Aside from green bean casserole, beans are not a typical part of Thanksgiving meals. Yet, they would have been a part of the First Thanksgiving meal. Beans were one of the staple crops, along with corn and squash, that the pilgrims grew. Therefore, the pilgrims certainly would not have left beans out of the harvest meal. From the beginning, Thanksgiving has been about celebrating food, family, and friends. Even though the pilgrims may have eaten food that is not typically part of Thanksgiving meals today, they still ate many foods that are an important part of Thanksgiving dinner for many people. What is your favorite food to eat at Thanksgiving? smithsonianmag.com, delish.com