In the oddball realm of unlikely notions, the idea of eating turkey on the day after Thanksgiving is up there with waking up to a beer after a night of New Year's Eve celebration or binging on chocolate on Feb. 15.

David Bell, owner of Padow's Hams & Deli on Franklin Road in Roanoke, said this phenomenon happens every year: Turkey sandwich sales increase the day after Thanksgiving.

"Why, I have no idea," he said. "You would think people would have enough turkey on Thanksgiving. The last couple of years, we've sold probably more turkey sandwiches the day after Thanksgiving than the average day."

Bell's customers have their reasons. "The smoked turkey sandwich is my favorite thing on the menu," said Fred Hill, who works in the corporate office of Grand Home Furnishings and had lunch at Padow's on Friday.

Yes, Hill's wife made the family a traditional turkey dinner on Thursday, and yes, there are plenty of leftovers. "I'll probably have turkey tonight, too," Hill said.

The price of one more slab of turkey is a few bucks and the toppings are included. Bell's deli charges $5.25 for a sandwich of white turkey breast or smoked turkey.

Indeed, Friday, today and Sunday, the sandwich is king.

Up till Thanksgiving, patrons of the Heavenly Ham speciality foods shop in Roanoke clamor for bone-in hams and turkeys -- what owner Frank Guilfoyle calls "center-of-the-table products." After Thanksgiving, meat eaters lay down their forks and build sandwiches. Boneless hams and turkeys are the hot item.

"People will then be thinking about going up to the game in Charlottesville, or they have company," Guilfoyle said. "Not many people are saying, 'I want another whole turkey.' "

Brian Wansink, a food psychologist and author, took a stab at explaining why turkey eating continues after Thanksgiving. He said that for some people, turkey triggers holiday memories of happy family times while growing up. That association is enough to make somebody grab a turkey sandwich even if they have stuffed themselves with the stuff the day before.

Other diners, especially those who are not active cooks, reach for a post-Thanksgiving bite of turkey simply because turkey is plentiful. "It's a way for them to get a turkey fix," he said.

And what better time to pig out on the other white meat when Americans are putting maximum care and attention into preparing the bird?

"You've just had the very best turkey you're going to have. Who wants cold cuts?" Wansink said.

Lots of people. As recorded Christmas music, such as Jimmy Durante singing "Frosty the Snowman," wafted through Padow's, Jerry Moorman prepared to chow down on a smoked turkey sandwich. Although Moorman, a retiree, said he favors turkey among all deli foods, he acknowledged, "It's one of the few things I can order because I'm on a low-fat diet."