by Whitney Levon

Created on: October 22, 2009   Last Updated: July 02, 2011

When we think of the pilgrims, we think of Thanksgiving, we think of turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, corn, potatoes, green bean casserole, and many other treats. The food that we recognize as traditionally Thanksgiving cuisine is far different from that served at the first celebration by the Pilgrims. So what did these pioneers eat at the first Thanksgiving? In what ways is it different from what we eat today?

Turkey

It is debated whether or not the Pilgrims served turkey at the first Thanksgiving. If they did, it is not the turkey that we are familiar with today. The farm-raised turkeys that we are used to is a world apart from the wild turkeys that the Pilgrims would have found.  Wild turkeys  were common to the area, and would have had a gamey, tough texture to them. 

Wild Game

The Pilgrims hunted when they arrived here, so it would make sense that the food that we consider game today would be a part of Thanksgiving dinner. Duck, goose, and venison would have all been found at dinner. Fish were also served, and surprisingly, eel was featured on the menu as well. We can also assume that smaller game such as rabbit made an appearance at the feast too.

 Vegetables

Vegetables were plentiful, and were provided by the Native Americans for the most part. They provided corn, though not the kind that is mass-farmed here today. There were also onions, leeks, radishes, and cabbages available for the women to cook while the men hunted the game that was to be served. Potatoes were not available as they had not been introduced to the region yet. Fruits such as squash, pumpkin, and berries were also served at the first Thanksgiving.

Dried Fruit

Cranberries were available to the Pilgrims, but sugar was not as easy to come by. It is highly unlikely that they would have had the ingredients to prepare cranberry sauce as we know it. Most likely the berries were served dried or sweetened with honey or syrup. Cranberry sauce as we think of it today was a product of the Victorian Era.

The first Thanksgiving was a bountiful feast, and would be thought of as a rustic meal by today's culinary standards. Food was boiled or roasted over a spit, and the preparation was very simple. They had only water to drink, not wine or beer as some people would believe. Our culinary tradition at Thanksgiving has evolved over the years, and is very different from what the Pilgrims first feasted on.

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