Simple tips to help you coordinate Thanksgiving with friends, family: Video

Planning a big holiday meal or a potluck with friends involves a lot of coordination. If you’re in charge, you need to make sure there’s enough food, enough variety and that no two people bring the same dish. Do you have enough chairs? Plates? Wine glasses? Utensils? What about food intolerances?

In these moments, work smarter — not harder. Instead of taking on the burden yourself, let others share in the planning. That eases the stress on the host and lets everyone attending know what to expect and where they can pitch in.

Watch this video for tips to help you plan a gathering with your friends and family.

Make holiday coordination easier

Coordinating with friends and family can feel like herding cats. Simplify it — and let technology be the middle ground that brings more coordination and less chaos.

There are apps designed to help plan gatherings, but they usually require everyone to download them, and that can be a hassle. Skip those and use a classic Google Sheet or a shared note on your iPhone instead.

Then, share the link with everyone invited and let them fill in what they’re bringing.

• To share a Google Sheet: Click the Share button and copy and paste the link. Make sure the permissions are set so everyone can edit it.
• For a shared note: Tap the Share button and change the setting in the drop-down menu. Note: this option requires everyone to have an Apple device.

In addition to coordinating the menu, use the document to share important details with guests — such as parking instructions, home entry info, the Wi-Fi password, dress code and any other relevant notes.

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Don’t forget the utensils 

Planning the meal is just part of hosting. Even if someone has signed up to bring plates and cutlery, there’s always a chance people forget serving utensils for their dishes.

Watch this video for tips on preparing your utensils for Thanksgiving.

A few days before the holiday, pull out all the dishes and utensils you’ll need. That gives you time to wash and polish everything — and borrow anything you might be missing.

Depending on your menu, you’ll need:

• A large spoon for dishes like mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, dressing or stuffing. 
• A spatula for casseroles. 
• A ladle for gravy or other sauces. 
• Tongs for a salad. 
• Serving fork for meat. 
• Pie server for desserts. 

Create a note and label the dishes so everyone knows where everything goes. Those labels can also double as signage when it’s time to dish up — letting guests know what the dish is and whether it includes any ingredients that may not be allergy- or intolerance-friendly.

To make future gatherings easier, create a list of the dishware and serving utensils you own and what foods you use them for. Keep it in your phone or on your computer so you can easily access it when needed. You can even add photos for quick reference.