-Christine Chung

You might be busy, or flights are too expensive – life happens, and you may find yourself spending Thanksgiving alone. It can be a tough time to be away from family and friends, but before you decide to spend the day feeling sad and ordering mediocre Chinese takeout, keep this advice in mind:

• Create a positive atmosphere – Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions? If so, go about your day like you would with family. That might mean having a pre-dinner cookie, putting on Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, or wearing some fuzzy slippers. Do anything that will make you feel at home and happier.
• Video-call your friends and family during the day so you don’t feel completely excluded – They will be so happy to hear from you and you’ll get to see any holiday drama go down with the option of hanging up from miles away. Amazing.
• Try out these festive recipes to make for yourself – You don’t have to resort to take out.

1. One Pan Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are not only an instant comfort food; it’s a classic Thanksgiving side dish. This quick recipe from Cooking Light is easy and you only need one pot – aka less mess and dishes to wash!

2. Honey Maple Turkey Breast

Let’s be real, you can’t celebrate Thanksgiving without turkey. Forget making an entire turkey (unless you’re really up for the challenge of eating it all). A turkey breast feeds a smaller amount of people, and in this case, it’ll be a perfect size for you AND you’ll still have leftovers for the rest of the week! Check out this awesome recipe on The Kittchen blog.

3. Individual Apple Crisps with Oatmeal Crumble

To end your solo Thanksgiving dinner, try out this classic fall dessert. Our easy recipe is great for those apples you may have forgot about when you went apple picking earlier this season.

One last piece of advice: whether you are with your family or by yourself, make sure you take some time to reflect on all the things you’re thankful for this year.