Thanksgiving can be stressful, from food prices to relatives. Here's how to get through it

Thanksgiving is almost here, and while that means the joys of getting together with family and friends over food and fun, it can also means stress for many — from trying to be the perfect host to sidestepping long-standing grudges or political differences to dealing with the stereotypical drunk uncle.

And in recent years, it's also meant climbing food prices. From turkey to cranberries, sweet potatoes to green beans for that casserole, and paying for gas for that five- or 500-mile drive.

A new survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine found that Americans are feeling the strain from inflation and world affairs this year, as well as other stressors

Of the 1,007 who responded to the survey, 81% said that national issues and world affairs are causing stress, while 75% are experiencing stress from rising prices and holiday spending.

Tyheria McKenney is one who is trying to deal with higher prices as she prepares for Thanksgiving and a big heaping of family and friends.

"Definitely," she replied when asked about Thanksgiving money stresses as she sat in her car last week in the Kroger parking lot off South Front Street in Columbus' Brewery District.

According to the most recent Consumer Price Index report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in the Midwest region overall were up 2.9% overall over the last 12 months. Food prices rose 3.1% during that period, although grocery-store prices declined a slight 0.2% for the month of October.

From October 2021 to October 2022, grocery prices jumped 12.4%.

Still, expect Thanksgiving dinner to be more expensive this year than 2022's average cost of $64.05 for a party of 10 according to the Farm Bureau.

Gasoline prices? Better than last year. According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular in Franklin County was $3.21 on Friday, down from $3.73 a year ago.

Kelley Breidigan, assistant clinical professor at Ohio State University's College of Social Work, said holiday expectations can be out-of-line compared to reality. "A lot of clients learn about budgets and scaling back menus," said Breidigan, who also is a psychotherapist.

So instead of five kinds of pie, now there might be one. And that's OK.

"Nobody’s holiday is perfect, nobody's family is perfect," Breidigan said.

So Bredigan said don’t be afraid to ask for financial help, or asking people to bring something to the meal. "You need folks to step up," she said.

"The whole idea to get family members to contribute, to get that variety, so there's no responsibility on one member," she said.

That's what McKenney is doing for Thanksgiving.

"I usually cook at my house," the 54-year-old South Side resident said. People come in and out all day, she said, ticking off a list of what has and will be served: turkey, ham, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, cabbage, greens.

Five generations of visitors, she said, and her visitors will be bringing food to help out. "We're supposed to be doing a collective family thing this year," McKenney said.

To save money, McKenney, who works at the deli counter at Kroger, has gone from buying national brands to store brands. She used coupons, saving $24 off of $200 in groceries at Kroger.

Loading his car at the Brewery District Kroger last week, Luke Krams, 34, of the South Side, said "the prices here have pretty much gone up and up since the pandemic."

But it doesn't seem to phase him. Krams said he just visits different stores and shops for the best prices. The old-fashioned way.

Beyond food, other stressors can come into play around the Thanksgiving table. Breidigan said people should remember why they got together in the first place.

"The whole reason to come together is to spend time with each other. Being aware that it's a temporary situation, be as gracious as you can," Breidigan said.

"It may be something where we set up some ground rules here," she said.

"If it’s too upsetting, change the topic, excuse yourself."

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Thanksgiving can be stressful from food to family. Here's some advice