This is it people - Thanksgiving is upon us. Are you ready? Not the finished-with-work-turned-in-all-assignments kind of ready, but I mean are you prepared for Thanksgiving? Have you braced yourself for the onslaught of delicious food? Because, my friends, this is not a holiday for amateurs.
I think I'm ready, or I've done a practice round at least. Every year my friends and I have a tradition that we make our own Thanksgiving at school prior to actual Thanksgiving. Now, I bet you're thinking that a bunch of college students celebrate a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with popcorn and toast around a ping pong table. Let me stop you right there - we do it right.
Everyone brings their best family recipe along. My friend, who hosts it each year, seasons and bakes an entire turkey. And this year he even made cheesecake from scratch for us. Take that, Charlie Brown. This bunch is legit.
There was so much good food this year that it was difficult to restrain ourselves. So we took the easy option and didn't. Everyone had a sample of everything, and as we sat around delightfully stuffing our faces, the topic of stuffing our faces Thursday with our families naturally arose.
Overeating on Thanksgiving is basically the American way. Although everyone at the party had a slightly different strategic approach to their Turkey Day dinner, after a while we reached a consensus on the best modes of attack:
1. Thanksgiving is a marathon, not a sprint, so you have to stretch before you eat. One friend said her family always has an early brunch the day of, that way they are hungry for dinner but their bodies do not go into shock at sight of all that food.
2. Wear comfortable pants. Sweatpants are obviously the most desirable. Personally I campaign for this at my house every year. Thanksgiving in your pajamas just makes sense to me, but sadly my family never goes for it.
3. Bread is dangerous, so save it for last. Who doesn't love those warm holiday rolls? It is important not to eat them too early, however, because if you fill up on bread first, you won't have room for all the other delicious delights and dishes.
4. Be careful with your choice of beverages - stay away from all things carbonated. This is to the same end as No. 3. Don't get me wrong. I love a good Coke as much as the next person, but Thanksgiving is not the day for soda. Why do you think the Pilgrims stuck with water?
5. Don't purposefully save room for dessert but have dessert anyway. This one came at the suggestion of one my friends just as we cleared the massive table of entrees, and it was refilled with equally yummy desserts. Admittedly, this last advice is not for beginners, but I think you can handle it.
Thanksgiving comes but once a year, and you have to be ready. Please keep these tips in mind as you graze. I have shared them with you with hope that at the end of your holiday, when you lay down on your couch and have to loosen the drawstring of your pants, you will do so with a smile on your face. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
Katie's column runs Tuesdays. She can be reached at k.mcnally@cavalierdaily.com.
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