Humans are party animals. For millennia, we have celebrated holidays that mark days of personal, religious, and cultural importance. We like nothing better than to gather with our loved ones, dance, talk, and yes; eat. Food has been central to all our celebrations since the beginning of time.

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Our ancestors usually served the heaviest, richest meals during holidays, because the time and effort it took to hunt, gather and prepare these delicacies had to be reserved for special occasions.

In modern times, the physical exertion spent to "hunt" a meal is usually limited to reaching out to grab a warm greasy bag of burgers from the drive-thru window. We have an overabundance of food, and thousands of conveniences to keep us in our seats most of the day.

The social landscape has changed as well. There are more blended families, which can mean more parties and visiting days per holiday season. There is also more ethnic and religious diversity among friends and family than ever before, opening the door to sharing traditions and rituals we may have not otherwise have had the chance to experience.

Thanks to these cultural shifts, there are simply more celebrations to attend throughout the year, and more reasons to watch what we eat.