Thanksgiving is a great time to spend with friends and family, but it can be quite the production, even on your best day. If you or a loved one is going through cancer treatment, and you’re still up for making that good ol’ turkey day feast, be kind to yourself and keep things simple. These easy Thanksgiving tips and tricks will get you through the day with less work and in fine style. Trust us, it will all taste so good no-one will notice you cheated a little!

1. Buy pre-cut anything and everything you can! if you are not following an immune-suppressed diet! Who cares who did the chopping? It might be a little more expensive, but pre-chopped vegetables can save so much time. Most grocery stores offer pre-cut onions, carrots, celery, and the toughest of all, winter squash. You can also buy pre-peeled garlic. Take a look around the prepared section to see what your market has available.

2. Just maybe, skip the big bird. Of course, it’s an important part of the table, but roasting a huge bird is one of the hardest aspects of Thanksgiving. From brining it in a huge tub overnight, to lifting it in and out of the oven, to basting every few hours — some of us just plain don’t have the energy. Buying turkey breasts will feed a surprising number of mouths and cook so much faster. Check out our Stuffed Turkey Breast Recipe, Cumin & Cilantro Marinated Turkey Breast, you can also use our Pomegranate Glazed Chicken recipe for turkey, it’s easy and delectable. If you just can’t resist roasting the whole bird check out our Basic Roast Turkey recipe or our Cider Glazed Turkey recipe.

3. Buy pie crust. Of course we have a delicious Whole-Wheat Pie Crust you can try on your own, but the crust can be the hardest part of the pie. Instead, focus on the filling. We have many pies we’ve tested time and time again that use less sugar and fat than traditional pies but with all the same great flavor. Instead of making the crust save the time and decide which one you’d like to make! Click here for our amazing holiday pies.

4. Pre-make sides and casseroles a few days in advance to freeze and pop in the oven for a much easier day-of process. Check out some of our fun Thanksgiving Sides.

5. Do some sprucing. You can throw some baked carrots and potatoes with rosemary around a roast chicken, add some orange zest to pre-made cranberry sauce, or add some kale chopped and sautéed with garlic to prepared stuffing to make the meal feel your own — and to add some nutrients. Sometimes it’s more important to focus on rest and family than making a hugely fancy meal.

6. Don’t forget the parchment paper and aluminum foil! Placing parchment or foil under any baked goods can be a serious time saver when it comes time to wash the dishes. Save the elbow grease for another day. You can also try using a Silpat Mat which is one of the best ways to make any baking sheet non-stick.

7. Ask for help. Potlucks are one of the best ways to spread the work out, a simple email chain can get people on board. Do you insist on cooking? Make sure you have someone else set the table, cleanup, and do all the dishes. Everyone can pitch in this holiday season.