Our country is unique in having a holiday which is an observation of gratitude for the good things in our lives. Many Americans will be sitting down to a Thanksgiving feast that includes turkey and cranberries on their family tables. These New World foods are both native to North America and they were brought to Eurasia in a massive transfer of plants and animals beginning in the15th century.
Turkey got its name from the merchants who regularly traded with that country and first brought this fowl to the Old World. This large bird has come to symbolize the Thanksgiving meal. It is a delicious and healthy food that is versatile and reasonably priced. It is a good alternative to red meat and makes tasty meatballs or burgers. Turkey is an excellent source of protein. One 3 ounce serving (about the size of a deck of cards) has 25 grams of protein and 145 calories with a single gram of saturated fat. If a vitamin or amino acid can’t be produced by the body, it is called an essential nutrient and must come from the food that we eat. Turkey contains an essential amino acid called tryptophan, which is needed for essential growth in infants and to make muscle, enzymes and neurotransmitters like melatonin and serotonin which can regulate sleep, appetite and mood.
Alongside many a slice of Thanksgiving turkey there will be a jelly or relish of cranberries. These scarlet berries may be fresh or dried and included in muffins or even apple pies. They are among the few common fruits sold in this country that are actual natives. The First Peoples regularly used these tart red berries for food, to color fabric and in medicines. Scurvy is a disease that is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C. They are such a good source of this essential vitamin that early European sailors used them to prevent scurvy while at sea for long voyages when they were lacking fresh fruit and vegetables. These crimson beauties are packed with fiber and contain certain antioxidants that can prevent some types of bacteria from attaching to the walls of the bladder and help to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. They also have anti-inflammatory properties which can help prevent chronic disease.
We can truly be thankful for the turkey and cranberries that this bountiful continent has provided for us all.
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