People Embrace New Vacation Centerpieces

December 1, 2025

A brand new survey from Tyson Meals finds Gen Z People are redefining the normal vacation unfold.

Transfer over, turkey: People embrace new vacation centerpieces

The turkey has been the centerpiece of American vacation meals for generations. Whether or not it’s roasted within the oven or deep fried within the driveway, the turkey has been featured at vacation tables throughout the nation for greater than a century.

However this season, the turkey could also be dropping floor. A brand new survey from Tyson Meals finds Gen Z People are redefining the normal vacation unfold.

Tyson Meals Vacation Survey

In keeping with the Tyson Meals Vacation Survey, an internet survey of 1,002 nationally consultant People, fielded by Savanta on behalf of Tyson Meals from Oct. 7-12, 2025, many, particularly Gen Z, are rethinking what defines a festive meal.

Survey findings embody:

Greater than half (54%) of Gen Z People would favor a protein apart from turkey as their main supply of protein.
When requested which (if any) of the next proteins they’d somewhat have than turkey throughout a vacation meal, Gen Z respondents mentioned:
hen (59%)
pork/ham (49%)
steak/beef (49%)
fish/seafood (23%)
plant-based protein (8%)
solely 12% mentioned “None, it needs to be turkey.”
Solely 12% of Gen Z chosen turkey as their most popular protein.

An infographic showing that only 12% of Gen Z selected turkey as their preferred protein during a holiday meal. — Tyson Meals

Attitudes about turkey are extremely generational

Gen Z and Millennials are much less concerned with consuming turkey than older generations, based on the Tyson Meals Vacation Survey. The survey discovered that there are obvious generational variations in attitudes concerning the vacation traditional:

“I would favor a special protein than turkey” – 41% of whole respondents agreed, in contrast with 54% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials.
“Turkey shouldn’t be definitely worth the time it takes to cook dinner” – 28% of whole respondents agreed, in contrast with 37% of Gen Z and 34% of Millennials.
“Turkey is the worst a part of a vacation meal” – 20% of whole respondents agreed, in contrast with 24% of Gen Z and 27% of Millennials.

Whereas there’s a clear generational hole in attitudes concerning the conventional vacation turkey, the perimeters are a special story.

An infographic showing that 4 in 5 or 79% of Americans agree that 'turkey is mostly for tradition'. — Tyson Meals

Vacation favorites: what People really need on the desk

Whereas almost 80% of People really feel “turkey is generally for custom,” there’s one fixed that endures: People love their potatoes. In reality, the Tyson Meals Vacation Survey discovered {that a} whopping 94% of People like or love mashed potatoes. Seventy-three % of respondents additionally like or love candy potatoes.

Different conventional sides that People of all generations need to see on their vacation desk embody inexperienced beans (84%) and stuffing (84%).

An infographic showing that Gen Z is most stressed about the four C's compared to older generations. — Tyson Meals

Hidden vacation stressors

Stress comes with the territory when internet hosting a big vacation gathering. Along with the cleansing and coordination concerned in internet hosting, respondents of the Tyson Meals Vacation Survey cited value as one of many main causes of stress this vacation season.

Due to that, 54% of People say they’ll be on the lookout for methods to avoid wasting this vacation season. Practically half of People (46%) say an entire turkey is an excessive amount of meals, and that quantity jumps to 67% amongst these making an attempt to save cash by selecting a inexpensive important protein.

Price range-friendly protein choices like roast hen, baked ham and/or pork tenderloin are festive choices to contemplate when value and extra meals add to vacation stress. For younger company, it’s at all times a good suggestion to have pasta and hen nuggets on the vacation menu, too.

A vacation desk for everybody

The trendy vacation meal is turning into as various because the households gathered round it. Whereas the normal turkey will at all times have its place throughout the vacation season, many are embracing selection. From glazed hams and roasted hen to beef, seafood, and plant-based choices, there isn’t a scarcity of decisions.

Regardless of the protein centerpiece, coming along with family members and sharing a meal is what makes the vacation season particular for everybody on the desk.

This story was produced by Tyson Meals and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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