# Does Anyone Else NOT Like Thanksgiving Food? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835 "2017-11-17T01:32:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/61 "2017-11-19T14:24:02Z")
I don’t hate pumpkin pie. But if sweet potato pie is available, that’s what I’m going to eat. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/62 "2017-11-20T18:06:51Z")
while I am ok with some of items of Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, I don’t like how they are traditionally made. Sweet potatoes are already sweet, I absolutely hate when people put, sugar, maple syrup, marshmallows and/or canned pineapple in it. Butter is all it needs. I absolutely despise stuffing, dressing and have never liked it even as a child. soggy bread blech. Roast turkey meh. cranberry sauce, way too sweet. Wont touch giblet gravy. Green bean casserole is usually way too salty. This year we are having (as far as I know) Mexican stir fry (pork strips, perppers and onions), cranberry relish (fresh cranberries and an orange all chopped together with a very small amount of sweetener) and a brussel sprout/kale salad (from Cracker barrel). My mom also promised to make a flourless chocolate cake with ganache topping for dessert. Last year we had barbeque shimp po boys. (and cranberry relish) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/63 "2017-11-21T00:11:34Z")
I like the full Thanksgiving dinner with trimmings. Once. I like to then walk away and not eat it again for a year. That’s why we go to the truck stop for all you can eat, plus pie, and walk away with no leftovers or dishes to do. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce. I miss dried corn from my childhood. But if I really need a fix, I see amazon carries it now! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/64 "2017-11-21T00:17:15Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > If you don’t like turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing all smothered in turkey gravy, you hate America. Yep. Now sure, the candied yams with marshmallows? The green beans with fried onion bits? The pumpkin pie? Cranberry sauce? Burssel sprouts? I can do without them, and in fact I find a couple rather distasteful. But a properly baked/broiled turkey, with great stuffing and drippings gravy? Yum. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/65 "2017-11-21T00:19:23Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Roast the turkey upside-down first, then flip to brown the breast. The fat flows from the dark meat down into the breast and keeps it moist, and allows the thighs and drumsticks to fully cook. > . Yes! Just the way Mom taught me! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/66 "2017-11-21T00:22:12Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I don’t hate pumpkin pie. But if sweet potato pie is available, that’s what I’m going to eat. That makes me realize that I have never had SPP. I’m not much of a pie guy, but mostly I don’t like the berry pies with gloppy, sugary filling. Apple or peach or great. Pumpkin is OK. I’ll have to try SPP, as so many people seem to like it. Is it mostly a southern thing? That might explain my lack of exposure. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/67 "2017-11-21T01:18:20Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That makes me realize that I have never had SPP. I’m not much of a pie guy, but mostly I don’t like the berry pies with gloppy, sugary filling. Apple or peach or great. Pumpkin is OK. I’ll have to try SPP, as so many people seem to like it. Is it mostly a southern thing? That might explain my lack of exposure. We make it here for Thanksgiving quite regularly. It’s really very similar to pumpkin pie in taste, but somehow even better, IMHO. (And I’m someone who does not really like sweet potatoes in general.) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/68 "2017-11-21T05:29:37Z")
I liked that there was a 57% chance my birthday would fall on one of the school holidays. At school, we had to pass out treats on our birthday. and I was too shy to be the center of attention like that. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/69 "2017-11-21T08:03:11Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > … the berry pies with gloppy, sugary filling. Apple or peach or great… That’s a bad berry pie. It should be almost all berries, and the filing should be solid when it sets, or nearly so. I love fruit pie, but only when it’s home made. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/70 "2017-11-21T12:18:22Z")
You know, at this time of year, I often find myself wondering just the opposite question: “Am I the only one who DOES love roast turkey and stuffing and pumpkin pie?” I mean, I would order that for dinner year round if any decent restaurant offered it (Boston Market doesnt count). But every November, there are comedians and columnists going on and on about how Thanksgiving food sucks, and how NOBODY likes turkey, and how the Indians served turkey to the Pilgrims as a joke, etc. Occasionally, I start to question whether I’m the only one having his favorite meal of the year. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/71 "2017-11-21T13:23:43Z")
Expressed hatred for roasted turkey and traditional sides may be the new “in” contempt, supplanting loathing for fruitcake. Hey, it’s once a year, suck it up and eat, or else bring a container of quinoa shavings and kale fritters to family gatherings. I most crave the stuffing (well, turkey too), plus whatever semi-new and original vegetable sides we can dream up. This year, those will include roast brussels sprouts and eggplant, plus a new recipe for “beets and sweets” (the latter are sweet potatoes and onions, in addition to a turnip I will throw into the mix). I was lucky enough to score golden beets at the supermarket. I hate bleeding purple beets, which are disgusting, even more so when they’re cooked and cold. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/72 "2017-11-21T13:49:24Z")
I like pretty much everything typically served at a Thanksgiving meal, although I admit how much I prefer individual dishes depends greatly on how they are prepared. I’ve had my share of dried-out turkey here and there over the years, but like some others, I’m more about the sides. Key items I’m a bit picky about: Sweet potatoes – straight up (just baked?) without adornments other than butter and a bit of seasoning, and especially no damn marshmallows Cranberry sauce – never understood the attraction until I started making my own from fresh cranberries, now can’t live without it; also neatly solves the dry turkey problem Brussels sprouts – halved and steamed with butter, soy sauce and a bit of diced red bell pepper; even sprouts h8rs begrudgingly admit they aren’t bad Stuffing – I actually prefer the boxed stuff to making it from scratch, but I add some fresh onion, celery and garlic sautéed in butter The folks I usually break T-day bread with do a really great corn pudding as well. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/73 "2017-11-21T14:09:52Z")
