The ultimate guide to the best Thanksgiving menu
This week’s edition of Business Insider’s newsletter dives into a variety of engaging topics, from Thanksgiving culinary staples to lifestyle tips that promote health and productivity. As families across America prepare for the Thanksgiving feast, the article highlights five essential dishes that are almost guaranteed to grace dinner tables: turkey, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Business Insider has been testing recipes to help readers perfect their holiday menus. For instance, they recommend ordering your turkey from reliable sources, trying Ina Garten’s delicious overnight mac and cheese, and experimenting with unique stuffing recipes that incorporate fennel and apricot. Additionally, a sweet potato dish from Dolly Parton’s new cookbook was a hit at a recent Friendsgiving, and Bobby Flay’s pumpkin pie recipe was crowned the best for its creamy topping. This comprehensive guide aims to ease the stress of holiday cooking, encouraging readers to either cook up a storm or opt for takeout if needed.
In a lighter segment, the newsletter features Kim Schewitz’s journey to becoming a morning person, which resonates with many who dread early wake-ups. After realizing her mornings were filled with anxiety, she decided to embrace a healthier routine that includes yoga and long walks, ultimately feeling more energized and focused. The article also touches on Gen Z’s innovative approach to work trips, where they cleverly turn business travel into mini-vacations by extending stays at hotels. This trend not only allows for leisure but also helps young professionals earn rewards and explore new destinations, although it requires careful planning to maintain workplace harmony. Lastly, the newsletter discusses the resurgence of communal dining, a practice gaining popularity among younger generations as a way to foster connections post-pandemic. With these insights, Business Insider provides a blend of practical advice and cultural observations, making it a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their holiday experience or daily routine.
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This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
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Welcome back!
One 93-year-old works out five days a week. She credits
three essentials
for feeling like she’s in her 50s.
On the agenda:
If waking up has ever felt like a punishment, a BI reporter
has good news
.
Gen Z’s favorite vacation:
wherever their boss sends them
.
Novak Djokovic is winning titles at 38. He credits his longevity to
3 simple
changes.
One of the most divisive dining trends of the 2010s
is making a comeback
.
But first:
What’s cooking?
If this was forwarded to you,
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This week’s dispatch
We’re talkin’ turkey
GMVozd/ Getty Images
For many American families, there are five staples you’re almost sure to see on their Thanksgiving dinner tables: turkey, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie.
And I know, I know, I’m leaving off a lot of yummy menu items. I can already hear you wondering, “Where’s the green beans?”
Business Insider has been testing, tasting, and serving up recipes to help readers finalize their Thanksgiving menus based on the most popular dishes.
In case you were head down in Q4 and missed them (relatable), here’s your cheat sheet to the ultimate Thanksgiving menu.
Turkey:
There’s still time to order your bird online.
Here are the best places to buy one
— from organic to fried to smoked.
Macaroni and cheese:
We tried Ina Garten’s
overnight mac and cheese recipe
, which features Gruyére and white cheddar. Yum!
Stuffing:
One writer put
four stuffing recipes to the test
, and the favorite was the easiest to make. The recipe also called for fennel and apricot.
Sweet potatoes:
Inside “Good Lookin’ Cookin’,” Dolly Parton’s new cookbook with her sister, Rachel Parton George, is a
sweet potato recipe with a nutty twist
. One BI reporter brought it to a friendsgiving, and it was gone within minutes.
Pumpkin pie:
A writer put
three different pie recipes
to the test, and
Bobby Flay’s came out on top
thanks to a creamy, sweet topping.
Good luck in the kitchen! Or if all else fails,
just order it up
.
Becoming a morning person
Waking up to do something pleasurable, like going for a nice walk and grabbing a coffee, makes waking up early easier.
Kim Schewitz
BI’s Kim Schewitz has always struggled with waking up in the morning. She realized that starting her day in a constant fight or flight state left her feeling low energy, anxious, and a little disoriented.
Schewitz began her odyssey to become a morning person about a year ago. It wasn’t until after a recent trip, when she got the good kind of jet lag — going to bed early and waking up early — that she really started to notice a difference.
Yoga and long walks before work
.
You better work (trip)
Getty Images; Rebecca Zisser/BI
Some Gen Zers are turning bland work trips into vacations by tacking on extra days at nice hotels and taking advantage of corporate rates.
Done right, it’s a nice way to earn extra credit card points, see a bucket-list destination, and maybe even get some quality time with a plus one. Done wrong, however, it’s a sure way to upset your coworkers.
Business tripping with Gen Z
.
Long live the Djoker
Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning during the Hellenic Championship in November 2025.
Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic is still at the top of his game at 38. The 24-time Grand Slam champion continues to beat players who are more than 10 years younger than him.
Djokovic told Business Insider the lifestyle choices he thinks have kept him on the court, from his famously disciplined diet to prioritizing emotional health.
Lessons from the GOAT
.
They ate with that
Communal dining, a divisive trend that experienced surges of popularity in the 1980s and early 2000s, is making a comeback.
Peter Schatz/Getty Images
Shared tables and communal dining are so back, and young people are driving the trend.
The practice of seating different groups of people at the same long, banquet-style tables has some notable perks post-pandemic. For one, it makes it a lot easier to talk to strangers.
Let’s feast
.
What we’re watching this weekend
saravuth-photohut/Getty, Tyler Le/BI
“Good Boy”:
On Shudder, check out one of the most unique horror movies made in some time, as this haunted house story is told through the perspective of a dog.
“The Bad Guys 2”:
Now available on Peacock, Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, and Zazie Beetz voice a group of crooks on one last heist.
“Champagne Problems”:
It’s that time of year when Netflix starts putting out its holiday movies. In this rom-com, Minka Kelly stars as a businesswoman who travels to France for some luxury Champagne and finds love in the process.
iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI
What to shop
Black Friday streaming deals
: From annual plans under $3 to live TV bundles,
this season’s top streaming deals
deliver serious savings without cutting any of the good stuff.
Rare discount alert
:
SKIMS has put a ton of styles on sale
ahead of Black Friday. Popular pieces, like the viral Soft Lounge Slip Dress and core cotton tees, are already up to 50% off, but sizes are selling quickly.
Backpack today, tote tomorrow
: We found the
best convertible backpack-totes
for commuting, traveling, and everything in between.
Laura Proctor for BI
The status symbol hoodie for teen girls
Gen Z and Gen Alpha girls are obsessed with a $90 pastel sweatshirt
from Pink Palm Puff
. For Katie Notopoulos’s “Well Spent” podcast, she spoke to Lily Balaisis, the clothing brand’s 17-year-old founder.
More of this week’s top reads:
“Wicked: For Good” tries too hard to
make Ariana Grande the star
.
I’m the founder and CEO of
Anastasia Beverly Hills
. My day starts with TikTok and ends with red light therapy.
A dietitian shares how the “80/20 rule” helps her eat enough protein, fiber —
and pastries
.
I tried making a French omelette. This surprisingly easy breakfast dish is my
new favorite way to eat eggs
.
We paid over $14,000 for the cheapest room on an ultra-luxury cruise.
Take a look inside
our ship and 350-square-foot suite.
My husband and I were on “House Hunters International.” Here are
five things that surprised me most
about being on the show.
The BI Today team:
Lisa Ryan
, executive editor, in New York.
Dan DeFrancesco
, deputy editor and anchor, in New York.
Akin Oyedele
, deputy editor, in New York.
Grace Lett
, editor, in New York.
Amanda Yen
, associate editor, in New York.
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