Storing Food
should be left out no longer than two hours. After that, you need to store it. Put the separate dishes in shallow containers that allow them to cool evenly and quickly, and refrigerate them as soon as possible. You will need to estimate the number of days it can stay fresh in the refrigerator. If you cannot use it all up within about four days, you will need to freeze the rest or give some away to your guests to take home.
Planning
Grazing and nibbling in the days after your holiday meal can be enjoyable. A bite of turkey here and a spoonful of potatoes there may seem innocent, but they can undermine your healthy eating efforts. While you may enjoy a repeat mini-feast on Friday, you are far less likely to enjoy your holiday reruns by Saturday and Sunday. A little bit of extra planning can allow you to mix and match your leftovers in fun, new ways for novel snacks and meals throughout the weekend. The right plan can also help you avoid diet pitfalls and keep your calorie intake under control.
Mixing and Matching
Get creative with your leftovers. The humble sandwich is a classic post-holiday lunch favorite, but mixing it up can keep your enjoyment levels high. Slice the turkey to use with crackers or specialty breads and cheeses, or make a tasty casserole with the remaining poultry and vegetables topped with dollops of stuffing or mashed potatoes. Soups, potato fritters and salads are also great ways to mix and match the leftovers to create new nutritious meals.