Why the pilgrims whip up mashed potatoes at their big dinner?

There's a common misconception that the Pilgrims ate mashed potatoes at their Thanksgiving feast.

Here's why it's not true:

* Potatoes weren't introduced to Europe until after Columbus's voyages. They weren't common in the Americas until the 16th century, and they didn't become a common food in the colonies until even later.

* The Pilgrims' feast was a simple meal. They were trying to survive in a new land and ate mostly foods they could grow themselves: corn, squash, wild game, and some seafood.

So, while mashed potatoes are delicious and a staple of modern Thanksgiving meals, they weren't a part of the original Pilgrims' feast.