The smells of pumpkin pie spice and herbs fill the air on the fourth Thursday of November every year. Families travel from far and wide to be together on this special day. Moms gather in the kitchen to prepare a delectable meal, while dads scream at football players on the TV. 

Turkey, 7/10

As the Thanksgiving staple, turkey has a lot to live up to. The smell from the oven when the golden-brown delicacy emerges is unmatched, but it’s usually better than the taste. The light meat is usually dry and flavorless or overly soggy with leftover juice from cooking. I have found that eating this dry type of turkey alongside cranberry sauce or jelly can combat the bland and dry texture. Dark meat, on the other hand, saves turkey’s rating. It’s always cooked to perfection, neither dry nor soggy, with excellent flavor. When eaten with the crisp, herb covered skin, it makes all the Thanksgiving stress worth it.

Mac and Cheese, 2/10

An unpopular opinion: Kraft mac and cheese is significantly better than any homemade mac and cheese. I think this is due to my dislike of cheese, and Kraft does not feature a cheesy taste. Although the bubbling goodness on top of homemade mac and cheese seems appealing to some, I find it merely unappetizing. However, this is a controversial dish, as some don’t see it as a Thanksgiving side. No matter what some think, it’s certainly a Thanksgiving food, however, it’s a bad one.

Green Bean Casserole, 0/10

Green bean casserole is bad, and no one can convince me that it’s not. I’ve made the dish once in my life, and it was extremely traumatic, as I almost vomited when I saw and smelled the horrid dish firsthand. If I’m being honest, I’ve never actually eaten green bean casserole, because the overall appearance of it instantly turns me away.

Bread Rolls, 10/10

Bread rolls on Thanksgiving will forever have my heart. My family always has Pillsbury crescent rolls, and they are one of my favorite things on Earth. The delicate pastry combined with a decadent jelly is pure heaven in your mouth. Each layer has a new flavor unmatched by any other Thanksgiving dish. While it seems like rolls shouldn’t be a Thanksgiving staple, I probably eat double the normal amount, so they quickly become the meal themselves.

Stuffing, 7/10

Whoever decided to bake bread coated in butter and herbs is a genius. Stuffing is certainly a dish I have grown to love, but used to be very opposed to. I thought the flavors were very odd and didn’t love the combination, but it’s now a staple on my plate. However, unlike most Thanksgiving foods, there’s such a thing as “too much” stuffing. I can only handle one serving of stuffing before it turns soggy and unappealing.  

Pumpkin Pie, 7/10

There’s something so therapeutic about making pumpkin pie that will forever mask the mediocrity of the pie itself. I will say it: pumpkin pie isn’t that good. Don’t get me wrong, I love pumpkin flavored things, like pumpkin cookies and muffins, but pumpkin pie is overrated. I love the smell and aesthetic of pumpkin pie, but I always feel the need to smother my pie in whipped cream to avoid the gritty taste of raw pumpkin in a store bought crust. The dessert doesn’t live up to its name.

Mashed Potatoes, 10/10

Mashed potatoes, hands down, will forever be the best Thanksgiving food. I mean, what’s not to love? It’s a giant bowl of buttery goodness just screaming to be eaten. Potato skins are not a must for mashed potatoes but certainly elevate the dish to a whole new level. My plate usually is split into two halves: mashed potatoes and everything else. Mashed potatoes are similar to mac and cheese in a sense that they are not restricted to Thanksgiving, but certainly taste better on that day. So, please, enjoy some delicious mashed potatoes this year; you will not regret it.

While everyone’s opinions of Thanksgiving foods differ, one thing’s for sure; the food brings people together. Only on Thanksgiving do families and friends gather from all over to celebrate their gratitude by eating their body weight in food. This special and unique holiday is too often overlooked by Christmas fanatics and their holiday music. So, this holiday season, take a second to give Thanksgiving the respect it deserves and eat some of the very best foods on Earth.