The Most Popular Thanksgiving Side Dish in Michigan
As Thanksgiving approaches, many people are getting their Thanksgiving menus ready. Campbell’s is back again, settling the holiday debate: which is better – turkey or sides? This year, the brand released its Campbell’s State of the Sides report, a food-focused trend report that dives into the top side dishes in every state. They used consumer data with representation from all 50 states to determine which state loves which side the most.
Through a consumer survey and primary research, Campbell’s confirmed that 67 percent of respondents prefer sides to their holiday entrée. They also found that over half of the U.S. would be content with only sides on their holiday plate.
Michigan’s Top Side Dish
Which style of mashed potatoes do you prefer? Smooth or chunky? While they did not have data on their relative popularity, Campbell’s discovered that mashed potatoes rank as Michigan’s favorite side dish. This observation could be linked to the fact that 40 percent of the participants in the study expressed a preference for side dishes with creamy textures.
The top five most popular holiday side dishes include mashed potatoes, stuffing/dressing, mac & cheese, yams/ sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole.
Photo Courtesy by Campbell’s
Also found in the study is that Americans will not cut back when it comes to side dishes on their holiday table. 90 percent of consumers plan to serve the same number or more sides this season. According to the study, on average, Americans serve five side dishes on their Thanksgiving table each year.
Unique Twist on Sides
Additionally, an increasing number of people are interested in bringing their cultural influences to the Thanksgiving table. The study reveals that 66 percent of Americans see side dishes to showcase their cultural heritage during Thanksgiving. Interestingly, 63 percent of respondents prefer to serve Thanksgiving side dishes that reflect their cultural background. Interestingly, the study also highlights the presence of dishes from various countries and cultures at Thanksgiving tables, including Colombia, the Dominican Republic, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Germany, and France, in addition to the United States.
Spice Up Your Friendsgiving: 5 Themes to Amp Up Your Gathering
Right after Halloween, Thanksgiving arrives on the scene. Many people opt to come together with family during Thanksgiving. Yet, for those who cannot or simply prefer not to. do that, can celebrate with Friendsgiving. It closely mirrors Thanksgiving but with a more compact guest list. It’s an occasion for gathering with your dearest friends, all leading up to the Thanksgiving festivities.
True to its name, this unofficial holiday blends “Thanksgiving” and “Friends,” offering you the chance to be in the company of cherished friends who feel like family. It gives you the freedom to extend invitations exclusively to those you genuinely appreciate and enjoy conversing with.
Some credit the influential television show Friends with inspiring the idea of spending the holiday with friends. Another theory proposes that in 2011, an advertising campaign by Baileys Irish Cream liqueur introduced the term, propelling the trend further.
Unlike Thanksgiving, which has an official date, Friendsgiving doesn’t have a fixed day. Many people tend to host it before the actual Thanksgiving Day if they plan to spend the holiday with their family. Alternatively, some might simply adopt Thanksgiving itself, renaming it Friendsgiving when celebrating with a group of friends.
When it comes to the menu, it can range from a classic Thanksgiving potluck to a more distinctive selection featuring the personal favorites of those in attendance. In a Reddit thread, someone shared their Friendsgiving menu, which featured a Mexican-inspired feast. “For our Friendsgiving we do Mexican. Pineapple chicken and shredded beef tacos. Lime sour cream, rice, corn bread, queso, guac and assorted salsas. Margaritas and Jell-O shots,” they wrote.
While the Thanksgiving season often evokes memories of family traditions, Friendsgiving provides an opportunity to establish new traditions with those close to you. Over the years, Friendsgiving has become an annual tradition for many. If you’re hosting a Friendsgiving gathering, you can enhance the event by incorporating a theme.
Take a look at some Friendsgiving themes that would make for a fun holiday event.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.
She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.