from the culinary collection like Crispy Chicken with Lemon Pistachio Butter.
My concern over my children’s health started well before birth. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I changed my already healthy diet to an extreme version of that. So, you can bet that when they began eating solid foods, and reports like those on heavy metals found in puff snacks surfaced, it set me on a path of hyper-vigilance. It was only when I decided to take a commonsense approach and look at the bigger picture that I found a much calmer and balanced approach to feeding my family.
I don’t know many parents who have the time to sift through lengthy reports and analyze the data to find the answers to their questions. For most of us, an almost certainly exaggerated headline and a quick scan of worrying bullet points are enough to send us to our pantries, purging foods deemed unsafe.
And these reports emerge quite often, like the latest congressional report titled Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury, which warns that those metals are associated with adverse “infant neurological development and long-term brain function.” If you think that sounds terrifying at first read, we agree!
The predominant foods of concern were jarred baby foods and puff snacks containing fruits, vegetables and grains. That’s right, those conveniently packaged foods we have all probably fed our children at some point are now on many parents’ lists of foods to avoid. Of course, parents have every right, and should, do their research on topics concerning the health of their children. Though, if you’re looking to spare yourself the long read and heightened anxiety, I’m sharing some food for thought and expert advice from a nutritionist.
First, fruits, vegetables and grains make up a large part of our diets—avoiding them entirely is not possible. The same goes for those heavy metals. The truth is, they exist in the very soil that our food is grown in and the water that those plants, and we, consume. Some foods naturally have higher levels, such as root vegetables, fruit juices and yes, grain products.
Still, as a result of the rice puff frenzy, you might have noticed some grain-free alternatives popping up on grocery store shelves. But many contain substitute ingredients—such as cassava flour and meat-derived products—that are new and not fully tested, meaning they come with their own set of potential risks. So, the trick here really is all about balance.
Crystal Karges, MS, RDN and mother of five, agrees that parents are inundated with so much information around food and that looking at the overall picture is key to remaining calm among the wave of panic—a piece of advice she regularly offers to her clients. She also emphasized that “most kids are not consuming these snack foods in quantities that would raise concerns about the harmful effects of the ingredients in question because these snacks make up a relatively small part of their overall intake.”
The amount of attention we put into helping our children establish a healthy relationship with food is of greater importance than counting each potentially harmful snack they consume. Modeling a peaceful relationship with food, instead of one full of fear and uncertainty, is a great way to help our children reach this goal.
Because babies and toddlers often need subdued introductions to flavors and textures to develop a more adventurous palate, these first foods—like their beloved puffs—can play an important role in helping them feel more comfortable at eating times, Karges says. “And when your child feels more comfortable, they’re more likely to build positive associations with food and eating.” That’s why parents should focus on variety, and not just the what, but also the how, she adds.
Ultimately, creating a nutritional plan based on a wide range of healthy whole foods while remembering that the occasional store-bought cupcake at a birthday party or cupful of puffs is less harmful than the stress caused—to parents and children—by trying to avoid them is a great strategy in finding balance.
