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With Thanksgiving coming up, a lot of us are making lists — who’s coming, who’s bringing the pie, and whether you should give your kitchen a break and let someone else do the cooking. Whatever your holiday looks like, we’ve pulled together a little bit of everything to help.

Below you’ll find tips from a Life Time Burlington trainer for feeling good through the holiday, a gluten-free cooking guide from Post 1917 chef Jason Carron for every skill level, some of the local restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner this year, religious services and community events around town, and ways to lend a hand to neighbors who could use some extra support this season.

Happy Thanksgiving, Burlington. Burlington Buzz is grateful for you.

Tips for Celebrating in Moderation

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Emily Nosalek, personal training leader at Life Time Burlington, started out as a personal trainer before realizing her real passion was helping people make fitness part of their everyday lives. Her advice for the holiday is refreshingly doable.

Feeling good on the big day

  • Start the day with movement. A turkey trot, a 5K, a morning walk or a quick strength workout all count. Burlington’s annual Turkey Trot will be on Nov. 21 at Burlington High School. Register and learn more.
  • Drink water throughout the day. Staying hydrated helps you feel your best from breakfast to pie to after-dinner cocktails.
  • Build your plate with protein and veggies first, then save a spot for the fun foods.
  • Skip the all-or-nothing mindset. Instead of restricting or saving up calories, Nosalek suggests tuning in to your body and what feels good.
  • Be present. Focus on quality time with friends and family. Nosalek said being present throughout the day can help quiet that “food noise.”

After the meal

Get the whole family up from the table with board games, cards, a game of football, or something more active like Just Dance or Twister.

One small habit for National Diabetes Month

November is National Diabetes Month, and Nosalek’s tips are good ones to remember all year:

  • Prioritize protein and fiber-rich veggies. They help you feel satisfied without spiking your blood sugar.
  • Keep moving throughout the day.
  • Take a 10- to 15-minute walk after you eat. It helps your body put those carbs to use.

New to exercise? Start small

If you don’t usually work out, Nosalek recommends starting with a five-minute walk. “You can do anything for five minutes,” she said. Pick something easy that you can do anywhere, at any time, and build from there as small habits turn into bigger ones.

Tips for the Perfect Home Meal

Cooking for a gluten-free guest can feel daunting if it’s not something you do every day. Jason Carron, chef at Post 1917 in Lexington, gets it. When his son was diagnosed with celiac disease, the family replaced their pans — and even found gluten in their shampoo. “It’s nerve wracking,” he said. “I get it.”

The good news? “Gluten-free cooking is simple,” Carron said. “You just use the best ingredients, and you don’t use any processed food.” And that’s good advice whether you’re staying gluten-free or not.

Here are some of Carron's tips for making a tasty home meal, depending on how much time you’ve got.

If you’ve got five minutes

  • Read every label. Gluten hides in places you wouldn’t expect. “You become a master at reading the ingredients,” Carron said.
  • Stick with whole, fresh ingredients. Fewer packages means fewer surprises.
  • Thicken your gravy with cornstarch. A cornstarch slurry does the job flour usually does.

If you’ve got an afternoon

  • Make stovetop-style stuffing. Carron starts with celery, carrots and onion, adds gluten-free bread crumbs (check the label for a certified gluten-free brand), fresh thyme and a little butter. “I try to make it as close to Stove Top stuffing as possible,” he said. His family always made two: a traditional vegetable stuffing and a sausage version made with a good local sausage.
  • Swap the cranberry sauce for a fresh apple sauce. Simmer apples with a little brown sugar, plus cinnamon and clove if you like them, blend it smooth, then stir in small-diced apple for crunch.
  • Try twice-baked Japanese sweet potatoes. Bake them, scoop out the middles and mix with pancetta, arugula and shiitake mushrooms. Fill the potatoes back up and top with goat cheese before baking once more. “Those are fun and easy,” Carron said.

If you’re going all in

  • Make your gravy from scratch. Carron roasts beef or turkey bones (ask your butcher or grocery store) with onion, carrot, and celery, turns them into stock, then slow-cooks it with the turkey drippings. If it won’t reduce enough, a cornstarch slurry thickens it up. It’s about a three-day process. “I know cooking for Thanksgiving’s bad enough,” he said, “but if you can, I would recommend doing that because it just soaks up all the flavor.”
  • Give gluten-free cooking its own day. To avoid cross-contamination, Carron suggests cooking the gluten-free dishes first in a freshly cleaned kitchen, then setting them aside to warm up on the big day.

Rather leave it to the pros? Post 1917’s entire Thanksgiving dinner is gluten-free this year, and the restaurant is offering veterans a free turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day. (Post 1917 is a Burlington Buzz advertising partner.)

Restaurants serving Burlington residents this Thanksgiving

Not cooking this year? Several Burlington restaurants are serving Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 26, and a few will also send you home with a feast to go. Tables fill up fast, so book early — and call ahead to confirm menus and prices. A number of these restaurants offer function rooms for your holiday hosting needs, as well. 

