It’s a question we all grapple with at the holidays: Does it make more sense (economically and otherwise) to prepare the feast yourself, or is it better to opt for the finished product at the store? And what will the guests think? Or the hosts, if you’re the one bringing dessert?

Food University Star Instructor Claudine Pepin has encouraging advice for those on both sides of this hot issue: the holiday meal isn’t just about the food. Whether you cook or you buy, you have to do what’s right for you.

In this Skype chat with Food U host Marc Silverstein, Claudine reminds us the holidays are about spending time with family and friends and enjoying good food – regardless of whether it’s handmade or bought from a store. “If you’re going to somebody’s house to enjoy their company, it shouldn’t be about the food or the gifts that you bring them,” she says. “They don’t expect you to make the wine that you bring – so why would they expect you to make the pie? If it’s a great pie, it’s a great pie.”

Do you agree? Is store-bought acceptable? For more of Claudine’s time and money-saving tips, watch her full interview right here on Food University.

You’ve heard it all before: turkey makes you sleepy, sugar makes kids crazy. But are these food-mood myths for real or just real fake? With a little help from the folks at the LA Times, we’re here to set the record straight, once and for all!

1. Turkey makes you sleepy.

False.

This Thanksgiving, when a relative tries to tell you turkey makes you sleepy because of tryptophan, tell ‘em they’re wrong. Turkey, as well as milk, are rich in tryptophan- an amino acid that is often cited as the culprit in after-dinner lethargy. “Each molecule of tryptophan has to compete with many other amino acids in the brain”, says Elizabeth Somer, a registered dietitian and author of “Eat Your Way to Happiness.” So if it isn’t the tryptophan, what makes us so tired after a turkey dinner? “Eating any big meal, especially if you drink alcohol, is likely to make you feel sleepy”, Somer goes on to say. “A Thanksgiving feast will make you feel groggy, but tryptophan isn’t the reason.” Stay away from a food comatose this Thanksgiving and hold off on that second serving of mashed potatoes and stuffing.

2. Sugar makes kids hyperactive.

False.

Seing your child storm through the front door with a pillow case full of sweets is concerning for any parent. How on earth am I going to get my kid to sleep when he’s all hopped up on candy? Well, it’s not the sugar that’s causing this, but really just the excitement and unrestricted environment surrounding the festivities. Robin Kanarek, who directs the nutrition and behavior laboratory at Tufts University in Medford, Mass claims that sugar has nothing to do with how children behave. “The fact that parents expect their kids to bounce off the walls after they eat sweets is what perpetuates the behavior. Moreover, many parents don’t realize that the body can’t tell the difference between the sugar in a glass of apple juice or the sugar in a large cookie.” Kanarek might have a point here, but good luck telling that to some parents…

3. Chocolate brings out good feelings

False (well, for the most part)

What’s not to love about chocolate? It tastes great, enhances mood and is known as an aphrodisiac. Chocolate has many components that can enhance mood, but the chemical effect of them is minimal. “Whatever mood boost chocolate gives you is all in your head- and thats OK”, says Marcia Pelchat, a food researcher at Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. “It does have low levels of stimulants, but you can get a lot more from other substances,” she explains. “The caffeine content is very low, so coffee is better for that kind of kick. The sugar might give a temporary lift, but it’s subtle. And the phenylethylamine that people say is supposed to make you feel in love — well, many foods, including salami, are much higher in phenylethylamine.” Chocolate might be able to improve your mood, but the effects are mostly just mental.

4. Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish help depression.

True!

We recently tweeted about the best foods for your heart. Finishing at #1 was salmon- its high dosage of omega 3 fatty acids makes it great for your heart and blood vessels. Turns out, that’s not the only thing omega 3 is good for. Joseph Hibbeln, psychiatrist and acting chief for the Section on Nutritional Neurosciences studied the effects of omega three fatty acids on depression. “These nutrients are as effective as antidepressants in treating people with clinical depression,” Hibbeln says. For those with clinical depression, the recommended dose is three 6-ounce servings of salmon, tuna, herring or sardines each week. Not a fan of seafood? The American Psychiatric Assn. recommends that people with major depression consume a daily omega-3 supplement.