When Thanksgiving Changes: Keeping Faith, Flavor & Frugality at the Table
- Midwest Copywriting
- Nov 25
- 4 min read
Why this year’s trends don’t have to take us away from what matters most.
Thanksgiving has always been a holiday shaped by tradition — the same dishes, the same table, the same stories we’ve heard and shared a hundred times.
However, this year, search trends are expressing the changes in how Americans approach this long-established holiday.
Meals are getting more creative.
Drinks are going alcohol-free.
AI is picking half the menus.
And for the first time in a while, the cost of the Thanksgiving meal is actually going down. We can all give thanks for that, right?
Thanksgiving is changing — but that doesn’t mean it has to lose its essence.
In fact, with a little intention, these trends can actually call us back to gratitude, togetherness, and faith in fresh, meaningful ways. Let's explore five of the current Thanksgiving changes for 2025.
Cheaper Thanksgiving Meal Changes — and What That Really Means
Recent national numbers show that the classic Thanksgiving dinner is more affordable this year than last, which is a welcome relief for families trying to manage higher-than-usual grocery costs. Saving a little money at the store can feel like a small mercy — but it’s also a reminder to shift our focus back to what makes the day valuable in the first place.
The truth? Most people don’t remember the exact menu from year to year.
They remember who sat beside them. Who held their hand during grace. Who stayed afterward to do dishes or sit and talk when the house had finally grown quiet.
A lower-cost meal isn’t just good news for the budget — it’s music for the heart. It opens the door to a simpler celebration, a more genuine experience, and a revelry of gratitude and presence rather than performance.
The Rise of Zero-Proof Thanksgiving
Another trend worth toasting: mocktails are quickly becoming a holiday norm.
According to reporting from The Seattle Times, nearly half of Americans now prefer nonalcoholic options at their Thanksgiving table, and zero-proof spirit sales continue to climb (Nielsen data).
Even Beverage Industry Magazine notes that younger hosts are leading the shift for serving holiday mocktails this season.
Whether it’s health-conscious choices, sober-curious lifestyles, or simply wanting everyone at the table to feel included, mocktails are carving out a real place in modern Thanksgiving gatherings.
(I'm all for making milk great again.)
At first glance, it might look like just another fad — but there’s something deeper happening. An alcohol-free Thanksgiving makes room for everyone at the table. It keeps the focus on conversation, laughter, togetherness, and thankfulness, instead of excess and the unnecessary drama that comes with it.
And for families who lean into faith, it aligns beautifully with a holiday meant to honor God for the gifts and abundance He so generously gives.
It’s a small, yet significant shift that brings a peaceful, steady warmth to the day and trustworthy comfort to the soul.
Apple Pie Mac & Cheese, Global Flavors, and the New Thanksgiving Table Changes
One of the year’s wildest food headlines was from Heather Martin, RD, on Today, about apple pie-flavored mac and cheese — a true blend of comfort food and creativity. And this strange combination wasn’t the only odd couple in the kitchen. From Latin-spiced turkey to Mediterranean vegetable sides, families all over the country are adding uniquely global flavors to their American holiday menus.
Are these dishes traditional? Not even a little.
Are they rooted in the heart of the holiday? Absolutely.
Thanksgiving has always been a celebration of sharing what we have — ingredients, cultures, creativity, and the joy of hospitality. Trying something new isn’t a betrayal of tradition; it’s a way of building new memories while honoring the old.
The flavors may change. The meaning doesn’t.
When AI Plans the Thanksgiving Meal
It might sound incredibly non-traditional, oddly out of character, and super disloyal to grandma, yet one of the biggest trends this week is how many people are asking AI to build their Thanksgiving menus, grocery lists, and step-by-step cooking timelines.
If this sounds like you, don't worry – you're not cheating on grandma. AI is becoming a tool that helps families stay organized and cook with confidence.
Still not ready to jump on the AI train for Thanksgiving? Here’s the encouraging part: AI may help plan the meal, but it can’t replace the gathering.
It can’t pass a plate.
It can't give a welcoming hug.
It can’t bow its head in prayer.
It can’t laugh at the kid who sneaks an early taste of dessert.
It can’t linger long after the table has been cleared.
Technology can help us prepare, just as mixers, ovens, and refrigerators do — but it’s our presence and human connection that give the day meaningful substance.
Side-Dish Battles and Identity: Why They Matter
Every Thanksgiving season, the search engines flare up with arguments:
Stuffing or dressing?
Pumpkin or pecan?
Cranberry sauce: whole or jellied?
Behind those debates is something important: These dishes carry identity, memory, and region.
They’re reminders of who taught us to cook, where we grew up, and what “home” tastes like.
This year, as families experiment with new dishes or outsource parts of the meal, those classic staples hold even more weight. They’re the threads tying us back to generations before us — a reminder that Thanksgiving has always been about inheritance, not perfection.
What Do All These Thanksgiving Trends Really Tell Us?
They tell us Thanksgiving isn’t disappearing.
It’s evolving.
Meals may get trendier. Menus might get digital help. Ingredients may stretch beyond the traditional “rules.” Mocktails may replace the wine.
But the heart of Thanksgiving is still ours to protect.
This year, it might be simpler than ever to return to and dig into what absolutely matters:
Gratitude.
Presence.
Prayer.
Togetherness.
These are the ingredients for the best recipe of remembering and honoring the One who provides the harvest, and why we gather to give thanks at all.
Whether your table is full of new flavors or the same dishes your grandmother made, the meaning remains the same — because Thanksgiving isn’t just a meal. It’s an attribute.
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