A mom in Texas took Thanksgiving preparations to the next level by bringing all her food ingredients with her while traveling 1,500 miles for the holiday.
In a viral TikTok video posted on November 22 from her TikTok account @alexholleytv, Alex Holley, a television anchor and host, says: "Think you're good at packing? Well, have you met my mother? Let me show you how she packed an entire Thanksgiving meal in her suitcase."
A caption shared with the clip, which has had over 217,000 views, says: "No one travel like my momma."
The footage shows the mom unpacking her suitcase to unveil a treasure trove of various ingredients she brought to Philadelphia, from sealed bags of vegetables to ground turkey and even a turkey leg.
The latest post was shared on one of the busiest travel days of the year, which historically includes the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving as well as the following Sunday, according to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
More than 2.7 million passengers were reported to have passed through a TSA checkpoint on November 22, surpassing the figured recorded on the same day in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the federal body.
The TSA is expected to screen more than 30 million passengers over the 12-day Thanksgiving holiday travel period, which began on November 17.
Before you throw all your Thanksgiving food essentials into your suitcase, it's important to note that some foods can be carried through a TSA checkpoint, while others will need to go in checked baggage.
The TSA says: "If it's a solid item, then it can go through a checkpoint. However, if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, and it's larger than 3.4 ounces, then it should go in a checked bag.
"Food items often need some additional security screening, so it is best to place those items in an easily accessible location of the carry-on when packing them and then removing those items from your bag and placing them in a bin for screening at the checkpoint," the federal body advises.
'She Is the GOAT of Packing'
A message overlaid on the latest viral clip reads: "My mom traveled 1,500 miles with our entire Thanksgiving meal in her suitcase!!!"
The food items included seasonings, corn meal in a sealed plastic bag as well as a separate cooler bag full of several more sealed plastic bags each containing different foods. Some of these included spinach, broccoli, cilantro, crushed cranberries, cooked bacon as well as cooked ground turkey.
The voice in the clip says: "I think this a first, I'm not over the ground turkey in a bag..."
Other items that surfaced from the suitcase included boxes of pie crusts and smoky maple bacon as well as ribs, sausages and chopped beef in containers wrapped in foil and a turkey leg also wrapped in foil.
The mom also brought various sauces, a bag of unshelled peanuts, cans of beans and corn plus cream cheese.
"You can't come to Philly without your own Philadelphia cream cheese brought from Texas," the voice in the clip says.
A message overlaid on the video reads: "She was able to do this all of this under the weight limit...she is the GOAT [greatest of all time] of packing! Prove me wrong lol."
Several TikTok users were amused and impressed by the mom in the latest viral post.
PearlandFlower said: "She is amazing and smart!! Ever try to go to the grocery store last minute trying to get that key ingredient??"
User @rocky_03253 noted: "Your mom should be a professional suitcase packer because I need her for when I'm traveling."
Tracy wrote: "Mama said I am not shopping at any of your Grocery Stores when I arrive at your home."
Sasha said: "She wasn't trusting you to get all of her ingredients."
User samdo940 wrote: "The 'just in case things go awry so your grandpa has his turkey leg' is my favorite." The original poster replied "Always looking out for grandpa!!!"
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.
Soo ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
