# Planning a US Thanksgiving dinner for the first time - how much food? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433 "2010-11-21T14:52:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433/101 "2010-11-29T14:21:17Z")
> [@](#): > > All the food was extremely successful, and it would have been lovely except for how I came down with a death cold on Thursday morning and spent the whole day in an exhausted haze. I’m sure being ill during a big holiday is traditional, though. Well, it’s traditional for the COOK to be ill, yes. The guests are supposed to be in rude good health, with similarly rude and healthy appetites. Otherwise, congratulations! Overall, you did very well, and perhaps you have started a family tradition of having roast potatoes instead of mashed. There’s nothing wrong with starting new traditions. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433/102 "2010-11-30T01:13:29Z")
I made turkey pot pie with my leftover turkey and unused purchased pie shells. There’s always turkey sammiches. Turkey hash is another way to use up leftover turkey. Turkey pot pie is my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433/103 "2010-11-30T01:24:44Z")
> [@SecondJudith](#): > > The turkey was massive, we still have leftovers despite our best efforts on the day. I have no idea how you guys manage to put down that much food. Everyone was making happy noises about being full when there was still an enormous plate full of turkey left. We don’t - when Americans talk about eating Turkey every day for a week after Thanksgiving we aren’t really kidding. The bit about turkey milkshakes _might_ be for comedic effect… but you really do get desperate about “what do I do with all this freakin’ turkey? Aagh!” Yes, overindulgence is part of the point, as is having lots of leftovers. I will note, however, that turkey, along with most other Thanksgiving foods, can be frozen to be reheated later. I remember one year I made my own frozen dinners and packed the freezer. We went turkey-free for a couple weeks, after which the leftovers were handy for those night we got home late or for some reason actual cooking was inconvenient. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433/104 "2010-11-30T03:06:15Z")
> [@](#): > > I will note, however, that turkey, along with most other Thanksgiving foods, can be frozen to be reheated later. I remember one year I made my own frozen dinners and packed the freezer. We went turkey-free for a couple weeks, after which the leftovers were handy for those night we got home late or for some reason actual cooking was inconvenient. This used to be one of my mother’s Thanksgiving rituals…making up individual servings of turkey and dressing and gravy, or turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy, and freezing them. She also froze sliced turkey, for fresher turkey sandwiches. My job was to pick the carcass clean while she was packaging stuff up, and later I made stock. I should note that turkey and dumplings is even better than chicken and dumplings, and of course homemade turkey pot pie simply cannot be beat. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433/105 "2010-11-30T14:49:48Z")
> [@SecondJudith](#): > > There weren’t enough rolls (… people were making sad eyes at me for more white rolls) Don’t say you weren’t warned! 😃 I opted to roast a duck this year. I had garlic mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, and green bean casserole to go with it. I got seven meals out of the duck and the other things, and I still have two servings of potatoes and gravy left. Now I have to think about Christmas dinner. Costco has very good meat. They sell USDA Choice, but I’m sure some meets Prime specifications. I’ve never been disappointed by their beef. OTOH, Pike Place Market is only half a mile from my office. I could see about getting a Prime rib roast from there. That’s where I got my duck, some confit duck legs a couple of months ago, and my lamb. A bit more expensive, but excellent quality. Good news: I’ll have a roommate to help me eat it. Bad news: I’ll have to share the leftover rib bones, which I like to reheat with BBQ sauce. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433/106 "2010-12-01T14:10:02Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > We don’t - when Americans talk about eating Turkey every day for a week after Thanksgiving we aren’t really kidding. The bit about turkey milkshakes _might_ be for comedic effect… but you really do get desperate about “what do I do with all this freakin’ turkey? Aagh!” > > Yes, overindulgence is part of the point, as is having lots of leftovers. I will note, however, that turkey, along with most other Thanksgiving foods, can be frozen to be reheated later. I remember one year I made my own frozen dinners and packed the freezer. We went turkey-free for a couple weeks, after which the leftovers were handy for those night we got home late or for some reason actual cooking was inconvenient. We have the same rituals at Christmas (UK), as that’s when we eat The Turkey Feast. I’m a big fan of turkey curry. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433/107 "2010-12-01T14:25:39Z")
Johnny L.A. you mean this. It was the one thing I knew would run out. There are never enough rolls. It just comes down to how many you’re willing to purchase. Our family members grab a couple rolls each trip back to the food. > [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > You need to add the 5 pound ham. The mashed potatoes are normal, but doesn’t mean you should drop the roasted potatoes. You need at least 2 dozen rolls regardless of any other bread. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433/108 "2010-12-01T14:28:48Z")
I don’t know about other people, but all I ate on Thanksgiving day, other than Thanksgiving dinner, was a piece of toast. Being quite hungry kinda helps in the “eating loads of food” department. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433/109 "2010-12-01T15:33:22Z")
Eating leftovers for most of the holiday weekend is part of the tradition… as is going to a Mexican or Thai restaurant at the end of it, and ordering the spiciest, most different dishes available. I’ll be putting Sriracha on everything for a week. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planning-a-us-thanksgiving-dinner-for-the-first-time-how-much-food/561433.md?page=5)