13 things you should never do on Thanksgiving (2024)

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Say the food will be ready at 5 p.m. when it won't be ready until 7 p.m.

If you tell your guests to show up at 5p.m., don't make them wait two hours for the food to finally be ready.

Be upfront on timing so everyone can snack properly beforehand and there will be a lower chance ofovereating.

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Bring someone who wasn't invited.

If they weren't invited to Thanksgiving, it was probably for a reason. Bringingsomeone who wasn't invited along will just make things awkward for everyone.

If you get dragged along as theuninvited guest, at least brush up on yoursmall talk skills— you're going to need it.

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Make Jell-O salad.

With all the delicious Thanksgiving desserts out there, why would you make a Jell-O salad? It seems to me like a terribly antiquated dish, and also has no business calling itself a salad — and the same can be said for ambrosia salad.

Instead, focus on the traditionalfoods that make this holiday one of our favoritesand follow our advice for when to start prepping all your dishes.

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Bring up politics.

Politicsare always a sore subject, especially when some of your family members hold different beliefs.

Avoid the drama by talking about something else, like the strangest roadside attraction in every state or celebrity couples you didn't realize were together.

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Undercook or overcook the turkey.

While Thanksgiving is full of delicious side dishes, you do not want to ruin the main event— the turkey.

Always remember how long it takes to thaw a turkey and considerspatchco*cking your turkeyif you want to cook your bird faster and more evenly.

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Come unannounced.

People spend a lot of time planning and stressing about Thanksgiving, which is why showing up unannounced is an etiquette no-no for this holiday.

Plus, why would you risk there not being enough food? Better to give your hosts ample time to prepare.

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Talk about how you're ruining your diet.

No one wants to hear about howyou won't be able to fit into your pants tomorrow. It's Thanksgiving, after all. The whole holiday is built around eating too much.

Besides, sometimes giving in to your 'bad' food cravings can makeyou healthier than ever.

Eat way too much.

At the same time, don't eatuntil you feel sick. Manypopular Thanksgiving foods are known to cause bloating.

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Bring your brand new significant other you've only been dating for a flash second.

Don't bring your brand new partner to Thanksgiving. Your mommay get excited at first, but it can quickly become an uncomfortable situation for everyone.

Plus, this time of year can be a scary one for singles anyways when it comes to partnerships. Better to arrive by yourself than regretting your date next year.

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Bring a different dish than what you said you'd bring.

If you say you're makinggreen bean casserole, don't show up with sweet potatoes. Someone else may have broughtsweet potatoesand now no one will have any green bean casserole. Don't be that person.

At the same time, there are some Thanksgiving dishes you should just never make at all. Stick to the plan and everyone will be satisfied.

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Wait until the last minute to go to the grocery store.

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year at the grocery store and everyone is buying the same items.If you wait too long, everything will be gone and you'll be battling crowds.

Better to do your shopping early and get a head-start onprepping all your dishes.

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Get creative with the menu.

Regardless of whether you like Thanksgiving food or not, it is Thanksgiving. People are expecting turkey, casseroles, stuffing, and all the works.

This is not the time to getcreative with the menu — save that for your leftovers.

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Serve your guests canned cranberry sauce.

There's something about 21 grams of sugar coagulated into the shape of a can that is a major turn off.

At least spruce it up by adding orange juice and zest, or better yet, stick to a homemade recipe.

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