By Reed Richards
Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, and people are already thinking about what to put on the menu. During Thanksgiving in the past, there has always been family quarrels over who wants turkey and who wants ham. Now, these two lovely meats are staples of the Thanksgiving table–the centerpiece of the meal that we indulge in once a year. But the decision of which meat to choose is not as sweet as it is made out to be—it’s war. The fight between ham and turkey has been raging for years, and now this bloody conflict will be solved.
Let’s start with some history regarding the thanksgiving table. The first time in recorded history (allegedly) that turkeys were eaten on Thanksgiving was during the first Thanksgiving in the early 17th century. Although there is a lot of controversy regarding if people truly ate turkey during the first Thanksgiving, they for sure didn’t eat ham, so one point goes to turkey.
Turkey is also a much more widely accepted meal than ham. Ham was first introduced to the table way before the first Thanksgiving. It is believed that the tradition of eating ham during the winter months traces back to medieval times. Ham, pork and all adjacent meats have a long shelf life, so they were popular gifts and meals to have in the cold and harsh winter months. Pigs are also associated with good luck and prosperity, so ham has a point going for it with its perceived luck and good fortune.
Although ham is an accepted meat to enjoy during Thanksgiving, it is not accepted in some cultures, such as Judaism, Islam and Christian Adventists. However, they all accept the consumption of turkey, as long as it has been slaughtered in an acceptable way.
According to the Washington Post, Americans eat around 46 million pounds of turkey compared to 24.75 million pounds of ham. 90% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, and turkey spending is almost double that of ham. Though these numbers seem hopeless, ham does have a special place at the table among families around the country.
We also have to address the elephant in the room, which is the sides. The sides in a Thanksgiving feast are very important, and honestly better than the main dish in most situations. Family and friends are excited to consume the mac and cheese, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, and all fixings. In this argument, it’s important to know the relationship that the main meat would have with the sides. Turkey is a more bland flavor, and it can be enhanced in a greater way by the multitude of sauces on the table while ham usually has a more distinct flavor that lends itself to being eaten on its lonesome. This heightened adaptability to the culinary abilities of the chef scores turkey another point in this race.
Now we have heard the history and a few of my opinions on the matter, but now let’s hear from students and staff alike on their opinions!
Mr. Baker says that he prefers turkey because he always ate processed ham, and it was a breath of fresh air to have a good turkey.
Mr. Hughes says that he also prefers turkey because it’s more widely accepted and can be eaten by a lot more people than Ham.
A couple students said that they prefer turkey but also appreciate a nice ham, pushing the mantra that it doesn’t matter what food is on the table but rather the vibes at the celebration.
Most of the students that I have casually asked have said that they prefer turkey for tradition and flavor.
Tallying up the results, turkey wins by a landslide, cementing it as the most tasty, classic and appreciated meat to sink your teeth into this Thanksgiving season!
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