Every year this holiday draws near. You see it approaching, like the laser creeping toward James Bonds’, ahem, midsection in Goldfinger. You struggle to escape, but not being a fictional super spy, you fail and are once again scored and burnt by the entirely predictable perils of the season—of which indigestion is not the least.

We believe if you look ahead, you can avoid most of the pain of the holiday. What are the two greatest sources of pain? Food and difficult family members.

You may feel helpless as you picture heaps of turkey and gravy rivers, amid the hills and peaks of mashed potatoes and yams, where strip mining has revealed a wasteland of green bean casserole. But, remember, you don’t have to eat everything on Thanksgiving day. Leftovers are wonderful things. And really old leftovers, what we call leftover leftovers, are even more remarkable. They can be used for everything from handy automotive accessories to the raw material for festive decorations. Read our reports from last year to see how valuable leftovers are and strengthen your resolve to leave a little on the platter this Thanksgiving.

If the food doesn’t get you, there is likely someone at dinner who you just know is going to make your insides hurt. The key to better handling difficult people is to find new ways of interacting, rather than falling into old habits. Our advice column The Tank specializes in such radical interventions. See, for instance, family-related advice given to Alexa and Corinna. If you feel you still need more help, feel free to email your question to The Tank.