Students are actually studying, everyone looks like they should be cast in "The Walking Dead"because procrastination got the best of them, and Thanksgiving is near. Thanksgiving break is nothing like it used to be. Pre-college, Thanksgiving break meant sleeping in until noon and going to bed at 4 a.m. Then, mix in many hours of "Gossip Girl" marathons with your friends, and you’ve got yourself a great week. Now that you’re in college, Thanksgiving break includes sleeping in until 10 a.m., two astronomy projects, 31 history homework assignments, and three speech essays, all of which you’ve known about since August but continued to tell yourself that you had “time.

To make matters worse, finals are coming up after break. Plan on spending most of your day buried in textbooks and PowerPoint slides. There are only two things making this situation somewhat less painful. First, Thanksgiving will provide you with much-needed quality time with your friends and family that you’ve been missing all semester. I personally cannot wait to see my favorite people in the world! In a close second place, we’re all excited for real food. Most of us have been surviving off of subpar dining hall meals, Saxby’s sandwiches, and anything pre-packaged in a vending machine. The seemingly endless spread will be a welcome change; from the ham to the collard greens (because I’m a Southern girl) to the pecan pie. To prepare our bellies, I’ve comprised a list of Thanksgiving dishes loved by the masses since the beginning of time, or at least somewhere near it.

1. Turkey

I must pay homage to the OG of Thanksgiving foods. Even the pilgrims loved Turkey, so how could I not mention it? You can roast it, you can fry it, and you can even barbecue it. However it’s prepared, it’s guaranteed to be the star of the show.

2. Mac & Cheese

Was it really Thanksgiving, or any holiday, if you didn’t have some of this cheesy goodness? I’ve loved any and everything cheesy since the day I was born, and I’m pretty sure most people feel the same way.

3. Green Bean Casserole

It was created to make you feel like you ate your vegetables that day…even though it’s savory and salty. Not to mention, the crunchy topping is to die for!

4. Bread

Whether it’s roll form or stuffing, I don’t need much of an excuse to indulge in carbs. On the regular, I try my best to limit my carb intake because they’re so hard to burn. But this is one day where you’re allowed to ignore all of those rules you’ve set for yourself.

5. Sweet Potato Pie

It's a classic. Nothing beats sweet potato pie, and nothing ever will.

I hope that everyone has a great holiday filled with family and friends. Don’t eat too much, because you can’t be productive in a food coma, and you might still have to fit into your semi-formal dress. Happy Thanksgiving!