A weeklong break, seeing family from far away, and taking some time to relax before the buzz of finals all characterize Thanksgiving as a crowd favorite holiday. For many, the food reigns supreme as the best aspect of Thanksgiving. When Fenwick students were surveyed about their favorite Thanksgiving food and what made that food their favorite, the answers were extremely varied, but they all had one thing in common: why they love Thanksgiving food.

When one thinks of Thanksgiving food, they usually think of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pie as hallmarks of the meal. However, food is a very subjective topic, and the specific way it is prepared or ingredients used can greatly affect the quality. Some students favor traditional Thanksgiving dishes like turkey and stuffing, while others defy the Thanksgiving food norms, favoring more non traditional dishes. Sophomore Ella Mindak states her favorite is the cult classic turkey, and she specifically likes it grilled with extra gravy to add a succulent flavor to the meat. Freshman Kiera Harris says that stuffing with flavorful spices, lots of garlic, and sausage is her preferred food. On the other hand, Sophomore Lola Martinez believes the mac and cheese, a more non-traditional thanksgiving delicacy, is what she looks forward to eating on Thanksgiving. Martinez says extra breadcrumbs and the use of a variety of cheeses make her grandma’s secret mac and cheese recipe special. Harris also states that sweet potatoes, a more controversial take on classic mashed potatoes, are a food that she looks forward to eating on Thanksgiving. Despite the difference in the dishes that students like, they all had a similar answer when asked why they liked Thanksgiving food. Martinez summarized this question well by saying that she enjoys actually being able to sit down for a nice family dinner with her whole family, a rare occurrence in the life of busy Fenwick students. Overall, food is a unifying thing. Whether sitting around a cafeteria lunch table with friends or a Thanksgiving gathering with family, most can agree that some of our best memories are tied to food!