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Friends that used to host a HUGE gathering (now that the kids are growing up in the family, not anymore) - one person brings a broccoli casserole (similar to the green been casserole) - nobody EVER ate it but every year... there it was.
In the past few years I've had to be careful on Thanksgiving Day. Because I don't eat like that all the time (who does?!) I get heartburn. Smaller portions have worked somewhat, but where's the fun in that?!
It's just clickbait if we're honest. The 'meat' of the article is that Instacart poll from a few years back. But then you gotta consider the way the question is asked.
They don't reveal their questionnaire and the data in full (a red flag concerning the seriousness of the survey), but based on the wording in the article the question was likely asked as "Do you agree that <this dish> is among the worst side dishes on Thanksgiving?" If you look at the percentages, there's no majority for any of them. Not even close. In other words, a majority of people still likes all of those dishes.
Look at the 'winner' i.e. the dish with the lowest % of people who dislike it - dinner rolls. That's not even a real side dish. That's just bread. And it's hardly anything anyone would get excited about. In fact, we never have them with Thanksgiving dinner, even though I am a bread lover, because there already are so many carbs involved in that dinner and it really doesn't need it (stuffing already has bread in it). If someone wrote an article "dinner rolls are America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish" it would probably just lead to head-shaking and scoffing.
If I look at that survey, the thing I wanna complain about it is people preferring white meat turkey. Sure, if you gotta watch your waistline that white meat comes in handy, but white turkey meat might be the worst meat you can legally buy in this country. Serving white meat turkey is the kind of stuff that causes you to be eliminated on a cooking competition. The forgettable nature of white turkey meat is arguably the reason why there's so many side dishes in the first place.
I never liked sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie because of the taste & texture of the dishes involved. When I was involved in making the meal, I made these changes:
Sweet potatoes: no canned, slimy sweet potatoes, marshmallows, gag. Bake whole sweet potatoes, mash with butter, serve.
Cranberry sauce: no canned slime. Buy fresh, raw cranberries, cook per package directions, using less sugar than recommended
Pumpkin pie. just no. Apple crisp with fresh, not canned apples.
Green bean casserole was never part of the equation, fresh baby green peas are better.
Turkey is cooked outdoors in Weber kettle, yielding smoky drippings to enhance homemade giblet gravy.
A crudite dish is a necessity, carrot & celery sticks, radish roses, black olives, sweet gherkins, all on cut glass serving dishes. That's just nostalgia for me.
I think a lot of these "traditional" sides got started in the 1950's by the canned food companies promoting their unhealthy "convenience foods" that many people grew up with, that we know now are so bad for you.
If I look at that survey, the thing I wanna complain about it is people preferring white meat turkey. Sure, if you gotta watch your waistline that white meat comes in handy, but white turkey meat might be the worst meat you can legally buy in this country. Serving white meat turkey is the kind of stuff that causes you to be eliminated on a cooking competition. The forgettable nature of white turkey meat is arguably the reason why there's so many side dishes in the first place.
Ha! I agree. I love having Thanksgiving dinner with white meat eaters. All the more dark meat for me! It's interesting how the preferences are really strong on both sides. There were one or two times when I had wonderful, juicy, tender white meat. The rest of the times, no.
I've done a major revamp of Thanksgiving dinner from the one I grew up with, with all the family gathered around and the table groaning under the full plates. And included everything listed and many that were not. Personally, I love sweet potatoes, but just baked or steamed with butter and salt, and I am the only one who likes them so they are not part of the meal.. Dressing, of course and Mom's homemade was never dry, so neither is mine. Green bean casserole strangely never appeared until my daughter's fiance brought it the first year he ate with us. Now it is a regular. Home made cranberry sauce is a must, alongside the turkey and gravy. Can't say I miss the old stuff from my grandmother's day, the jello salad, pickles, pickled beets, green and black olives, creamed peas and onions.......
My daughter hates sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and has since childhood. I buy pumpkins, cook them, and make the pie from scratch. Maybe she doesn't like "orange" food? lol
“That dish” at our house was creamed onions. It was traditional to have it, but not very popular.
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Smaller portions have worked somewhat, but where's the fun in that?! 
