A tradition that started over 400 years ago, Thanksgiving represents gratitude, the importance of family, and most importantly, delicious food. Thanksgiving foods have transformed over the years; the first Thanksgiving consisted of freshly killed deer, wildfowl, cod, bass, and a variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans that was eaten as cornbread and porridge. Now, Food Network provides recipes for over 30 traditional Thanksgiving foods. With this large variety of foods, some have emerged as fan favorites with cult-like followings. Whether you spend Thanksgiving all day in the kitchen or sit down to eat, everyone has favorite foods.
Turkey is often seen as the main attraction of Thanksgiving, and thanks to a survey done by puzzle manufacturer Bits and Pieces, we know that around 29.5 percent of Americans listed turkey as their favorite food. Though it can take between two and a half to five and a half hours to cook, it is worth the strenuous process and in many cases, turkey recipes become family tradition as they are passed down through generations.
Next in line as the most popular food was mashed potatoes, with 15.4 percent of Americans choosing it. According to Business Insider, Americans consume around 250 million pounds of potatoes nationwide during Thanksgiving. Mashed potatoes become even more popular when paired with gravy or cranberry sauce, a combination central part of Thanksgiving culture.
Kady Kowalewski spoke about the combination, “It’s the best part of Thanksgiving and my favorite food.”
The third most popular food according to the survey were pies, with 12.7 percent of Americans choosing it. The three most popular pies were pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie. Pies became a part of Thanksgiving in the 18th century when British immigrants brought them, and now they are among the most popular food items. Pumpkin pie is the most popular, and the survey stated that the demand for the pie jumps 316 percent in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is an important and beautiful holiday all about caring and gratitude and family. So whether you make a feast with recipes from your great-great-grandmother or you pick up takeout, thank those in your life for their love and support.
