by Nancy Houser

Created on: October 22, 2009

As time goes by, food ideas for a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner are becoming more popular in the United States with the younger adults and different cultures enjoying different types of holiday meals, such as themed or ethnic. But Thanksgiving is made special because of the warm atmosphere of family and friends, whether it is roasted turkey and mashed potatoes or Chinese delivery. Blessings are still bestowed on those who are present.

History shows us that the traditional 1621 Thanksgiving meal was first enjoyed when the Pilgrims sat down to share a Thanksgiving meal with the Plymouth Rock natives. Not changing much over the past 388 years until recently, most families today enjoy turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauces, and pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie. But more than the food, the first Thanksgiving meal reflected the Pilgrim's Victorian nostalgia of hearth and home among family and community- all based on their New England roots. Sharing hospitality with others while celebrating and offering thanks for abundance was more important than what was on the New England menu, something which should be our sentiment today.

But for those who wish to change the holiday meal entirely or to simply spice up the traditional Thanksgiving meal, instead of plain cranberry sauce-try the cranberry mango or cranberry orange sauces. Make a pumpkin cheesecake in place of pumpkin pie or try out grandma's sweet potato pie recipe but add a pecan pie topping. Regular mashed potatoes can have their flavor enhanced with sour cream and chives or leeks and cheese added to it. Food ideas for a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner can become quite effortless with a little imagination and ingenuity.

Theme Thanksgiving Dinners
Becoming very popular are themed Thanksgiving dinners-Western, Hawaiian, the 50s and 60s era, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Baseball, etc.-with each family member responsible for their own costume. Menu items and traditions are based on the theme of the holiday meal, with arriving guests bringing dishes appropriate to the theme along with wearing their costume.

"Blessings" non-traditional Thanksgiving Meal
This holiday meal idea focuses on the best dishes by individual members of the family and close friends regardless what it is, with pictures taken of the person as they are preparing their favorite holiday non-traditional Thanksgiving food item. An annual Thanksgiving Day cook book can be made with everyone's recipe and picture for Thanksgiving,

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