The holidays may be known for big meals and special traditions, but there are plenty of everyday food decisions happening between the celebrations, too. New survey findings show Americans are feeling the pressure of planning, cooking and keeping everyone fed throughout the season, especially parents. From reaching for convenient meal options to turning to AI for inspiration, people are finding ways to spend a little less time wondering what’s for dinner and a little more time enjoying the season. 

The Hardest Holiday Meal Might Not Be the Holiday Meal  

The holidays may be marked by a few big meals, but the planning and cooking can stretch across the whole season. For many households, the days between celebrations bring their own to-do lists and their own dinner decisions. Convenience and two sources of advice help alleviate the decision fatigue of the holiday season.

More than half of Americans (56%) say the time between holiday celebrations is more stressful than the holiday itself, with the share rising to 70% among both parents and Zillennials. 

For parents, the challenge isn’t just deciding what to serve at the main event. Nearly three-quarters (73%) say deciding what to cook in the days leading up to a holiday is more difficult than choosing the holiday meal itself. Half (51%) say finding time to cook between holiday events is stressful, while 68% say they get tired of having to cook in between holidays. 

Permission to Keep it Simple 

Convenience is one way households are taking some of the pressure off. Eighty percent of Americans, including 88% of parents, say they’re looking for convenient meals during the moments in between holiday celebrations. Among parents, 43% say the holidays would be more convenient if meals could be prepared in under 30 minutes. And 51% say that having someone else handle the cleanup would help with convenience, too. 

The good news? Not every meal during the holiday season has to be an event. On busy weeknights, familiar favorites and quick-prep options like Hillshire Farm® Smoked Sausage, Jimmy Dean® Sausage or Tyson® Chicken Cups can help take some of the guesswork out of what’s for dinner.  

When friends or family stop by, Hillshire® Snacking Trays and Hillshire Farm® Lil’ Smokies are the perfect fit for casual gatherings or snack-time moments. 

For the celebrations themselves, Tyson® Holiday Nuggets, Tyson® Cornish Hens or Wright Brand Hams offer plenty of ways to put something festive on the table without making things more complicated.  

Need Inspo? Technology Can Help, Too  

Convenience isn’t the only way Americans are making holiday meal planning a little easier. Half (51%) of Americans say they have used AI to help with at least one holiday cooking task. That rises to 72% among parents and 69% among Zillennials.  

AI might help generate a meal idea, organize a grocery list or suggest ways to use ingredients already on hand. It can be another source of inspiration when holiday planning starts to feel like one more job on an already full schedule. 

The takeaway isn’t that every meal needs a shortcut or a new tool. It’s that the season includes more than the centerpiece meal and that finding small ways to simplify the days around it can matter, too. A convenient option, a shared task or a fresh idea for dinner may help make room for what people look forward to most: spending time together. 

Methodology: *An 8-minute survey was fielded among 1,000 nationally representative US respondents who celebrate at least one fall or winter holiday. The survey was fielded from September 29 to October 6, 2026 with a ±3.1% margin of error at the 95% confidence level.