A new national survey from Taylor Farms highlights the Christmas dishes Americans remember most from childhood and points to a growing appetite for healthier, more vegetable-focused holiday meals.
For Californians, the findings reflect both national patterns and the state’s long-standing preference for fresher, lighter cooking. The result is a snapshot of how West Coast families honor tradition while embracing a more modern approach to holiday food.
California beef
Across the United States, Christmas ham remains the strongest food memory. The survey found that 49.3 percent of respondents recall ham as the centerpiece of their childhood holiday meal. Turkey follows at 32.6 percent, and 13.1 percent remember roast beef or prime rib. These results form a national foundation, but California breaks the pattern slightly.
In California, nostalgia for ham is noticeably lower than in the rest of the country. Only 32.6 percent named it as their defining Christmas main dish, while turkey sits at 31.1 percent.
The standout is roast beef and prime rib, recalled by 28.9 percent of Californian respondents, nearly double the rate seen in any other region. California’s diverse culinary influences, ranging from coastal dining to multicultural household traditions, help explain the tendency to embrace a broader range of holiday mains.
Regional side trends
Side dish memories also reflect regional differences. Nationally, mashed potatoes rank highest at 57.15 percent, followed by stuffing at 43 percent and mac and cheese at 40 percent.
California mostly aligns with these classics, but has a distinct twist. The state shows a strong nostalgia for vegetable-forward sides. Almost 22 percent of respondents recall roasted vegetables or salad as a childhood Christmas dish. More broadly, in the Western United States, 14 percent remember roasted Brussels sprouts.
These numbers are the highest in the country and underscore California’s long reputation for incorporating fresh produce into holiday meals.
Emerging trends
The Taylor Farms survey also reveals a broader shift in what Americans want on the holiday table today. While traditional dishes remain deeply meaningful, 64 percent of respondents say they would prefer healthier choices at Christmas. Another 73 percent say they are open to introducing vegetable-based dishes that still feel festive.
These preferences align naturally with California’s food identity, where seasonal produce, plant-based dishes, and lighter cooking methods are already common. Taylor Farms uses the survey findings to highlight several recipe ideas that modernize holiday classics while keeping familiar flavors intact.
Healthy festive alternatives
One suggestion is garlic mashed cauliflower as a lighter alternative to traditional mashed potatoes. It offers the same creamy texture but with a more nutrient-dense profile. For Californians already accustomed to cauliflower rice and vegetable-based sides, this fits easily into holiday cooking.
Another recommendation is a maple-roasted squash and greens salad with bacon. This idea takes the sweet-savory profile of classic sweet potato casserole and translates it into a fresher, more balanced dish. Many California households that regularly incorporate salads into holiday meals may find this an intuitive swap.
Taylor Farms also proposes using acorn squash cups filled with a cauliflower mixture as an updated take on stuffing. The approach shifts the dish toward whole vegetables rather than bread-heavy ingredients while still delivering the warm, baked flavors people associate with Christmas. Air-fried Brussels sprouts with pistachios and goat cheese serve as a replacement for green bean casserole, emphasizing texture and whole ingredients rather than creamy sauces.
Modernizing Christmas food
These updates are not intended to replace tradition but to give families a way to modernize the table without losing its familiar character. California’s diverse households already blend classic American dishes with influences from Latin American, Asian, Mediterranean, and Pacific cuisines. The Taylor Farms suggestions fit comfortably into that mix, offering options that feel both seasonal and contemporary.
As Charis Neves of Taylor Farms explains in the report, holiday dishes carry emotional significance because they reflect patterns that repeat year after year. But as eating habits evolve, families are increasingly open to rethinking those traditions in a way that still feels meaningful.