The grand finale of your challenge is a Day 7 that can feel triumphant, joyful, and effortlessly orchestrated. Because you took intentional steps all week (shopping is done, the timeline is set & dishes are prepped), all you have to do now is finish and put together your meal. Finally… Hosting, cooking, and serving can feel smooth, allowing you to be fully present with loved ones. You can feel good that you have put together a menu that is balanced and delicious. The gift of preparation keeps giving - You can finish the holidays feeling recharged instead of depleted, knowing that you maintained traditions, food, and self-care. Celebrating yourself for a successful prep and setting the tone for a healthy, happy new year. This is something you can easily carry forward into 2026!

Today is where you set yourself up for success. You already have all the ingredients and have a prep list planned out so it is time to get to work. Day 6 is a walk through of how to get your menu done with ease. Today is about getting all the heavy lifting done so that you can execute the menu easily and on time tomorrow. The whole point of today is to prep to the point of having most menu items just ready to be finished tomorrow. We will NOT be waiting for the water to boil so we can make mashed potatoes tomorrow… We will even work in some clean up time during the day so the entire kitchen isn’t thrashed

Simplify, Organize, & Prep Like a Pro The Prep List is the secret weapon of every successful holiday host. Day 5 centers on organization: by planning shopping, prepping ingredients, and assembling menus ahead of time, you’ll transform your cooking experience from chaotic to effortless. Also you will be guided by a Chef! Embracing chef-level tricks, like making lists, marinating, making sauces, prepping food in advance, and batching recipes help you save time. This approach reduces last-minute stress, prevents forgotten items, and keeps clean-up smooth. You’ll feel calm, confident, and in control, because you are doing most of the work ahead of time. Today is all about thinking ahead : what can be done early so that it just needs reheating or a short finish in the oven? What can be made tomorrow and finished? What parts can be finished tomorrow making the final dishes easy to assemble? I walk you though how to easily think through your menu and get everything done ahead of time in a way that makes sense. There is a process to this and Day 5 is the beginning of making hosting a pleasure—not pressure—creating room for laughter, connection, and new memories. Tomorrow learn how to put this plan into action!

On day 2 of this challenge, lets focus on you. Why? Because you cannot pour from an empty cup and it sets the stage for everything that follows. It is very easy to give to everyone else during the Holidays because they are important and you want everyone to feel loved and appreciated. But you are important too and that is why this exercise is meaningful. Just take 17 minutes a day for yourself and see how it helps your mindset. It is easier to pour Christmas Punch from a full cup. So get out there! It could be as simple as walking to the park down the street, taking a stroll to the coffee shop, doing some chair yoga, Tai Chi, jumping jacks, etc. The point is to get the juices flowing and do it for yourself. And this is something to continue doing through the Holidays and into the new year! The cool part about this prep is that everything I encourage you to do yourself, you can do with someone else. This is how you become a chef, because a chef is a person that teaches a skill and leads, and the student can later teach that skill to others. Ask a friend to walk with you and if they are away, you can still have a walk talking to them over the phone. There are truly no limitations to how you can connect with the ones you care about. Tomorrow we get to work on the Christmas Meal so stay tuned for that.

Did you just say “eat that dessert?” Yes I did. And I know I’m the healthy eating Chef who is all about balance. But let’s be real: alcohol and desserts are a part of the Holidays. You are probably going to drink and eat dessert and YOU SHOULD! Remember though that your health and wellbeing are important too, so how do we drink and have dessert and call it healthy? Here is my philosophy and this is what I tell my coaching clients: when it comes to dessert, you will have it sometimes. I don’t want the dessert to be some low-fat pseudo chocolate Splenda something because that is just not satisfying. I want it made with all the butter, all the sugar and all the flavor that it should have. You are going to eat it, but in a specific way. What I have found is that we as humans need to be able to appreciate and enjoy our food. Always restricting and saying no is just not sustainable for most people and is certainly not enjoyable. We need that emotionally. But there is a way to do it MINDFULLY and that goes for both alcohol and sweets. So here is what I teach: First, tell yourself that you’re going to eat this dessert and appreciate it and savor it. Give yourself permission. Second, eat it slow. By that I mean, take small bites of it and really savor the taste. Chew longer. Taste the flavors. Experience the textures. And when you are done, be done. That small piece is just as satisfying as eating three. And you won’t end up feeling terrible the next day. Now, since you are going to be feeling good, you will need that for tomorrow…