If I went out to a restaurant and ordered a full traditional Thanksgiving menu, and it was well-done, I’d enjoy it. I do not enjoy all the drama of preparing a large meal at home with a houseful of guests. If I’m doing the work, I’m worn out and tired of the food by the time it gets served. If someone else is doing the work, I get vicarious exhaustion for the person who is, not to mention spending a half day in the airless dungeon of inane small-talk frantically steered away from unpleasant topics of conversation (Which, let’s be honest, the only interesting family conversations are the unpleasant ones. Everything else has been covered by Facebook humblebrags). ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/74 "2017-11-22T00:00:35Z")
I regard the USA’s Thanksgiving Day tradition as a Hallmark Holiday contrived for Nationalistic purposes. I have no appreciation for turkey, stuffing, pumpkin, green bean casserole, crunchy fried onions, etc. although I do appreciate green beans, yams, mashed potatoes, biscuits, cranberries, and apple pies – just not all at once. Thanksgiving was, year after year, a day when the whole family got together and made a point of sitting down to a shared meal in the evening. Throughout that day – and often during the meal itself – we’d be arguing or bickering or just plain irritating each other. Invariably, something on the traditional menu would be ruined by the need for Mom to intervene in some squabble or another. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that the homicide rate spikes during Thanksgiving weekend and, not surprisingly, it’s family members who get pushed beyond their last nerve and lose the ability to restrain themselves. Those foods I like from the traditiona menu? I’ll get them later, on sale and in smaller quantities so I can avoid the one-day (one long weekend) gluttony. –G! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/75 "2017-11-22T00:56:13Z")
I like everything the last two posters hate. I love having the whole family get together. My family mostly gets along, so there’s not too much conflict. I love having a whole day when there’s hitting more important to do than cook. My husband and I cook together. It’s companionable. Our kitchen is large and airy, but it’s nicer with company. I’m okay with turkey so long as it’s not over cooked and dried out. A good home made gravy is very tasty. I love the apple pie, and I make a fabulous apple cranberry pie. It’s highly spiced with allspice and mace and a touch of clove &c. I adore cranberry sauce. Ocean Spray is much better than the supermarket brand. (I made it once. Our wasn’t enough better to be worth the bother.) I don’t love the rest of the dishes, but I like the abundance, the celebration of having enough, at least today. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/76 "2017-11-22T17:09:06Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > That’s a bad berry pie. It should be almost all berries, and the filing should be solid when it sets, or nearly so. > > I love fruit pie, but only when it’s home made. Just one more reason for my utter loathing of Thanksgiving and turkey, the gluey berry pie. My mother used to buy those cheap gluey grocery store frozen pies, which are only good for filling up indiscriminating bottomless stomaches for ‘dessert’. Well, after the family died off, retired, moved, etc. and it was just four of us, she STILL kept buying those cheap frozen pies (the grocery sells them cheap, to bring the hordes in to shop). Mom had two in her freezer, they had been there since the previous Thanksgiving. She didn’t bake them, insisted I take the pies home. I did, and they were in my freezer for another year. I gave them to a friend. They were in HER freezer for another year. I couldn’t give them to the food pantry, THEY didn’t want them either. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/77 "2017-11-25T23:46:14Z")
I like turkey, and mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, and pie. I don’t like anything with green beans, squash or sweet potatoes, will not eat stuffing, and don’t like gravy. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/78 "2017-11-26T00:10:18Z")
[QUOTE=Tzigone;20606908 I do like mashed potatoes, but they are not common Thanksgiving food here. .[/QUOTE] What fresh hell do you live in? In my neck of the woods that’s like number 4 after turkey, gravy, and cranberries. The idea that they are uncommon is to me like saying the flat earth theory is generally accepted. PS. Mashed potatoes and a good gravy are half the reason I like the season… PPS…over the decades I am so thankful the average american has gotten over the “cooking a turkey is easy…just bake at 400 degrees overnight” and learned to cook a turkey at a reasonable temp and time so that the damn thing isn’t as dry as the sahara… ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/79 "2017-11-26T00:13:09Z")
Dislike turkey, pumpkin, sweet potato, and cranberry sauce. I do like mashed potatoes and gravy, though. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835/80 "2017-11-26T02:01:04Z")
> [@](#): > > What fresh hell do you live in? In my neck of the woods that’s like number 4 after turkey, gravy, and cranberries. The idea that they are uncommon is to me like saying the flat earth theory is generally accepted. Alabama. Probably a “my family” thing - my mother hosts Thanksgiving, and she’s never made mashed potatoes that I can recall (on any occasion - does potato salad with barbecue or on almost any occasion with baked beans). And no one else bring them. This year we had rolls, turkey, ham, roast pork loin, shoepeg corn casserole, sweet potato souffle, peas, butterbeans, macaroni and cheese, dressing, stuffing, cranberry sauce, peach cobbler, and pecan pie. Can’t recall if anything else. We _always_ have at least two meats, shoepeg corn casserole, sweet potato souffle and dressing. And we only have those sides at the holiday - no other time of year. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-thanksgiving-food/801835.md?page=5)