Where to Find Prepared Thanskgiving and Holiday Food in Dallas

My mother has given up on the holidays. For Thanksgiving, she no longer prepares a meal, and they have leftovers or whatever she can find in the pantry. For Christmas, she puts out some muffins in the morning, and lets people find their own lunch. Since nothing is open and she doesn't do any special shopping the day before, this often means that there are some hungry people on Christmas. And I can't blame her. Since she doesn't usually have many people for the holidays, there is no reason to cook a large meal. But this year, she is expecting quite a few people. With a prepared meal from one of the three kitchens below, she can sit back and enjoy their company, instead of cooking a large meal.

Central Market is affiliated with H.E.B. stores. But their offerings stretch beyond just a grocery store. They could better be considered a food boutique, offering fresh flowers, meats and breads. Their holiday selection includes four different types of turkeys, including organic turkey. They also offer seven other types of poultry and many types of beef, ham, and lamb for your holiday meal choice. Combine these with gravy, cranberry-orange sauce, or spicy glazed harvest squash.They do offer a vegetarian meal for those who do desire a meat-free holiday. Central Market is located at 5750 E. Lovers Lane, and their "Holiday Hotline" number is 877-263-1379. Their holiday hours are 7am-10pm on November 21st and 22nd, and 8am-2pm on Thanksgiving Day. For Christmas, they are open 7am-10pm on December 22nd and 23rd, 7am-8pm on Christmas Eve, and they are closed on Christmas Day.

A hospital may seem like an odd choice to get your prepared holiday meal. After all, not many people rave about hospital food. But a meal from Southwestern Medical Center is not your typical hospital food. The nutritionists and dieticians at this kitchen prepare healthier versions of the traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner that we all know and love. The menu includes butter basted turkey, cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie. And because they take care of everything, you can sit back and relax this Thanksgiving. Order yours at the 5151 gift shop located on the first floor within the hospital at 5151 Harry Hines Blvd., or call 214-645-4430 for more ordering information.

Honeybaked Ham is most well known for their ham, as their name implies. But around the holidays, most people shop there for a turkey. Whether you choose ham or turkey, Honeybaked Ham has the right holiday meal package for you. Their ham dinner comes with an 8lb ham, four side dishes, and a gourmet dessert. Their turkey dinner comes with a roasted or smoked turkey, four side dishes, gravy, and two pies. Their side dishes include such holiday favorites as green bean casserole, sweet potato souffle, and herb stuffing. Their dessert options are carrot cake, chocolate cake, and a cheesecake sampler. They are located at 4343 W Northwest Hwy., and their phone number is 214-351-1414. They have a coupon on their website that allows you to save money on the holiday dinners. Contact them to find out their holiday hours and order your dinner.

If you have given up on cooking a meal for the holidays, that doesn't mean you need to go hungry. Contact one of these restaurants and let them do all the hard work for you. Then you can relax and enjoy your time off of work, and visit with your friends and family.