A new national survey from Taylor Farms has highlighted the Christmas dishes Americans remember most from childhood and shown how regional influences shape those memories.
For South Florida, where families come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, mac and cheese is a particular favorite. It’s also notable that Floridian households frequently mix a range of cultural dishes with more generic American favorites to make a complex and varied holiday spread.
National Christmas nostalgia trends
Nationally, Christmas ham leads as the most nostalgic main dish. The survey found that 49.3 percent of respondents recall ham as the centerpiece of their childhood Christmas meal. Turkey follows at 32.6 percent, and 13.1 percent remember roast beef or prime rib.
These results show how closely holiday identity is tied to familiar, slow-cooked dishes that appear on American tables year after year.
Seasonal ham reigns in the South
Across the South, with its strong and deep-rooted Christmas traditions, the pattern becomes even clearer. A total of 50.7 percent of Floridian respondents said ham was the main dish that defined their early Christmas celebrations. Turkey followed at 27.9 percent, and roast beef held 14.3 percent.
These numbers reflect the foundation of many South Florida holiday meals, especially in households with deep Southern or Latin American influences. Families across Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach counties often serve ham as the primary dish, sometimes prepared with regional seasonings or paired with traditional sides from their cultural background.
Memorable mash
Side dishes also reveal strong regional preferences in a close race. In Florida, mashed potatoes lead as the most nostalgic side dish, chosen by 17.3 percent of respondents. Stuffing follows closely behind at 16.2 percent, and mac and cheese ranks nips at both their heels at 15.6 percent. These dishes appear consistently on South Florida Christmas tables and remain familiar favorites across many cultural groups.
Varied cultural influences
Alongside these staples, South Florida families often serve dishes rooted in Latin American and Caribbean traditions. Cuban households may serve roast pork with mojo, yuca with garlic sauce, and arroz congrí.
Puerto Rican families often prepare pernil, arroz con gandules, and pasteles; Haitian households may serve griot, fried plantains, and diri ak djon djon, and Jamaican and Trinidadian families might add jerk chicken, curried goat, rice and peas, or callaloo to the table.
These dishes sit comfortably next to the classic American sides highlighted in the survey, creating a holiday spread that reflects both regional and cultural heritage.
Changing trends
The Taylor Farms study also shows a shift in what people want today. While traditional dishes carry strong emotional value, many Americans now express an interest in healthier Christmas dishes.
According to the survey, 64 percent of respondents say they want lighter, less calorific options at Christmas, and 73 percent are open to adding plant-based dishes that still feel festive. This trend applies across regions, including South Florida, where families frequently blend rich, nostalgic dishes with modern, lighter choices.
Healthy swaps for festive favorites
To support this shift, Taylor Farms offers several suggestions that update classic sides. Garlic mashed cauliflower, for example, works well as a lighter alternative to traditional mashed potatoes.
A roasted squash and greens salad with bacon and maple offers a fresher take on sweet potato casserole. Acorn squash cups filled with a cauliflower mixture provide a more balanced version of stuffing. Air-fried Brussels sprouts with pistachios and goat cheese serve as a modern replacement for green bean casserole. These ideas give families options to modernize their holiday table without replacing the flavors they know and love.
Adapting traditions to modern tastes
These updates can complement the diverse range of cultural dishes served in South Florida homes. Fresh vegetables can be added alongside pernil or roast pork. Lighter sides can accompany Caribbean dishes such as jerk chicken or callaloo. Families can balance tradition with modern preferences without changing the identity of the holiday meal.
As Charis Neves of Taylor Farms notes, Christmas dishes remain powerful because they are tied to memory and tradition, but many households are ready to experiment with lighter approaches that still feel celebratory.
Nostalgia and modernity in harmony at Christmas
The survey makes it clear that Floridians recall the same core dishes cherished across the South, especially ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and mac and cheese. What sets South Florida apart is the cultural range of dishes that appear alongside them. The combination of traditional American foods and the flavors of the Caribbean and Latin America gives the region a distinctive holiday table that reflects its diverse communities.
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