Holiday Season Survival Guide: Quick Dinners When Life Gets Busy
Let’s be honest: the holidays are basically a whirlwind wrapped in twinkle lights.
You've got:
Work deadlines
Recitals and school events
Cards you forgot to mail
A fridge that somehow has nothing in it
Office parties
Travel
Plus the emotional labor of “making it magical.”
And in the middle of all that?
You still have to figure out dinner.
Every. Single. Night.
If December has you ping-ponging between takeout, freezer dinners, and eating hummus with a spoon at 8:30 PM… you are in good company.
Here’s the truth:
December is not the month to reinvent your eating habits. It’s the month to simplify them.
This guide will show you how.
Why Holiday Dinners Feel Impossible (Even When You “Know What to Do”)
If you normally feel competent in the kitchen but December turns your brain into mashed potatoes, there’s a reason:
1. Your schedule is maxed out.
You’re operating at (or above) 100% capacity.
2. Your decision-making fuel tank is empty.
Dinner? Another decision? Hard pass.
3. Your energy is wildly inconsistent.
Some nights you’re festive.
Some nights you’re horizontal.
4. You’re eating more treats — which is NORMAL.
But your brain might be telling you food guilt stories.
5. You’re trying to “be good” AND “enjoy the holidays.”
And that tension alone is exhausting.
This season is about reducing friction — not adding more.
So let’s shift into Survival Mode (the healthy, realistic kind).
The Holiday Dinner Survival Framework
(Use this all December. Repeat as needed.)
Think of this as your “I do NOT have the bandwidth for cooking” formula:
Protein + Veggie + Flavor Shortcut + Easy Carb
That’s it.
This formula works even when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or running late.
Let’s build out each piece.
🍗 PROTEINS (Choose 1–2 Each Week)
Fast, low-effort, and zero drama.
Rotisserie chicken
Canned beans
Frozen shrimp
Turkey meatballs
Pre-cooked chicken sausage
Canned tuna
Tofu (5-minute sauté)
Microwave egg bites (yes, really)
If you keep 2–3 of these around, dinner becomes a 10–15-minute project.
🥦 VEGGIES (Fresh, Frozen, or Pre-Chopped)
December is a “no shame in your shortcut game” month.
Options:
Frozen broccoli
Frozen veggie blends
Baby spinach (toss into literally anything)
Pre-cut stir fry veggies
Steam-in-bag green beans
Baby carrots + hummus
Microwavable Brussels sprouts
If the thought of chopping anything makes you cry…
use frozen. Use pre-cut. Use canned.
Your sanity > aesthetics.
🍝 EASY CARBS (Think 5-Minute Prep)
Microwavable rice
Tortillas
Sourdough or whole wheat bread
Pasta
Quick-cook quinoa
Frozen roasted potatoes
Couscous (5 minutes!)
Carbs = energy.
Energy = survival.
We do not restrict carbs in December. We harness them.
🥫 FLAVOR SHORTCUTS (The Secret Sauce… Literally)
These take meals from “meh” to “wow, I made dinner??”
Jarred pesto
Marinara sauce
Soy sauce
Curry paste
Salsa
Caesar dressing
Teriyaki sauce
Tahini
Balsamic glaze
Garlic-herb butter
Keep 3–4 of these on hand at all times.
8 Quick Dinners That Practically Make Themselves
Here are real-life dinners you can rely on all December — whether you’re rushing out the door to a concert or home at 7PM with zero energy.
1. Rotisserie Chicken + Salad Kit + Microwave Potatoes
3 minutes. Looks like you tried.
2. Tortellini Pesto Soup
Tortellini + broth + spinach + a spoonful of pesto.
Instant comfort.
3. Shrimp Stir Fry
Frozen shrimp + frozen veggies + soy sauce + rice.
Done in 10 minutes.
4. Chickpea Tacos
Chickpeas + taco seasoning + tortillas + lettuce + salsa.
Vegetarian, fast, filling.
5. Five-Minute Pasta Bowl
Pasta + olive oil + garlic + spinach + parmesan.
The “I’m too tired to function” meal.
6. Sheet-Pan Chicken Sausage Dinner
Chicken sausage + veggies + olive oil + seasoning.
Throw on a sheet pan, roast 20 minutes, walk away.
7. Tuna Melt + Soup
Comfort food, but make it grown-up.
Cheap, nostalgic, satisfying.
8. Snack Board Dinner
Crackers + cheese + fruit + veggies + nuts.
A no-cook lifesaver when your brain is fried.
The Emotional Side of December Eating
It’s not just about food.
It’s about pressure, expectations, exhaustion, and a season that asks you to be everything for everyone.
So here’s your permission slip:
You’re allowed to use shortcuts.
You’re allowed to plan takeout nights.
You’re allowed to rotate the same 3 dinners all month.
You’re allowed to need things to be easier.
“Healthy” isn’t the opposite of “convenient.”
Healthy can be convenient.
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Instead of asking:
“What’s the healthiest possible dinner?”
Ask:
“What’s the easiest dinner that still supports me?”
That question alone will save you:
time
money
stress
guilt
overwhelm
And your future self (the tired one, the holiday-party-one, the “I’ve wrapped 47 gifts” one) will thank you for it.
Final Takeaway
December is not the time to cook elaborate meals, overhaul your diet, or make things harder for yourself.
It is the time to:
simplify
rotate go-to meals
use shortcuts
lower expectations
and support yourself with food that keeps you steady
Holiday magic doesn’t come from complicated dinners.
It comes from you feeling calm enough to enjoy the season.
Want a plug-and-play dinner plan for the entire month of December (no thinking required)?
Get the full December Dinner Blueprint inside “The Appetizer” program: www.marybos.co
