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As Thank you Coming fast, there’s family all over America Carefully planning your dinner menuYet one important decision often gives rise to debate: the exact timing of the festive feast. While many families opt for an earlier start with meals beginning around 3 pm on the fourth Thursday of November, others prefer a more traditional dinner time, serving their Thanksgiving spread at 6 pm or even 7 pm.
This perennial question of when to gather around the table is often associated with the infamous after-dinner slump, a widespread phenomenon often attributed to the sheer volume of food consumed. At the center of this discussion is the star of Thanksgiving, turkeyand its alleged ability to cause fatigue. Turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid important for melatonin production, which regulates sleep schedules. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai,
There’s no argument that a substantial Thanksgiving meal full of turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes will make anyone feel ready for a nap. However, the scientific community continues to debate whether the chemicals in turkey are actually responsible for this widespread drowsiness, or whether other factors contribute to our post-feast sleepiness. Speaking to The Independent, the professional chef provided his insight on the intense lethargy that occurs after such a heavy meal, and shed light on how this feeling can significantly impact upcoming Thanksgiving plans.
according to cleveland clinicTryptophan is an essential acid found in foods with high levels of protein such as chicken, eggs, cheese and fish. Since turkey contains tryptophan, the amino acid may affect our body’s levels of both melatonin and serotonin, neurotransmitters that regulate our mood.
talking to IndependentCalifornia based chef Brendan Collins acknowledged that tryptophan present in turkey is an amino acid that affects our sleep schedule. However, he clarified that turkey is not the cause of drowsiness, but rather our eating habits on Thanksgiving may be the culprit. “I think the truth is that we tend to eat more on Thanksgiving than our normal eating schedule, and we go into a food coma,” he explains. “We need to sleep because of that. Not because of the small amount of tryptophan found in turkey.”
John Carpenter – an executive chef Signature Restaurant at La Cantera Resort & Spa In Texas – it was agreed that stuffing our faces with food on Thanksgiving may be more responsible for our fatigue. He said it’s easier to fall asleep after a heavy meal and specified that a variety of foods and beverages, from pumpkin pie to wine, can contribute to drowsiness.
“Thanksgiving dinner is very heavy, with stuffing and large amounts of meat, whether it’s turkey or ham,” he said. “It’s usually surrounded by friends and family, and it usually involves drinking some alcohol, which is not exactly known to keep us awake.”
With the side effects of eating a big Thanksgiving meal in mind, chefs have shared their advice on when to plan your dinner. It’s important to note that the day before Thanksgiving can be relatively hectic, from purchasing materials to decorating your home. Carpenter said that in addition to managing physical tasks, there’s another routine she usually adopts to prepare for the holidays — changing her eating habits.
“For me personally, I definitely like to change up my eating schedule, not only on Thanksgiving day, but also a few days before,” he said. “I always eat a little lighter, anticipating a larger meal. And personally, I usually don’t even eat breakfast on Thanksgiving because I know I’m going to eat too much.”
Thanksgiving morning is notoriously busy, so Collins urges families to give themselves plenty of time to prepare before dinner. He recommends giving yourself a good two and a half to three hours of cooking time, allowing you to prepare all of your vegetables while the turkey is in the oven.
So, when is the best opportunity to serve food to your guests? Professional chefs recommend daytime rather than evening as the best time to host your dinner, taking into account both food preparation time and sleepiness.
“Usually for me, it’s late afternoon or early in the day,” Carpenter explained. “I have two kids so I like early because it gives us the rest of the day to rest them from big meals and other things. And then during Thanksgiving Day you have more time to be with your family.”
When you decide to host your Thanksgiving dinner is entirely up to you, but Collins acknowledged that the age of your guests is another factor to consider. He said children are generally used to eating earlier in the day, even if this is not the case for adults. “I think if there are a lot of kids under 10, it would be a good idea to have your dinner at 2 or 3 p.m.,” Collins said. “If it’s more toward the adult scene, I think it’s more like early dinner, late lunch. I would personally go for 4 p.m. or 5 p.m..”
Aside from Thanksgiving, studies have shown that late-night dinners may not be the best idea. In a 2022 study published in a peer-reviewed journal cell metabolismResearchers examined 16 patients who were overweight and obese as they ate the same meals at two times – one group ate dinner at 9 p.m. The results showed that eating later had a big impact on how patients regulated their “energy intake, expenditure and storage.”
Since there are so many different types of food served on Thanksgiving, eating dinner earlier may ultimately be better for your physical health. “Personally, I know you shouldn’t eat a heavy meal late at night, especially the size of a typical Thanksgiving meal,” Collins said. “So definitely give yourself time to organize your meals.”
Although there are many factors to consider when planning your Thanksgiving dinner time, it’s important to remember not to let the stress of it ruin the day.
“Don’t stress too much about food,” Collins said. “I know that sometimes Thanksgiving is one of the first times you see friends or family in a long time. So I think the idea is to have it be festive, and make sure you do that. Buy really nice wine or champagne and enjoy.”