Unpopular Opinion: Thanksgiving Dinner is Overrated By: Jack Hill

               When discussing Thanksgiving most Americans are involved in a big debate.  Should the turkey or "the bird" be fresh or frozen?  To brine, fry, or roast "Tom Turkey".  Once the debate about the turkey has been voted upon, other popular food items such as stuffing(bread or meat) , cranberry sauce,(jellied or whole) and potatoes(mashed or candied) are discussed at great lengths in order to create the perfect Thanksgiving feast.  But at the end of the day, do people truly enjoy eating this heavy meal filled with a bland white meat and many starches as sides?  Personally I am one of those people who does not see the hype regarding Thanksgiving dinner and in no way would categorize it as a meal that leaves you feeling good.  How can an an amino acid such as tryptophan found in turkey along with heavy starches that cause people to fall asleep deserve all of the planning and excitement for a holiday meal.  I would much rather have a NY strip steak with a salad and mashed potatoes.

                The first food item during Thanksgiving which is overrated to me is the face of the dinner table, the Thanksgiving turkey.  From my experiences this is one of the hardest things for an average chef to make because of the time, effort and the precision that needs to be put into it.  Don't get me wrong, a perfectly cooked turkey is one of the best foods to eat, but let's be honest, the chance of a non professional chef making a perfectly cooked turkey is slim to none.  The main problem about a turkey is when it is not cooked perfectly is it is usually dry.  For someone who does not like gravy that much, it is almost impossible to swallow the turkey unless I am drinking water because of turkey's chalky texture.  The other issue I have with "Tom Turkey" is the amount of time it takes to cook. For example, my Nonna who is an excellent cook dedicates close to 5 hours out of her day to try to perfect the turkey.  From cleaning, prepping, and basting the turkey, she questions every minute of the process. Let me be clear, my Nonna can whip up a gourmet meal in thirty minutes but the stress of the turkey is just not worth it.  Instead it would be a lot easier just to throw some steaks on the grill for about 12 minutes and my Nonna can rest while my Grandpa takes over!

                Growing up I used to love stuffing, but over the past few years I have become less interested to the point where I don't even put it on my Thanksgiving plate.  First of all, the look of stuffing does not look appetizing; instead it resembles dog food in a way when it gets all soggy.  Also I feel like stuffing has a bland taste.  I am also not a fan of the cranberry sauce because to me it is way too sweet to the point where I really can't even eat it without feeling like I am eating a sour War Head.  To be totally honest,  I only really enjoy mashed potatoes and string beans.  Those are two foods that don't disappoint on Thanksgiving because they are both consistent year in and year out.

                Even though I think Thanksgiving dinner is overrated I still love the idea of Thanksgiving and having the ability to spend the day with family and friends who are the people that I am thankful for in life.  I can not forget to mention that on Thanksgiving there are three football games played and they are always fun to watch, even though the Cowboys and Lions play ever year.  However, it has become an annual tradition to watch the Lions lose each year!  Even though I think the food on the table at Thanksgiving is overrated, that is not what truly matters.  What truly matters is spending time with family and friends and thinking about what you are thankful for in life.