Four Essentials for Thanksgiving - The Balancing Act (2024)

Four Essentials for Thanksgiving - The Balancing Act (1)Considered the most important meal of the year by many, Thanksgiving dinner is something people look forward to around the nation. After all, it is a day spent with family and good food. For some, it’s also the one day a year they get to taste a delicious family recipe. Whether it’s sweet potatoes, gravy, stuffing, or even the classic turkey, this holiday keeps many people on their toes. Though everyone’s Thanksgiving looks different, there are a few essential items you need at the dinner table. Below find four of these items.

Turkey

Some would say a turkey is the most important food item at the table. A turkey is the center of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, 88 percent of Americans eat Turkey on Thanksgiving, with 46 million Turkeys eaten on the holiday. Right behind is Christmas at 22 million and Easter with 16 million turkeys eaten for the holiday.

Mashed potatoes

There’s nothing better than smooth and creamy mashed potatoes! For those in the United States, it’s like jam without toast. This Thanksgiving delicacy is for any potato lovers to enjoy at the table. There are different variations to make meals with potatoes, but mashed potatoes are the most popular. Other popular potato dishes during the holiday season are sweet potatoes, mashed potato casserole, or sweet potato casserole topped with yummy marshmallows — making this an excellent side dish for your feast!

Cranberry Sauce

Thanksgiving is never Thanksgiving without this iconic treat. Cranberry sauce is the holiday side dish many savor each year. This treat in some houses only comes out once a year. Nothing beats its sweet, jolting taste. Every holiday season an estimated five million gallons of cranberry sauce is consumed!

Pies

We saved the best for last! Pie is a staple dessert for Thanksgiving. This holiday is all about an overabundance of food and that’s why you need at least two or three pies. There are so many delicious types of this iconic holiday dessert. Some popular choices are apple, pumpkin, key lime, pecan, cherry, cream, and blueberry. The most popular pie in the U.S., however, is cherry pie. Data shows that 22 percent prefer this pie; pumpkin pie was right behind. Here’s a quick life hack: At your dessert table, you can offer ice cream to go with your slice of pie.

What are your family’s Thanksgiving essentials?

Four Essentials for Thanksgiving - The Balancing Act (2024)

FAQs

Four Essentials for Thanksgiving - The Balancing Act? ›

We've broken Thanksgiving dinner down to its essential elements. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and potatoes, of course.

What are the essential items for Thanksgiving? ›

We've broken Thanksgiving dinner down to its essential elements. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and potatoes, of course.

What are Thanksgiving traditional elements? ›

Many of the dishes in a traditional Thanksgiving dinner are made from ingredients native to the Americas, including turkey, potato, sweet potato, corn (maize), squash (including pumpkin), green bean, and cranberry.

What are 5 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

What are Thanksgiving traditional things? ›

Traditional foods include turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Many people serve pie for dessert at the end of the meal. Popular pie flavors are pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato, and apple.

What are important Thanksgiving ingredients? ›

Essential Thanksgiving Ingredients: For the Fridge
  • The turkey! ...
  • Sage sausage, for your Classic Sage and Sausage Stuffing.
  • Bread, for that same stuffing. ...
  • Hearty herbs, like fresh thyme and rosemary.
  • Carrots.
  • Celery, kept in its plastic bag in the fridge.
  • Brussels sprouts, stored in a loose plastic bag in the fridge.

What were the original traditions of Thanksgiving? ›

New England and Virginia colonists originally celebrated days of fasting, as well as days of thanksgiving, thanking God for blessings such as harvests, ship landings, military victories, or the end of a drought. These were observed through church services, accompanied with feasts and other communal gatherings.

What are the 3 traditional foods Americans eat during Thanksgiving? ›

Millions of people across the United States will sit down to a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, potatoes, squash, corn, and cranberries. These foods have become synonymous with Thanksgiving, but how did they end up on tables from Maine to California?

What is the famous meal of Thanksgiving? ›

A traditional Thanksgiving meal consists of roast turkey and many sides including stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans and cranberry sauce, with pumpkin pie as dessert.

What to have for Thanksgiving not turkey? ›

  • Pernil. Von Diaz, Maricel Presilla. 3 to 4 hours, plus marinating.
  • Ombré Gratin. Alexa Weibel. 3 hours.
  • Root Beer Ham. Eric Kim. 3 1/2 hours.
  • Lasagna. Regina Schrambling. 4 hours.
  • Easy. Maple-Baked Salmon. ...
  • Easy. Prime Rib Roast. ...
  • Liberian Chicken Gravy. Priya Krishna, Thalmus Hare. ...
  • Braised Goat Leg in Obe Ata. Yewande Komolafe.

What should be included in a Thanksgiving service? ›

It's another simple but effective idea for Thanksgiving. You can encourage the congregants to express their gratitude in a format like this: Three (3) specific blessings from God you are most thankful for; Two (2) things you would like to thank the church for; and.

What do people usually bring to Thanksgiving? ›

#1 An appetizer, side dish, or dessert.

If you were invited to a potluck, you'll probably be bringing one of these things anyway. But if your hosts plan to prepare the entire meal themselves, a sincere offer to bring a dish is always appreciated.

What do you buy for Thanksgiving as a guest? ›

What do you bring to Thanksgiving as a guest?
  • A bouquet of flowers.
  • A box of chocolates.
  • A box of delectable chocolate covered fruits.
  • A bottle of wine.
  • A box of assorted desserts.
  • A dessert board or appetizer charcuterie board.
  • Thanksgiving decor.
Nov 30, 2023

What is the most important food on a Thanksgiving table? ›

A Thanksgiving meal is not complete until the turkey is on the table. Turkeys are large, so we get it, but they don't have to be intimidating. The one thing you can do to ensure a bird that stays juicy and doesn't dry out in the oven: Brine it! Get the Dry Brine Turkey recipe.

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