Thanksgiving is the ultimate food holiday, the one day we’re truly told to check our FitBits and dieting books at the door. It’s the day of indulgence, where no expense is spared in putting an epic spread on the table, and every plate is loaded to the brim.
But what if you had to shop on a budget? If you had to cut corners in some areas, would you prioritize the meat? Favor a particular side? Save stomach space for the best dessert?
That’s the question I sought to ask by playing a little game. I collected replies on both Facebook and Twitter to the following question: if you had $15 and needed to select one item from each of the five categories in the chart below, how would you build your Thanksgiving feast?
The prices were set by my wife and I based on what we thought were the most popular dishes in each category. The more popular the item, the more expensive we made it.
After compiling 64 unique votes (I received many more answers, but they were either incomplete or didn’t properly answer the question), here are your results!
Meat: Honey-Glazed Ham
Final Tally
Honey-glazed ham ($3): 17
Dark turkey meat ($5): 14
White turkey meat ($4): 14
Roasted chicken ($1): 10
Pot Roast ($2): 9
My Pick: Honey-glazed ham
The turkey voters cannibalized each others’ votes, allowing ham, which was less expensive, to rise to the top. Overall, I think it’s clear that most people prioritize turkey, which I expected. The direct split between white and dark meat is interesting: dark meat is fattier and a bit more flavorful, but white meat is healthier and firmer. I’m a dark-meat guy myself, but I understand both sides.
Ultimately, I’m going with ham. Before the torches and pitchforks come out, know that I absolutely eat turkey on Thanksgiving, and a lot of it. I respect tradition, and I enjoy turkey meat. But I like the sweetness and tenderness of the ham just a touch more.
Vegetable: Green Bean Casserole
Final Tally
Green bean casserole ($4): 23
Creamed corn ($2): 16
Roasted squash ($1): 10
Glazed carrots ($3): 9
Brussel sprouts with bacon ($5): 6
My pick: Glazed carrots
Going into this exercise, I seriously underestimated people’s love for green bean casserole! It won going away, despite being among the most expensive veggie dishes. I expected most people would just choose one of the cheaper options and save their money for other dishes, but the public prioritized its green bean casserole.
I’m not a massive fan of glazed carrots, but I appreciate their sweetness and texture. And if we’re being honest, this was my last selection and it fit with my budget. Simply put, the vegetables are not my priority on a day made for gluttony.
Side: Mashed Potatoes
Final Tally
Mashed potatoes ($5): 26
Stuffing ($3): 25
Sweet potato casserole ($1): 7
Mac & cheese ($4): 4
Cranberry sauce ($2): 2
My Pick: Mashed potatoes
In the closest race of this competition, mashed potatoes just edged out stuffing in a battle of Thanksgiving’s most classic sides. Both are Thanksgiving staples, and asking voters to choose tore some apart (that’s what their angry comments suggested, anyway). I expected more of a fight from mac & cheese, which I think most agree is delicious, but isn’t a traditional Thanksgiving dish.
My first priority in this exercise was mashed potatoes, so my pick was a no-brainer. There will be a heaping scoop on every plate I consume on Thanksgiving, and the $5 price tag didn’t bother me one bit.
Bread: Croissant
Final Tally
Croissant ($2): 30
Cornbread ($3): 14
Dinner roll ($4): 13
Hush puppies ($1): 5
Buttermilk biscuit ($5): 2
My Pick: Cornbread
While there are certainly differences in bread, they’re less drastic than in some of the other categories, so I think most people opted for a cheap dish here. A buttery, flaky croissant is quite delicious, and I don’t fault anyone for choosing one.
But I had to take cornbread. Honey cornbread (especially when baked in a cast-iron pan) might be my favorite side dish period, so I had no choice but to take it, even if it’s not the most traditional option.
Dessert: Chocolate Cream Pie
Final Tally
Chocolate cream pie ($1): 24
Pecan pie ($3): 23
Apple pie ($4): 8
Pumpking pie ($5): 5
Sweet potato pie ($2): 4
My Pick: Chocolate cream pie
Major lesson learned from this exercise: people don’t prioritize dessert on Thanksgiving.
I think most try to save room, but this vote was telling. Rather than shell out the big bucks for the traditional pumpkin or apple pie, voters chose the cheapest option (which, it should be noted, is still delicious). Pecan pie deserves some notice for making it a true competition.
I too chose to save money. While I appreciate dessert on Thanksgiving, the meat and sides were more important. I needed ham, mashed potatoes, and cornbread; the rest kind of had to fit in.
So there you have it, Nebraska. This is your hand-chosen ultimate Thanksgiving feast on a budget. Thanks to everyone who participated, and if you didn’t feel free to chime in now! Leave a comment below or hit me up on Twitter at @danhoppen.