In honor of the upcoming holiday, I talked to Oyster River High School (ORHS) students about their favorite Thanksgiving foods (and which ones my peers aren’t particularly fond of), and how they view others who share the same favorites as them! Below will be some of the most popular results I received, followed by an assumption of personality based on the options.
Rolls…
A strong first contender seems to be the rolls that are brought to dinner, whether they be from the Pillsbury rolls from a can or homemade. “My favorite food is these rolls that my aunt always makes because they’re nostalgic, and she makes them every year,” Addie Dillon (‘27) says. Aoife Sullivan (‘27) agrees, saying, “The Hawaiian rolls are my favorite. They’re so warm and delicious, and compliment the turkey so well, especially after being buttered.”
If your favorite food are rolls, Dillon says that people who like rolls are, “kind of basic. Rolls are a very basic Thanksgiving food.” Sullivan added how, “People who like rolls are bubbly, happy, and enjoy the holiday. They’re also usually festive.”
As someone whose favorite is the rolls, I think you can earn bonus points if you add tons of butter onto yours! It adds a richness to the mashed potatoes they otherwise don’t always have, and people who do this typically love the warmth of the bread combined with the softened butter. You prefer a cozy holiday with this comforting food.
Casseroles…
Barb Milliken, a retired ORHS world language teacher who now substitutes, says her favorite has to be when, “everything is on your plate, and it all gets mushed together.” She compared it to casseroles, adding, “I really like casseroles because of this… I love the flavor with a little bit of gravy.”
If your favorite Thanksgiving food resembles some sort of casserole, then Milliken says, “you’re not black and white, because everything goes together in a casserole. You have a lot of gray in your life.” Many people in my family’s favorites are casserole, and I can definitely attest to this.
Turkey…
The next, of course, is the turkey itself. “Turkey is a very classic thing… it’s not like green bean casserole or anything,” Anna Ukstins (‘27) says. Many students often eat it with a side, like green beans or mashed potatoes. If you always go for the turkey, then Ukstins says you tend to go for the classics.
Even with the photo above, almost everyone associates Thanksgiving with the big turkey at the center of the table, however my interviewees hardly brought it up. Even Utskins didn’t officially claim it as her favorite. It seems ORHS staff and students would rather get back up for seconds of rolls or mashed potatoes rather than the turkey.
Mashed Potatoes…
“Mashed potatoes are the best. They’re a comfort food for me,” Grace Harvey (‘28) said. They’re the best with butter melted in on top, alongside pepper and chives. If you love the potatoes, then Harvey says, “People who like them are jolly because it’s such a fun food.”
Mashed potatoes are also a good option for those who like a diversity of toppings on their sides. You have the option of chives, butter, gravy, salt and pepper. If you pick something like butter or gravy, then you’re a very homey sort of person, but something like chives or salt and pepper is a lot more adventurous and flavorful to me.
Cranberry Sauce…
Social studies teacher at ORHS Eden Suoth said one of his favorites is cranberry sauce, and that “cranberry sauce from the can is my favorite because it’s sweet.” He claims that those who share the favorite with him are, “very whimsical.”
Cranberry sauce seems to be a strong pick for people who don’t want something overly sweet, but still something to give a hint of fruit and tang to their Thanksgiving dinner. Personally, I believe it depends on whether you prefer it homemade or from a can. If you like homemade, you’re a very creative and independent sort of person, while from a can you’re occasionally last minute, but fun to be around.
Stuffing…
Another popular side was stuffing, with ORHS social studies teacher Scott McGrath saying, “stuffing is just delicious.” McGrath also has a special favorite Thanksgiving food of cake this year, because his birthday happens to fall on the holiday. McGrath says if your favorite is birthday cake, then you must be a Sagittarius star sign, but if you love stuffing, then you’re, “someone who loves carbs.”
I’ll be sharing this love for birthday cake, as my dad’s birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year. If yours is as well, happy birthday! Stuffing is also a strong pick, and if you like stuffing, I see you as someone who is a very nostalgic and traditional person, but you very strongly defend your love for this side dish.
Pumpkin Pie…
However, most people don’t typically have cake on Thanksgiving, making the most popular and common dessert pumpkin pie. “I like pumpkin pie because it’s a recipe from my grandma,” Katelyn Mitchell (‘27) recalls, the nostalgia of the dish contributing to her fondness of it. If you get seconds of the pumpkin pie, then Ethan Boysen (‘27) says you’re, “usually really funny.” Mitchell claims that, “people who like pumpkin pie really like dessert and wrapping up Thanksgiving dinner.”
There are many other options for pie flavorings, from apple to rhubarb, and if you aim for the pie dish after (or even during if you’re bold enough) dinner, you’re someone who is very bold and loud, and your goal is to try and get everyone at the Thanksgiving table to laugh.
As you load up your plate during this Thanksgiving season, keep in mind ORHS’s top picks for dinner, and what your favorite dish this year might say about you!
– Emily Taylor
Mouth of the River 
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