Should you have mac and cheese at Thanksgiving? Some people think it’s absurd, but others think that thinking it is absurd is absurd. Who is right?
While trying to find the answer to this controversial question, I took a survey on whether mac and cheese belonged at the Thanksgiving table. Out of 40 students, 37.5% said yes, 32.5% said no, and 30% said they didn’t have a preference.
“You should definitely not have Mac and cheese at Thanksgiving because it is not traditional! The Pilgrims didn’t have Mac and cheese! Part of the joy of Thanksgiving is the tradition: turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, etc. Mac and cheese does not fit!” says Hailey Arnold ‘30.
“I personally really love mac and cheese, it is one of my favorite comfort foods. Because Thanksgiving is a time for celebration and reflection for what we are grateful for in life, the food we eat should reflect that. I’m really grateful for whoever came up with mac and cheese because it tastes really good so I’m going to eat it at Thanksgiving.” argues Lils Polak ‘28.
So, if you like mac and cheese you should have it on Thanksgiving, because it is something you are grateful for? But it’s not traditional! Who’s right?
My family always says that mac and cheese is not Thanksgiving food, since we already have the traditional stuff like turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, casseroles, different things I have no idea what they are called, and pie. Why have mac and cheese? But these arguments are beginning to change my mind. Now I feel more toward mac and cheese, but some people don’t have a strong preference.
Sofia Valenzuela ‘28 shares: “It had never really occurred to me that mac and cheese could be a Thanksgiving dish. I wouldn’t really be against it – you know, to each their own – but, hopefully, you also have turkey in addition to the mac and cheese? I myself would not want to have mac and cheese with Thanksgiving dinner, but that’s my personal preference.”
“You have enough food that is seasonal, why add mac and cheese?” Emma Ayers ‘31 agrees with Hailey.
“Because, well, mac and cheese is delicious and you must have it at least once a day,” Heran Wang ‘31 argues. Once a day? Is that too much? And at least?
Nora Daubert ‘31 says: “Thanksgiving is typically turkey and mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce and stuff like that; I don’t see how mac and cheese would fit in there.”
The main arguments seem to be this: mac and cheese is not seasonal therefore it does not belong at the table. But mac and cheese is a comfort food, it is delicious, and people enjoy it. Maria Hamway ‘31 even says her mom makes it homemade!
“It is so good, why would you not?” Kimia Fazel ’29 says simply.
Eating mac and cheese is something people do a lot. If you want it on your table, you have it on your table. If you stick to the traditional side of the holiday, and say mac and cheese doesn’t belong, that works. May your table be full with your favorites!
But what is the real answer? No? Yes?
What do you think?
By Catherine Keane ‘31, Contributing Writer
