Holiday dinners: Focus on the effort, not the outcome

While everyone hopes for a Norman Rockwell not a Clark Griswold turkey on the holiday table, the reality is that few home cooks have professional chef skills. When it comes to holiday dinners, it is time to forget perfection. According to Knorr, everyone appreciates the effort, not the outcome.

Professional chefs and social media often makes the elegant, sophisticated holiday meal look easy. Unfortunately, no one sees the 100s of mistakes that lead to that picture perfect moment. From the undercooked turkey to the lumpy gravy, there are often many more don’ts that dos before the final product.

Given that the regular home cook does not necessarily have the time nor the money to spend on recreating food for the feast, the fail can be the centerpiece of the dining experience. According to Knorr, guests are not that offended.

Based on a recent survey, 86% of Zillennials are more concerned about the effort versus the outcome. It is the reason why its holiday campaign, #EffortIsEverything gives people a little solace. The fail is not necessarily that devastating.

Gina Kiroff, Chief Marketing Officer, Knorr North America said, "It is Knorr's goal to make home cooking delicious, nutritious, and accessible so people can build more kitchen confidence – especially during the holidays, which is when we're all susceptible to have more food fails in the kitchen. We believe that whether imperfect or perfect, all efforts in the kitchen should be celebrated – which is what our 'Effort is Everything' campaign is all about."

While the fail photos might bring a touch of schadenfreude, the reality is that Knorr has a wide array of food items to be the foundation of a great meal. From seasonings to gravy enhancers, there are plenty of helpers to give cooks a boost in the kitchen.

Also, there are some Kitchen Confidence Kits that have all the kitchen essentials and other items to give even the most nervous cook a little extra help. Sometimes it is all about the mindset when it comes to executing great food.

And, if the fail happens, don’t sweat it. Life is too short. Plus, most chefs know that the mistake is where the cooking break-through happens. Just think about how delicious that next meal will taste.