8 Reasons Seafood Says Friendsgiving
Here are a few Friendsgiving facts:
In recent years, studies show that Friendsgiving is gaining traction with the 25 to 34 age group as the most popular alternative to Thanksgiving
Searches for Friendsgiving dish ideas have tripled.
The average size of a Friendsgiving party is 21.
Most Friendsgivings are potluck style, with nearly one-quarter of hosts asking guests to sign up to bring a dish.
The trend is definitely towards non-traditional fare.
With this in mind, chances are you’ve been invited to a Friendsgiving, maybe more than one, and you may be wondering what to bring. The host has the turkey under control, and guests have already dibbed all the usual suspects, from the stuffing and mashed potatoes right down to the ice cream and pumpkin pie. And then it hits you. Seafood!
Say Thanks with Seafood
Seafood is the perfect addition to the meal for so many reasons, including those below.
1. Lighten up. Whether steamed shrimp, lightly dusted calamari, or grilled branzino, seafood complements the assortment of traditional, carb-heavy foods on the menu, giving friends and family the option of doing something after the meal besides taking a nap!
2. Fish is for friends. Bringing a seafood dish gives pescatarian friends a chance to add protein to their potatoes and stuffing for a delicious, balanced meal.
3. Sharing is caring. Seafood is low in calories and high in vitamins and essential minerals, so it will also show friends trying to lose weight or eat healthier before and during the holidays that you have their welfare and goals at heart.
4. Easy, peasy. With many types of seafood going from freezer to plate in mere minutes, you won’t have to spend hours preparing and cooking your contribution. And quality frozen seafood can be bought and stored for weeks, allowing you to avoid the crazy last-minute grocery store lines.
5. Strength in numbers. The great thing about quality frozen seafood is it’s ready when you are—no matter how many of you there are. Fix what you think you’ll need and bring some extra that can be ready in minutes. The host will love you for it if the Friendsgiving suddenly turns into friends of Friendsgiving.
6. Let’s get festive. Whether grilled or steamed shrimp or calamari or fish tacos, seafood has a natural way of adding an air of festivity to any meal and making festive occasions even more so.
7. Dare to be different. Face it, as wonderful as traditional Thanksgiving fare can be, it can get a little boring having the same menu year after year. Adding seafood can be a solid differentiator that will have guests waning nostalgic in years to come: “Remember, that was the year Mark brought that delicious seafood plate!”
8. Traditional values. The great thing about seafood is its versatility. It can be cooked in every possible way—from grilled, steamed, and poached to fried, broiled, and sautéed—plus every way in between. Meanwhile, its firm texture and subtle flavor also allow it to work in any ethnic dish. This means you can weave it into the traditional menu and never serve it the same way twice.
So what to bring to your Friendsgiving? Seafood equals problem solved. And if you are hosting a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving? Add seafood to the menu. Your guests will thank you for it.