Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday that we share annually with family, friends and other loved ones.

During this great American tradition, we also aim for fantastic food and lots of happy times with those we care so much about, that day and every day.

The holiday can also be stressful, though, for the host and for all those doing all the cooking and prepping.

A few easy and smart precautions will help the day be even more enjoyable.

Begin your holiday with an extra dose of vitamin C.

The kisses and hugs from everyone are lovely, but you have no idea what germs and bacteria are being swapped around the house.

Related: Gratitude Takes Our Problems and ‘Makes Them into Something Beautiful’

Drink extra water during the first part of the day and if possible, keep that going throughout the day.

Once the first bottle of wine is cracked open, there’s no turning back.

The water helps keep you hydrated.

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On that note, having Excedrin or Advil on hand is also a great idea.

It may come in handy at the end of the celebration or the next morning.

Anesthetic wipes and antibacterial soap strategically placed around the house will undoubtedly help kill germs.

Hands will be everywhere — as people taste food as it’s being prepared, kids with runny noses touch anything and everything, and other unspeakable hygiene blunders occur.

Have some raw honey and raw ginger available to whip up a quick tea for those who develop a stomachache. Place the fresh ginger in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, then simmer for about five minutes.

Strain the liquid while pouring into the mugs and add the honey as desired.

For the children you’ll be sharing the holiday with, designate one room for them so that at the end of the day, they can zone out to a “chill” movie, while the adults relax in another area of the home.

Fluff it up with lots of pillows and blankets and darken the room.

Related: 10 Reasons to Be Thankful — This Year and Always

Assign one of the older children to “supervise.”

It may just be a perfect recipe for sleepy young ones.

Be sure all of the adults are toning down the drinking toward the end of the day. If necessary, call a cab or an Uber to get people home safely, or make other smart arrangements depending on locations and plans.

Some families collect all keys in a basket upon entry to the home for this specific purpose, by the way.

You may consider a cellphone basket as well.

Above all, remember the meaning of this beautiful holiday: to give thanks for all that we are blessed with, for all that we have.

Related: Grateful This Thanksgiving for the ‘Emergency’ Blessing of Strangers

And don’t hold back: Share your thoughts with the people around you about why you’re grateful to have them in your life!

Christine King, based in Boynton Beach, Florida, is founder and CEO of  Your Best Fit, a health and wellness company that provides fitness, nutrition, and design and management services. This article appeared in LifeZette earlier and has been updated. 

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