After the brutal times that marked the first winter the Pilgrims spent in the New World (1620-21) in which close to half of the original colonist died of starvation or disease, the Pilgrims ate a diet that was quite varied. Thanks to the help of two Native Americans that were sent by the local Sachem (loosely translated to chief, erroneously labeled as King by the colonists). These two saviours were named Squanto and Hobomok. Thanks to them, the Pilgrims learned ways to survive in the New World. This was literally life or death for the colonists. Even the few that had been farmers in the old country now found themselves in an environment that often did not support the agriculture that they were use to growing.
The Native Americans taught them how to catch eels from the sea as well as the cod and bass that were numerous in the area. Wild game played an important part in the diet. As stated before, this was a new country with a radically different climate that was much colder in the winter, many of the farming techniques that the Pilgrims had used back home would not work here. Squanto and Hobomok taught them to plant maize (corn) and other crops such as pumpkins, gourds, and other types of squash. This was an important crop because beyond the food aspect, the empty shell of the gourds (which belong to the same family as pumpkins and squash) worked very well as a water containers, storage containers or bowls. Without the gourd, a bowl or plate would have to be carved out of wood. Probably more important was the fact that the Native Americans taught them how to fertilize the fields so they would have a larger crop and thus have food during the next winter. The importance of the Native American help cannot be overstated. The Pilgrims got a crash course in one season, information that the local tribes had to learn over generations and generations.
Because of the location next to the Atlantic Ocean, many of the foods they ate came from the sea. As stated earlier there was eel and cod. The food that New England is famous for now would have been there then as well. Lobster, clams and other mollusks, as well as crab.
Of course at the time of the colony the land was still forested. The Pilgrims could collect berries, fruit, and various nuts. The forest was filled with animals that were used as food (as well as a source of animal skins for clothing). There were deer, beaver and several kinds of fowl. Wild turkeys, goose, ducks and swans were abundant. Many types of fowl would be migrating to the south right when the Pilgrims needed to stockpile food. Although shooting them with the firearms at the time would be anything but easy, the fall migration gave the Pilgrims a chance to collect large amounts of duck or goose, both of which have high fat content. In today's world that is considered bad, but when starvation is a very real threat, that extra fat can mean life or death.
The natives taught them which vegetable would grow in the area, as stated before pumpkin, squash and fruit. Since the colony was so far north, the growing season was short plus fresh meat was not always available. Once again the natives came to the rescue by teaching the Pilgrims the proper way to preserve and dry the fruits, vegetables and smoke the fish, fowl and meat.
Of course some years would have been good while others bad, but thanks to Squanto and Hobomok along with countless unnamed natives the Pilgrims did not starve. After the first "starving winter", they had a diet that was varied and had a high nutritional value. Because of these things the colony did flourish and remained as a foothold for many other colonists in the future.
If you know where to look, nature will always provide food. For the last 10,000 years humans have grown crops to make up for what could not be found. Living in the cities of Europe, many of these skills would not have been known. Once again, the Native Americans are the ones that provided this much needed information. The holiday of Thanksgiving should be altered to give thanks to the people that were responsible for saving the lives of the handful of Pilgrims that survived the first terrible winter. If not for them, the second winter would undoubtedly have been the last for the Plymouth colony.