#1: Turkey Day: The National Turkey Federation once estimated that 46 million turkeys—one fifth of the annual total of 235 million consumed in the United States—were eaten at Thanksgiving. Fun Food Facts #2:Thanksgiving Talking turkey: Back in the day, the #3. Myth busters: Contrary to popular belief, turkey does not make Europeans would call guinea fowls you sleepy. It’s likely the overindulgence of carbohydrates and #9. Let them eat: The average “turkeys” since they were imported by alcohol that lead to post-Thanksgiving dinner naps. The turkey myth American consumes an Turkish merchants. Later, Spaniards circulates because turkey contains tryptophan, an amino average of 3,000 calories at who came to America found another acid that has a role in producing chemicals that Thanksgiving. The most bird that apparently tasted like cause sleepiness. However, tryptophan has calorie-rich Thanksgiving those guinea fowls. When the to compete with a slew of other amino acids food? Pecan pie. English got their hands on to enter the brain, and the those birds, they called them amount that makes it through “turkeys” as well. usually isn’t significant enough to make you sleepy. #5: R-E-S-P-E-C-T: If it were up to Ben #4: Two-minute turkey: In 1953, a Franklin, the turkey Swanson employee misjudged the would be our na- number of frozen turkeys it would #10. Premiere of pumpkin: tional bird. The reason? An eagle had “bad sell that Thanksgiving - by 26 tons! Why throw it out? They opted When the Pilgrims sailed moral character,” as he described in a letter instead to slice up the meat and repackage with some trimmings on for America on the May- to his daughter. A turkey was a "much more the side. Thus, the “TV dinner” was born. flower in 1620, some of respectable bird,” he explained. them were as familiar with pumpkins as the Wampa- #7. Save room for dessert: According to the Guinness Book of World noag, a Native American Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds tribe who helped them #6. Carve the … deer?: and measured just over 12 feet long. It was made on October 8, 2005, survive their first year at According to historians, by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio. Plymouth Colony. A year turkey was not served at the later, when the 50 surviv- first Thanksgiving dinner. #8. Help is just a click away: Need help preparing your big Thanksgiv- ing Pilgrims were joined by What was on the menu? ing dinner? AUFSI can help! Download our Thanksgiving iBook by a group of 90 Wampanoag Deer or venison, ducks, visiting http://aufsi.auburn.edu/thanksgiving/ and find advice on for a three-day harvest geese, oysters, lobster, eel everything from holiday grocery shopping to timing your courses celebration, pumpkin was and fish. just right. likely on the table in some form. Auburn University Food Systems Institute • 334.844.7456 • aufsi.auburn.edu