Feast Mode: Gritbox Coaches’ Thanksgiving Favorites

At Gritbox, we’re all about crushing workouts and powering through challenges—but when Thanksgiving rolls around, we gladly swap our gloves for forks. We went behind the scenes to spill our coaches favorite Thanksgiving dishes, and their answers are just as wild as their workouts. From sweet traditions to epic portions, here’s what fuels the Gritbox team during the holiday season. 

Spoiler alert—it’s not your grandma’s green bean casserole:

 

Camille O’Kane, Charleston Coach – Mashed Potato Armageddon:

“A scoop of mashed potatoes so big, the spoon bends like it’s about to snap!”

Camille really said “if it ain’t broke… its not enough.”

 

Alexis Earley, Charlotte Coach – Anti-Turkey, Pro-Pie:

“I’ll eat anything at the table, except the turkey cause it be dry. Lolol and I always save room for pumpkin pie.”

Alexis, the people need to know–what does pumpkin pie taste like when you have room for it? 

 

Kelly Kennedy, Charleston Coach – Dessert Destroyer:

“If you know me, you know I have a sweet tooth…so my favorite Thanksgiving food has got to be the desserts!”

Dessert keeps her sweet and Gritbox classes keep her spicy!

 

Shelbi Watkins, Charlotte Studio Manager – DJ Leftovers:

“The day after Thanksgiving enjoying my Hawaiian roll with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.” 

You better leave her leftovers alone or she’ll have a Ross-level meltdown 

 

Annika Dogger, Charleston Coach – Pasta Queen:

“Fav Thanksgiving food is pasta. We’re Italian so holiday foods are limited to pasta, pasta, and pasta.”

The Dogger Family Thanksgiving includes having an Antipesto, while being Anti Turkey

 

Shaq Bollers, Charlotte Coach – Cranberry Sauce Killer:

“I’ll KILL some cranberry sauce, lil sweet and sour vibes. But it has to be homemade. The cranberry sauce that comes in a can doesn’t cut it for me.”

Shaq v Canned Cranberry Sauce, Fight streaming on Netflix Thanksgiving Day!

 

Allie Newman, Charleston Coach – Sparkling Juice Savant:

“For Thanksgiving one of my favorite things is my family drinks sparkling grape juice even though I’m 25 and my brother is 27. We started it when we were young and it just stuck lol.”

Sparkling Grape Juice aka the champagne of the kids table.

 

David Giraldo, Charlotte Coach – The Ultimate Feast Beast:

“Turkey legs, mash potatoes with gravy, and cranberry sauce all over with a side of fruit salad AND some Tequila for extra fun!”

Tequila?! Do you wake up and choose violence everyday? … wait…

 

Thanksgiving is a contact sport, and if you’ve survived the feast, we’re here to help you jump back into beast mode. Our classes are the perfect way to channel that post-turkey daze into pure, unfiltered grit. Feast hard, train harder—that’s the Gritbox way.

Now, pass the cranberry sauce (the good kind), and let’s f*cking crush it.