Many Iowa grocery stores now offer a complete Thanksgiving meal that can be purchased in advance for a flat per-person rate — meals that can be picked up hot and ready-to-eat on Thursday morning.
Dave Miller, director of research and commodities for the Iowa Farm Bureau, says the increasing popularity of such meals is telling. Miller says the whole idea of “Thanksgiving Take-out” is a growing segment.
He say some people can clearly afford the pre-prepared dishes and it’s a reflection of a lifestyle change in our society. He says it’s an issue of time-management and what Iowans would prefer to be doing with their holiday. People would rather spend time with their families instead of cooking on the stove.
Miller says it’s just a reflection of the changing times. He sees the growing trend of take-out turkey dinners having little or no impact on Iowa agriculture, since the items are still being consumed — they’re just being prepared by a grocery store staff instead of family members in your own kitchen.