UNITED STATES─The turkey has been craved, family has cleared out of the home, football has come and gone, and now you are left with the turkey pickings and a ton of leftovers. If there was any holiday where I want leftovers, it has always been Thanksgiving. The opportunities are limitless people. I mean you have turkey, ham, chicken, duck, ribs (depends on your family), and that’s just the meats people.
When it comes to Thanksgiving leftovers, they are always best the next day RIGHT after the holiday. Why? They still have that Thanksgiving taste, without feeling old or stale. There is nothing better than a turkey sandwich, with a slice of bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and a bit of mayonnaise. I will be the first to admit that I hate turkey. It is just one of those meats that gets so dry or can easily be overcooked, but when done right it can do wonders. What you do with turkey you can also do with ham, so there is no need to indulge in that mayhem people.
Let’s chat about sides because there are so many to discuss, where its green beans, greens, mashed potatoes, candied yams, macaroni and cheese, dressing/stuffing (it’s a debate that has been ongoing for years), so pick your battles people. For me, I love macaroni and cheese the next day. The gooeyness of the cheese, the macaroni, it’s like the perfect comfort food people. It doesn’t hurt to have a few veggies in the mix along the way either. I might not love them, but I know how important they are for the body.
We cannot forget the cranberry sauce and I LOVE IT with turkey. I’m about to tell you a secret that is going to leave people stunned or shocked. I do NOT love gravy. I’m not a fan of gravy and I very, very rarely eat it. So to spruce up that potentially dry or lackluster flavored turkey, cranberry sauce is a great exception. And then cue the desert. Thanksgiving is a joyous holiday, but it can also be dangerous. Why? Just because you have the leftovers, you should not be overindulging to the point that you get sick or put yourself in a situation where you gain 5-10 pounds in a single week because of all the things you ate.
You might have a slice of pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, a slice of apple pie, a piece of cake; that is a lot of sugar America and you do not need it all. Eat one slice and call it a day or afternoon, do not just sit around and snack all day, that’s not healthy and while health is the last thing we think about when it comes to Thanksgiving, you still want to be aware of what you’re putting into your body. Enjoy the leftovers while you have them, because with the snap of a finger they will be gone.
Written By Zoe Mitchell
