over the years new breeds of the popular fowl have been created to suit consumer tastes, which has resulted in the average turkey americans eat today.

this thanksgiving, you most likely will be feasting on broad breasted white turkey, like the one president obama was pictured with below in 2015 at the white house’s annual turkey pardon. this is the most commonly used breed of domestic turkey today.

the breed’s white feathers can be owed to selective breeding. according to julie long, a researcher at the u.s. department of agriculture, dark spots can sometimes be found on turkey meat due to pigmentation of colored feathers. most consumers would likely consider turkey meat covered in dark spots to appear unsightly. so, it has become common practice to breed turkeys in order to achieve colorless plumage, which results in meat void of these spots.

the broad breasted white dominates today’s turkey market. however, this genetic selection comes at a cost. traditional turkey breeds are slowly disappearing as the broad breasted white continues to be the most popular choice for thanksgiving dinner.

frank reece raises turkeys on his farm in lindsborg, kansas. he is a member of a declining population of farmers that raise heritage turkeys. these are the breeds that date back to the 1800’s. according to reece, the standard bronze is what was eaten at the first thanksgiving and was the bird that fed america from 1850 until 1950, when genetically engineered breeds began to grow in popularity.

this year, the standard bronze will make up less than 1% of the turkeys served on thanksgiving.

it makes sense for the broad breasted white to be america’s no. 1 choice. this breed grows much faster than a heritage turkey, offers more meat, and comes at a lower price than heritage breeds.

however, this efficiency comes at a price. the broad breasted white has been bred to be quite large and, as a result, it is unable to fly on its own. this weight is also responsible for a number of health issues. many of these turkeys suffer from heart disease, respiratory failure, and have shorter life expectancies than other breeds.

according to us news, the turkeys pardoned by president obama in 2010 died the same year due to health issues that came as a result of selective breeding.

this thanksgiving, consider a variety of options when choosing a turkey. the higher price tag of a heritage breed not only helps a struggling industry, but is by far the most authentic route to take.

make a pumpkin planter

a hollowed out pumpkin is a great gardening opportunity. just fill your jack-o’-lantern with soil, add your plant of choice, and place the pumpkin in a hole in the ground.

the pumpkin will serve as a great fertilizing alternative for your plant and you will be composting at the same time. for more detailed advice on making a pumpkin planter of your own, look here.

diy face mask

pumpkins are rich in vitamins, so why let them go to waste? pumpkin face masks are simple to make and are great for your skin’s health.

to make your face mask all you need is just two tablespoons of pumpkin puree, half a tablespoon of milk, and half a tablespoon of honey. this mask is best suited for whole, uncarved pumpkins.

there are two options when making your puree. you can make a restaurant-ready puree and use the leftovers to make yourself a treat by following these directions. if you don’t have that kind of time, just scrape out the insides of your pumpkin (sans seeds) and beat it into a pulp.

mix your three ingredients and then you are ready to enjoy all of the vitamins and antioxidants your mask has to offer.

make a snack

if gardening or diy cosmetics are not your thing, there are hundreds of pumpkin recipes available for every skill level. these recipes should be used with pumpkins that have been left whole.

consider making some pumpkin pancakes. all it takes is your average pancake recipe, just add some pumpkin puree — you can even use leftovers from your face mask. a recipe can be found here.

if you are looking for a more savory snack, roasted pumpkin seeds are a simple option as well. just add some salt, butter, and cinnamon to your pumpkin seeds and put them in the oven for about an hour. real simple’s recipe goes into more detail here.