It’s been a debate for decades. One that has never seen a certain answer. One people fight over. And that debate is whether turkey or ham is better for Thanksgiving.

Although it may seem like a harmless debate, it has been one that has rocked relationships to their core. To find the truth, experts have been called upon to address this long-standing debate.

One expert who has many certifications to fit our research is NUHS foods teacher Ashley Schneider. Not only is she a food teacher, she also has many years within the food industry and a family, so she has many years of Thanksgiving experience.

With Scheider being the mom and cook, she gets to decide what the family will eat on the fateful day. That choice, for her, is ham. Schneider’s reasoning for choosing ham is not for the taste but “because it’s significantly faster to cook.”

The second expert, Adrienne Trahms, who is also a NUHS foods teacher, has more on her plate when it comes to her family’s Thanksgiving. Ms. Trahms is responsible for “making the whole Thanksgiving meal.” 

Since Ms. Trahms makes the entire Thanksgiving meal, she chooses what is made for her and her family. With that choice, she chooses turkey over ham. “I think turkey is better for Thanksgiving simply because I only eat ham on Christmas and I’m not eating ham two times within two months,” said Ms. Trahms

No main dish is perfect without a side, and no holiday says it better than Thanksgiving.

The 2 most iconic side dishes of Thanksgiving are stuffing and mashed potatoes.

Schnieder is full team stuffing, but also brought up an unpopular side dish that is seen at many Thanksgivings: “Gelled cranberries. I know they’re not very popular, but I absolutely love them,” Schnieder said.

Trahms, on the other hand, is fully team mashed potatoes. But she does have one specific requirement for the mashed potatoes. “They have to be smooth, not the lumpy mashed potatoes,” Trahms said.

And now, the sweetest part of the Thanksgiving dinner, the dessert. The most common of which is pie.

Pie comes in many flavors: pumpkin, apple, sweet potato, pecan, and chocolate. And according to the experts, the answer to which pie is best is clear.

“Pumpkin pie. Big on pumpkin pie.” Schieder said. “We did start making apple pies, and that’s pretty good, too, with ice cream on it. But you have to have ice cream on it.”

Trahms seems to agree, picking pumpkin pie as her favorite. But she did also leave a side note for her pie selection. “Sweet potato pie is my favorite. But otherwise pumpkin pie,” Trahms said.

So when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, there are many disagreements with some agreements to what is a must on the dinner table. But despite what someone may think or what the experts interviewed have said. A true Thanksgiving is one spent with family and friends while eating food and playing games together.

Our thanks to all of you, and happy Thanksgiving!