Thanksgiving is arguably the biggest food holiday of the year. But did you know these statistics about how we actually celebrate on turkey day, and why?.
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With the coronavirus pandemic still going on, things are not looking good as the country settles in for a second Thanksgiving holiday. When we go grocery shopping for one of the biggest food holidays of the year, prices are going up and we don’t know what we will find.
Thanksgiving takes place on the fourth Thursday of November, which lands on November 25 this year. The holiday includes the single busiest travel day and the two most intense shopping days of the year. Thank goodness Thanksgiving is all about family traditions, and there is safety in numbers during the holiday chaos.
Thanksgiving is a food holiday, and many of the foods on the menu are served in the U.S. even though they are said to be loved by those who attend. S. only this one day each year. The fact that whole turkeys, stuffing, green bean casserole, and canned cranberry sauce are eaten on Thanksgiving shows how closely these foods have become associated with the holiday.
For many American families, gathering around the table to enjoy a hearty Christmas dinner is a beloved tradition. And at the center of this festive meal, more often than not, is a golden roasted turkey. But just how prevalent is this turkey-eating custom across the U.S. on Christmas Day? Let’s examine the statistics on what percentage of households indulge in everyone’s favorite holiday fowl.
Turkey Rules the Roost
Survey data indicates that an estimated 87-90% of American homes chow down on turkey as the main course for their Christmas feast. This overwhelming majority cements turkey’s status as the go-to protein for the holiday.
While alternatives like ham or roast beef make occasional appearances turkey is far and away the most preferred choice when it comes to Christmas dinner. The tradition crosses geographic socioeconomic, and cultural lines. From New England to the Pacific Northwest, in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural communities, turkey is served in the vast majority of households nationwide.
Historical Origins
To understand why turkey became so attached to the holiday, we have to look back at its history and rise to prominence. Turkey was first introduced in Europe by Spanish explorers returning from the Americas in the 16th century. Over the next 200 years, the birds gradually spread to England and eventually the American colonies.
By the 1800s, turkey was gaining traction as a Christmas meal favored for its relatively modest size compared to the lavish multicourse feasts of old. Novelist Charles Dickens cemented its status by prominently featuring turkey in his 1843 book A Christmas Carol. Around the same time magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale launched a campaign promoting turkey as the Christmas dinner centerpiece.
Why Turkey Resonates
Several factors help explain why turkey has endure as the top Christmas protein for so many households
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Versatility – Turkey can be prepared by roasting, smoking, frying, grilling and more, appealing to diverse tastes.
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Affordability – Priced lower than beef or lamb, turkey offers an economical way to put a holiday feast on the table.
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Tradition – For many families, roasting a turkey at Christmas is habit ingrained across generations.
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Abundance – Turkey’s large size feeds gatherings of family and friends with leftovers to spare.
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Taste – When properly cooked, turkey is juicy, moist and full of rich flavor.
Alternatives Do Exist
While turkey rules Christmas dinner for most, some families do embrace other main course options:
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Ham – Enjoyed by 7-12% of households, ham’s Easter ties likely buoy its popularity.
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Roast beef – Around 2% of Americans, especially those with British roots, opt for roast beef as their Christmas entrée.
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Lamb – Though costly, lamb retains appeal for a small segment of Christmas revelers.
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Goose/duck – Once Christmas dinner staples, these birds now play supporting roles on only about 1% of tables.
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Plant-based roasts – For vegetarian and vegans, store-bought roasts like Tofurkey offer turkey-like options.
So alternatives definitely dot the landscape, but turkey remains the clear majority choice coast to coast.
Preferred Turkey Dishes
When turkey is on the menu, certain presentations stand out:
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Whole roasted – The traditional whole bird adorns 79% of turkey-eating households’ tables.
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Turkey breast – The quick-cooking breast, sometimes boneless, shows up for 21%.
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Deep fried – Requiring special equipment, 11% of turkey lovers deep fry for crispy, juicy meat.
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Smoked – Imparting rich flavor, smoked turkey makes the meal more distinct for 9% of homes.
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Turducken – Layering turkey, duck and chicken intrigues some, but this intricate dish has limited popularity.
In the end, old-fashioned roasted whole turkey still dominates the majority of Christmas meals.
Impact of COVID-19
In 2020 and 2021, smaller Christmas gatherings prompted some families to scale back turkey purchases. But while these years saw a dip in turkey consumption compared to prior holidays, turkey still held an integral place at Christmas.
Per survey data, 2020 saw just a 3-4% drop in homes eating turkey versus pre-pandemic years. And by 2021, turkey bounced back to reclaim its normal standing. So while COVID-19 introduced fluctuations, turkey retained its overall prominence.
The Leftover Dilemma
With turkey’s generous portions, leftovers are inevitable. But most cooks welcome the remains to create sandwiches, soups, casseroles and other inventive dishes. Getting creative with leftovers makes the most of the big bird.
Gobbling Up Thanksgiving Too
While turkey and Christmas go hand-in-hand historically, turkey is also gaining ground as a new Thanksgiving tradition for some families. The 2015-2020 period saw a 24% increase in U.S. homes serving turkey for both holidays. This points to a possible future where turkey anchors the year’s two biggest feasts.
The Bottom Line
Despite some ups and downs over time and the presence of alternatives, turkey still claims an overwhelming majority of Christmas dinners year after year. Across America’s diverse culinary landscape, turkey consumption stands out as a unifying constant. For households seeking a traditional centerpiece to their holiday meal, turkey remains the go-to protein of choice for Christmas feasting now and for years to come.
Other key Thanksgiving data and food statistics
Tofurky, a vegan food made of tofu, wheat, and wild rice, has been around since 1995. It is often used as a punchline in jokes about meat eaters. It sold its 6 millionth roast as shoppers prepared for Thanksgiving 2020. Tofurky’s vegan ham also experienced a 600% year-over-year sales increase for Easter 2020.
The demand for plant-based meats grew 45% in 2020 and it is now a $1. 4 billion market. The reason why sales of chilled (rather than frozen) plant-based meat grew by 2075 percent in 2020 is because of location, location, location. Products like Impossible Burgers are now stacked next to regular meats instead of being spread out in the produce section. 18% of U. S. households now purchase plant-based meat, up from 14% in 2019.
(Sources: Forbes, VegNews, Plant Based Food Association)
Of those on pie duty, 37% claim to make their Thanksgiving pies completely from scratch.
Another third of bakers say their pies are homemade, but they may use store-bought ingredients like pre-made crusts or pie filling. There are also people who buy pies from stores and don’t even try to pass them off as homemade.
In terms of region, Instacart found that people baking pies from scratch were mostly in the Northeast and Midwest. Vermont and Maine had the highest percentages of people buying the most pie ingredients compared to the national average, at 2042 and 2038 percent respectively.
The West is the most likely to buy premade pies. Hawaii is the most likely to buy premade pies versus the national average with a ratio of 32%.
(Sources: YouGovAmerica, Instacart)
Why Do We Eat……Turkey at Christmas?
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