Here are the spots we found:

  • The Bancroft, 15 Third Ave., Burlington. Thanksgiving prix fixe, dine-in only. Seatings start at 11:30 AM; the last seating is 5:45 PM. Learn more or call 781-221-2100 for reservations.
  • CafĂ© Escadrille, 26 Cambridge St., Burlington. Sit-down Thanksgiving dinner or Thanksgiving buffet. Book online or call 781-273-1916.
  • The Capital Grille, 10 Wayside Rd., Burlington. Thanksgiving dinner plus the full dinner menu. Sides to go must be pre-ordered by Tuesday, Nov. 24, for pickup Wednesday, Nov. 25, 9 AM–5 PM or Thursday, Nov. 26, 9–11 AM. Reserve or pre-order online.
  • Eddie V’s, 50 South Ave., Burlington. Thanksgiving dinner plus the full dinner menu. 11 AM to 9 PM. Reserve online or call 781-221-7151.
  • Fogo de ChĂŁo, Burlington Mall, 75 Middlesex Tpke., Burlington. Dinner menu all day, dine-in or to go. Hours vary by location. Reserve on OpenTable or call 781-382-0222.
  • Mooo, 86 Cambridge St., Burlington. Thanksgiving menu served 11:30 AM to 8 PM, dine-in only. Learn more or call 781-270-0100 for reservations.
  • Post 1917 (Burlington Buzz advertising partner — find them in the 2026 Winter Magazine), 27 Waltham St., Lexington. The entire prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner is gluten-free, and veterans can enjoy a free turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Regular menu also available. 12 PM to 8 PM. Reserve online or call 781-377-1917.
  • Redstone American Grill, 20 Third Ave., Burlington. Thanksgiving buffet, 11 AM to 7 PM. $64.95 per adult, $19.95 for kids 6–12, free for kids 5 and under. Takeout also available. Reserve on OpenTable or call 781-229-0330.
  • Seasons 52, 6 Wayside Rd., Burlington. Thanksgiving dinner plus the full menu. A Thanksgiving Green Box to go serves 4–6; pre-order by Monday, Nov. 23, for pickup Wednesday, Nov. 25, 11 AM–4 PM. Reserve or pre-order online or call 781-272-5552.

Religious Services and Community Events

A number of Burlington's houses of worship are offering religious and interfaith services this Thanksgiving season and beyond — and the town is also marking the start of the holiday season with its annual tree lighting. Here are the events we were able to gather:

  • Tuesday, Nov. 24 — Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 7 Concord Rd., Billerica. Community dinner 6–7 PM, followed by an interfaith service at 7 PM.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving Eve Service, Mount Hope Christian Center, 3 McGinnis Dr., Burlington. 7 PM.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving Eve Service, Pinewood Lutheran Church, 24 Burlington Rd., Burlington. 7:30 PM.
  • Thursday, Nov. 26 — Thanksgiving Mass, St. Margaret Church (St. Veronica Parish), 111 Winn St., Burlington. 9 AM.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 1 — Burlington Community Tree Lighting, Burlington Town Common. 5:30 PM. Inclement weather date: Friday, Dec. 4.
  • Sunday, Dec. 6 — Hanukkah Party, Temple Shalom Emeth, 16 Lexington St., Burlington. 11–11:30 AM.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 8 — Community Menorah Lighting & Party, Temple Shalom Emeth, 16 Lexington St., Burlington. 6:30–8:30 PM.

Lend a Hand This Holiday Season

If you’re feeling thankful this year, there are a couple of easy ways to pass it along to neighbors right here in Burlington.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Saturday, Nov. 21 — 10 AM to 1 PM, United Church of Christ, Congregational, 6 Lexington St., Burlington.

People Helping People, the Burlington Food Pantry and the Thanksgiving Dinner Distribution Team are collecting non-perishable food for Thanksgiving dinners for local families, plus everyday staples for the food pantry.

Dropping off couldn’t be easier: just pull up, and volunteers will take your donations right from your car. If you’re part of the church or one of its neighboring faith communities, you can also bring donations to worship on Sunday, Nov. 22. Organizers would love extra hands to help sort, if you’d like to play a more active role in the food drive.

Here’s what they need:

  • Stuffing
  • Canned gravy
  • Cornbread
  • Canned corn
  • Chicken broth
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Mayonnaise
  • Other non-perishable foods

Please check dates before you donate — no expired items.

If you’re running the Turkey Trot at Burlington High School that morning, the food drive makes an easy stop on your way home.

The Wish Tree

If you’ve been to the Burlington Mall in December anytime in the past 20 years, you’ve probably seen the Wish Tree, run by People Helping People. The tree and its table, on the mall’s upper level, are filled with wishes from more than 100 Burlington kids in need.

Each child’s card covers the basics — pajamas, underwear, a sweatshirt and shoes — plus three wishes, like a toy or a gift card. Here’s how it works: pick a card from the table, do the shopping, and bring the gifts back to the volunteers. Once a wish is fulfilled, its tag goes up on the tree. In mid-December, volunteers bag up each family’s gifts, along with rolls of wrapping paper, so they’re ready to give.

It adds up: in 2024, the Wish Tree delivered more than 4,000 gifts to 233 Burlington children. Hours for 2026 aren’t yet posted, but Burlington Buzz will keep you informed.

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