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This Thanksgiving side dish’s popularity depends on your age

By Cristine Struble

Thanksgiving meals sold at food truck and caterer Ida-Belles Southern Kitchen inside the Prepared Table Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The meals are freshly made by chef and owner Lauren Weekley.
Thanksgiving meals sold at food truck and caterer Ida-Belles Southern Kitchen inside the Prepared Table Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The meals are freshly made by chef and owner Lauren Weekley. / Mishalynn Brown/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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As the turkey thaws and the table is set, stomachs start to anticipate the food feast. Since Thanksgiving side dishes fill more of the plate than the bird, deciding which recipes get prime space on the table is key. When it comes to the popularity of this particular dish, make sure that the guest list is in agreement. Age is a big determining factor when it comes to side dish popularity.

Recently, Instacart released some interesting holiday food data. While people can chew on cocktail trends, shopping habits, and more, the menu information showed a big age divide. Even if grandma might be the queen of the kitchen, the various generations vary in their favorite foods.

Overall, three in four Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with traditional dishes. While those dishes can be mashed potatoes, stuffing, and even green bean casserole, one dish is a favorite with the younger generation, but not the older ones.

Instacart says that over half of Gen Z rank macaroni and cheese as a top Thanksgiving side dish choice. In contrast, Boomers put the same dish as their least favorite side. The divisive findings seem to offer a bigger commentary on Thanksgiving food trends.

In recent years, the popularity of Friendsgiving has changed people food menus. From favorite foods to culturally significant recipes, the old school Thanksgiving feast has been tabled for something more inclusive. The younger generation can see the holiday as a gathering of people around food rather than a celebration of specific dishes.

As food and culture evolves, people’s preferences for particular side dishes will continue to change. Even if some staples will always find their way to the table, the ingredients in those recipes will change. Mashed potatoes might be vegan focused or combined with another vegetable. Even that stuffing recipe might not be grandma’s precious version.

For anyone who is finalizing that Thanksgiving menu, take a look at the guest list. Older, younger, or a mix of both will steer the list of side dishes one way or the other. After all, an untouched bowl is never a good sign on a holiday table.

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