by Barbara Lee Norris

Created on: August 23, 2007   Last Updated: February 01, 2011

Thanksgiving is a time to get together with loved ones, to reflect on life’s blessings, and to eat from the bounty you’ve been given. Nobody says that bounty has to be traditional turkey and dressing. American families are unique, and so is their bounty. The pilgrims taught us to take risks, to go with what we believe in, and to resist establishment. So, why not break the mold? Eat what makes you and your family happy.

One Thanksgiving, a family from Texas chose to forgo turkey and have a fish fry. Their bounty came fresh from the river. The meal included catfish, hush puppies, coleslaw, pumpkin pie, and tea. They said they didn’t even miss the turkey. They used paper plates and ate outside, which made clean-up a breeze. It’s a Thanksgiving they’ve never forgotten.

Another family celebrates Thanksgiving with a fried chicken dinner, because “we’re just not turkey people.” Besides the chicken, the meal is quite traditional. They have mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, fruit salad, hot rolls, and an assortment of cakes and pies. The whole family looks forward to this nontraditional Thanksgiving meal.

Thanksgiving is very different in the south than other parts of the country. For many people in the south, a Thanksgiving meal includes potato salad, macaroni and cheese, pinto beans, and a big pot of collard greens. They often roast hens instead of turkey. That menu sounds non-traditional to me (more like summer fare), but I’m sure those dishes are delicious in November, too. I made collard greens one year for my family’s Thanksgiving dinner. We didn’t know what we were missing until we tried them.

If you have a yen for Italian food, you might serve spaghetti and meatballs. It’s easy to picture a big family talking loudly, laughing, and sharing a bottle of wine while the matriarch of the family stirs ingredients for her famous sauce. You don’t have to be Italian to welcome a traditional Italian meal even for Thanksgiving. Italian pastries, at the end of the meal, will make it that much more special.

It really doesn’t matter what you and your family choose to eat on Thanksgiving. The food can be as plain or fancy as you like. Dare to try different foods, have a little fun, and indulge yourself.

What does matter is appreciating the people you’re with and acknowledging your blessings. Don’t forget to teach your children about the pilgrims and the risks they took to come to America. Children and adults need to know America's unique history. The meal can change from year-to-year, but the Thanksgiving story will always remain the same.

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