What I Ate Wednesday: Home for Thanksgiving

I arrived home for Thanksgiving break yesterday afternoon and it feels wonderful to be with family. My grandparents are flying in this afternoon, and already the house is full of familiar comforts — especially the food. Since one of the highlights of being home is eating favorites I can only make here, I decided to share a What I Ate Wednesday post.

Breakfast began the same way it often does at school: a warm bowl of oatmeal after a morning run. It’s simple, satisfying, and the perfect start to a day full of travel and unpacking.

Lunch was a crisp Honeycrisp apple and one of my homemade frozen burritos. I prefer these to store-bought versions — they’re fresher and tailored to exactly what I like. Having prepared meals like this makes travel days easier and tastier.

After my last class finished, my sister and I drove home. A surprise package was waiting on the porch — who doesn’t love getting a box in the mail? My grandma had sent a little Thanksgiving gift: a personalized baking dish. It was such a sweet welcome home.

I tried to scoop up our dog Gracie when I walked in, but she’s not much of a cuddler. She prefers to observe from a safe distance — the world’s least cuddly fluffball, and I love her anyway.

For an afternoon snack I roasted cauliflower, which is my favorite treat that I can only prepare the way I like at home. I roasted it until the edges caramelized and seasoned it simply so the flavor really shines.

Meanwhile, my brother was baking monster cookies — peanut butter, oats, M&M’s, and chocolate chips. I may have sampled some cookie dough before the cookies went into the oven. It was irresistible.

Dinner included a crisp side salad and a comforting pot of pasta e fagoli soup. The soup was warm and hearty, perfect for a chilly evening at home. We also had cornbread on the side, which became the setting for a little family game: the “sliver game.” You trim tiny pieces off the edge and then try to even the line; it can go on forever and always makes us laugh.

For dessert, while my sister and I watched the latest episode of The Mindy Project, I had a bowl of Moose Tracks ice cream. It’s one of those small pleasures that makes being home feel extra cozy.

Eating at home has its pros and cons. At school I keep a steady, simple routine and avoid having a lot of extra food around, which helps me not overeat. At home, there’s an abundance of delicious options and tempting treats. My family generally eats healthfully, but they also bake and keep indulgences on hand, and when I’m only home for a few days it’s easy to want to try everything. The result can be feeling uncomfortably stuffed if I’m not careful.

I plan to enjoy the special foods — ice cream, cookie dough, and as many “slivers” of cornbread as feel right — while paying attention so I don’t end the break in a food coma. It’s about balance: savoring family favorites and staying mindful of how full I feel.

Questions:
What’s your favorite cookie? Mine is white chocolate macadamia nut.
Do you play the “sliver game”? Yes — I learned it from my grandpa, and now we all do it together whenever cornbread appears.