The United States of side dishes: From salad in the West to cornbread in the South

Roast turkey unites America on Thanksgiving, taking the starring role on almost every dining table.

But when it comes to side dishes and desserts, the nation is divided.

That’s according to a new survey by FiveThirtyEight, which is stoking some hearty inter-state rivalry hours before the holiday.

The entire West (from Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and beyond) prioritizes salad above everything else – a fact which has sparked fury across the rest of the nation.

A new survey found the entire West prioritizes salad above everything else – a fact which has sparked fury across the rest of the nation – while the Northeast loves squash

The South (identified as Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana) has an above-average penchant for cornbread and cranberry sauce.

The Southeast is slightly more likely than the rest of the country to feature mac and cheese on their Thanksgiving tables.

Meanwhile, the Northeast’s obsession with squash is stronger than any other region’s obsession with any food – with 56 percent naming it their top side, compared to 18 percent of the rest of the country.

The Midwest is divided in two: the east side, which loves rolls and biscuits, and the west side, which goes for good old green beans and casserole.

When it comes to desserts, pumpkin pie is the national favorite, no questions asked. 

However, apple pie tends to feature on tables in the East (from about the Carolinas and up), the South goes for both pecan and sweet potato pie, while the West and Midwest go for cherry pie. 

The findings have sparked some excitable debate on Twitter, with people from each region defending their home side dishes (except for Westerners, who are taking issue with the result, based on 1,000 respondents).

If salad truly is the top dish in the West, the region may run into some issues this year in the wake of the CDC’s unusually strong warning against romaine lettuce after detecting another E. coli outbreak. 

America’s favorite salads – Caesar, Cobb, Waldorf – contain romaine. Crab Louise and Wedge Salad are typically made with iceberg, but romaine is a standard substitute.

This year, Westerners are encouraged to turn to kale and arugula for their green fix.  

The survey - particularly the West's penchant for salad - sparked outrage on Twitter

The survey – particularly the West’s penchant for salad – sparked outrage on Twitter

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