Thanksgiving has always been my most favorite holiday. I love that Thanksgiving is all about family, friends and food and has nothing to do with presents or religion. In fact there are so many more reasons to appreciate Thanksgiving. Here are my top 5 things I love about Thanksgiving.
5 Things I love about Thanksgiving
Family
We host our family Thanksgiving each year at our home. I really get into the table scapes and candles and the whole thing. It’s especially meaningful to have our adult kids back home with us for a few weeks.
Food
Both my husband and I are total foodies! Since he eats no veggies and I am a vegetarian, we tend to have quite the spread to make sure everyone is happy and well stuffed. I am still narrowing down my veggie sides but I do always like to have one big green salad of sorts. I am leaning towards this one! Thanksgiving is also a day not to worry too much about what I am eating and just enjoy the day.
Football
My husband and son are all about the football games all weekend long. It’s hard not to get in on the fun and root for your team. They sometimes have multiple games going on at once.
Fitness
I normally start off Thanksgiving day with a Turkey Trot. It is a huge stress reducer and of course an excuse to dress ridiculously. Waking up early on Thanksgiving and getting my sweat on sure makes me feel a little bit better about over indulging the rest of the day. I love seeing all the families out there together exercising and having fun. Turkey Trots also seem to be a little more low key and welcoming to those of all fitness levels.
Speaking of Turkey Trots, if you live in the Chicago area I hear the North Shore Turkey Trot is the place to be. They have some fantastic swag with long sleeve shirts. Use code BRNSTT19 for a special gift.
Tradition
We have developed some long lasting family holiday traditions. Although we make everything from scratch, my kids insist on having those honey butter Pillsbury biscuits that pop out of a can. They are their favorites and they just remind them of their childhood.
Tell me some of your Thanksgiving favorites and traditions. Food? Family? Friends?
liking up with Fairytales and fitness
My squash or pumpkin soup. And a turkey trot.
Wait! Do you cook for Thanksgiving!?
I love all of the above! My turkey trot is a half marathon that I run on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I’ve done some of the others, but this one is my favorite.
Turkey trots are a really fun part of Thanksgiving!
That is a really nice family pic from last year! All so happy.
I love the US traditions around Thanksgiving!
Being a non-US citizen but having been in the US every November for the last 12 years, I just watch the Thanksgiving activities in admiration from the sidelines. The only thing I participate in is a good old Turkey Trot. I love the atmosphere!
The turkey trots are one of my favorite traditions as well because they really are for everyone
I love Thanksgiving too! I remember being so excited for it when I was in college- I loved going home to see everyone and knowing the end of the semester was right around the corner! Hope you enjoy the time with your kids!
Thanks I can’t wait to have everyone under one roof!
I think our reasons for loving Thanksgiving are almost identical! My family watches football, but I think I’d swap that one out with laughing. We have a great time roasting each other on Thanksgiving 😛
OH yes there is lots of that going on too!
I love all things Thanksgiving, too!!! I have always hosted, even when we were in Michigan. I get a lot of the food ready the evening before, then I make the potatoes (while the hubby preps the turkey) early in the morning & put in a crockpot before we head out to our local Trot.
Sounds like you have a great system! I can’t believe it’s almost Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving isn’t really something that’s celebrated much in the UK. I love the idea of a run called the turkey trot though!
Oh it’s a fun one. People love to dress up as Turkeys! 🙂
Thanksgiving has just never been my favorite holiday. I hosted it for a few years, but now my Dad can’t travel that far so we will be going to them.
I try to keep it somewhat simpler, my mom always made way too much stuff and by the time it came to eat . . . well let’s just say it wasn’t always at the right temp.
Because of the travel time unfortunately a turkey trot just puts too much pressure on me. I’ll probably run in my neighborhood or on the mill, depending on what the weather is that day (last year I skipped the trot due to the extreme cold!).
I imagine the holidays are harder now for your family. Hope you all manage to have a good one xoxo
My kids love sweet potato soufflé! Our thanksgiving vary year to year since we don’t usually spend it at home.
Sweet potato anything sounds delicious!
I like Thanksgiving but would probably enjoy it more if I didn’t have to travel.
I can’t believe your husband doesn’t eat veggies? That must be tricky for you guys to have meals together. Do you have to sneak them into recipes?..lol -M
I should write a whole post about it but I often make 2 different variations of dinner! Crazy right?
That creamy kale salad looks delicious! That would be perfect for Thanksgiving.
I think I am going to make it again as well
Thanksgiving isn’t my favorite of the holidays, but it can be a lot of fun. We have so many traditional recipes which I love cooking. I love the annual turkey trot and getting together with family and friends.
Cracks me up that your husband eats no veggies and your husband is a vegetarian.
It’s a challenge!
I love the food and family. Although this year I am unable to be with family so am feeling a bit bummed out. The kids and I are going to do a turkey trot the Sunday before which should be fun!
That will be fun! Have a great week ahead
Agree with you re: lack of gifts. Makes it more meaningful IMO. None of ours are particularly religious so that isn’t a factor for us. We joke actually that thanksgiving and christmas are identical save for the presents.
We don’t have a consistent Thanksgiving tradition. Growing up we’d go to my aunt’s – well technically my great aunt as she was my grandfather’s sister – but we didn’t use that terminology. Sometimes we’d go to the parade before.
She passed away while I was overseas after college and then after my father passed, the holiday continued to bounce around. A few years at my aunt’s (Mom’s brother’s wife)’s sister, then her son and daughter in laws. For the last ten or so it has bounced between my mom’s and my brother and sister in law’s. So I guess we have a tradition of bouncing around.
My birthday is often thanksgiving adjacent and when it’s on the day I get smoked salmon. I don’t like turkey or almost any of the sides so that’s a nice touch. Other times the only turkey on my plate is a turkey shaped sugar cookie. Sugar cookies used to be christmas only at our house, but mom & I have taken to making them all season lately. I think that might be my favorite new tradition
Well a Turkey shaped cookie sounds just perfect to me as well!
Got this set a couple of years ago. So fun if you do fall sugar cookies.
https://www.amazon.com/8PCS-Large-Thanksgiving-Cookie-Cutter/dp/B07XRPQ9K6/ref=asc_df_B07XRPQ9K6/?
Those are super fun! Happy baking
Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite holidays because of the food (and getting to spend time with family + friends)!
Yes indeed! Hope you have a great one