Stuffing the Truth

Is Thanksgiving food outdated?

Photo by Jed Owen on Unsplash

Every November, Americans gather around crowded tables filled with classic Thanksgiving dishes. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie all make their yearly appearance. But as beloved as these traditions seem, the real question is: Is Thanksgiving food actually good, or do we just like the idea of it? While the holiday meal is nostalgic and comforting, many of its staple foods are bland and simply overrated. 

To start, the centerpiece of the meal, turkey, is often dry and incorrectly prepared. Even when cooked well, turkey cannot compete with the more flavorful meals that we enjoy year-round.

Many families rely on gravy to add moisture, which raises another point: if a food needs a sauce to become enjoyable, was it that good to begin with? For a dish that takes hours of preparation, turkey rarely delivers the payoff its reputation promises. 

“I’m a picky eater, so I don’t eat turkey on Thanksgiving. Instead, my grandma stockpiles pizza,” junior Grace Kennedy said. 

Side dishes are a mix of hits and misses. Mashed potatoes and rolls are widely loved, but mostly because they taste like foods we eat often. Stuffing, though popular, varies depending on family recipes, ranging from savory perfection to soggy disappointment. Cranberry sauce, the most polarizing item on the table, is often a source of debate. Whether homemade or shaped like a can, its sweetness clashes with most of the meal. For many people, cranberry sauce is more of a decorative requirement than something they genuinely enjoy eating. 

“I like most side dishes, but I'm not a big fan of cranberry sauce,” freshman Simon Joos said.

Dessert tends to be the redeeming moment of Thanksgiving dinner. Pumpkin pie, pecan pie and apple pie give the warmth and comfort people expect from a holiday meal. Still, dessert can’t fully save the rest of the meal. Thanksgiving foods rely mostly on tradition, not flavor. Many people look forward to the holiday, not for the dishes themselves, but being surrounded by family. 

‘I think [Thanksgiving desserts] are okay” Senior Emma Murray said. 

In the end, Thanksgiving food is less about taste, and more about nostalgia. The meal is comforting because it is familiar, not because it stands out as a great meal. So, is Thanksgiving food actually good? The answer depends on whether you judge it with your taste buds, or the feeling you get when you’re with the people you love. For many, the holiday is delicious, for others the food is simply overrated. Either way, the real value of Thanksgiving rests around the table, not at the plate.