What the Pilgrims Ate at the First Thanksgiving

Experts say corn was prepared several different ways at the first Thanksgiving.

When the pilgrims arrived from New England in 1620, they were not prepared for the harsh winter they found. The Indian people of the land aided them and showed them how to grow specific crops. After a great harvest year, they sat down together to give thanks and to share the plentiful food.

Meat and Fish

Meat, fish and seafood were abundant at the first Thanksgiving, historians say. Turkey was present, but turkey was also used as a term to mean fowl in general. The pilgrims and Indians also ate geese and ducks, as well as venison. Some of the seafood they ate included eel, lobster, fish and clams.

Fruits and Vegetables

Since the first Thanksgiving was essentially a celebration of the successful harvest, many fruits and vegetables were consumed. Fruits included currants, plums and dried fruit. There also would have been boiled pumpkin and native vegetables. The Indians showed the pilgrims how to grow corn, so corn was used in such things as a flat corn bead, corn pudding and corn mush.

Differences

Certain things we associate with Thanksgiving today were not present at the first Thanksgiving. Most of the sugar and flour supply was gone, so there were no pastries, breads, pies or desserts of any kind. There were no potatoes or sweet potatoes, either, and the cranberry also was not present.

References

• The Holiday Spot: History of Thanksgiving
• Wilstar: The Thanksgiving Story
• Thanksgiving Fun: The First Thanksgiving Menu