I’m ahead of my Thanksgiving preparation game. Gamma and my little bro will trek up to our house on Thursday for a festive meal. Four adults and two kids is a very small crowd if you ask me.  I’ve become an old hand at preparing Thanksgiving dinner – sometimes for over 20 – so nothing intimidates me about this meal. The support staff at Whole Foods, aka Whole Paycheck, were pleasant and helpful when I collected my 12 pound free range, organic turkey.  One glance a the pound of prepared mashed potatoes and I knew my people would like to consume a lot more than that, so I exchanged it for two pounds.

Gazing at the bakery items and picking out prepared curry chicken for my treat just for lunch was most satisfying. Volunteer work is caught up; the kids are healthy. I will make pumpkin pie will today; tomorrow I will knock out sausage and apple farro stuffing and a cranberry salsa. On Wednesday, I will brine the bird and make a dressed up green bean casserole (cream of portobello mushroom soup with fresh, not canned beans, anyone?). Life is good.

Then I saw the bags of groceries for sale at the register. Ten dollars to provide a spaghetti dinner for a family of four. And here I am buying $70 worth of organic free range turkey and store brand prepared mashed potatoes.  They is some expensive potatoes.

A portion of my Thanksgiving meal costs could fund seven dinners for four. The cashier didn’t even ask if I wanted to support our local food bank with a purchase. All I could think was how we surround ourselves with convenience items when there are clearly families in need of a break, a job, a home, a meal.

I selected the prepared mashed potatoes so I could avoid the peeling, boiling, and mashing time. I bought a fresh and overpriced young turkey because I’ve always bought frozen and figured this is the year I want to find out if organic tastes better. Translation: because I can afford to.  I donate to the food banks. This time of year, my husband and I donate more in assistance to organizations serving hurting families than we spend on gifts for our own kids, selves,and friends.  Yet, what can I do differently here?

This is the first and last year I buy prepared mashed potatoes. What if I donate more of my grocery bill to the food banks? I can certainly cut back on the excesses and conveniences in which I indulge. I’m not talking about letting go of good wines and fine threads. I’m talking about reducing the amount of food and meaningless junk  that I bring into the house.  I will let you know where this goes.