It truly ’tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to do that than with a holiday feast? Thanksgiving and Christmas make for two separate occasions for holiday cheer. Complete with family insanity, traditions you don’t understand and, most importantly: Food you’ll swear is the best around.
According to the Calorie Control Council, an industry group, the average American ate between 3-5,000 calories on Thanksgiving alone.
But with such a steep number, how is that reflected on the average plate?
“I know a lot of people will go back for multiple plates, but this year I just had one plate,” said Chase Bernotas, a senior games design major at Miami University. “One … big plate.”
Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to invite the same mainstays into the mix, with mashed potatoes, stuffing, casseroles, ham or even turkey — whether or not you think it tastes like napkins.
“I know I should probably try and get all of my food groups on the plate, but really I just go for what I like,” Bernotas said. “There’s only so much room, and after all, I gotta make sure that it’s used well.”
All of that available means that there are tons of different plates to be made at these holiday dinners — and usually trips back to the dinner table.
“We usually make the same things each year at Thanksgiving or Christmas,” said Derek Womble, my stepfather.
“But we’ll make things that we only make for Thanksgiving: I’ll caramelize apples or make a specific potato recipe exclusively for holiday dinners,” Womble said.
To get ready for Thanksgiving, I have a long history of going on this huge diet for all of November.
Personally, I don’t think anything gets me in the holiday spirit better than dieting for weeks to gain all the weight back in a day. Last year I was so set on making my plate I somehow managed to shatter the plastic fork I was using to eat.
And now? Couldn’t even tell you what I was trying to get on my fork before it mysteriously shattered.
In my family, some of us used to say ‘you don’t stop eating when you’re full, you stop when it hurts.’
With January on its way slowly and surely, and New Year’s resolutions coming with it, end the year with a bang — or a feast — and pack your plate this holiday season.
