Current:Home > reviewsStruggling with what to bring to Thanksgiving dinner? These tips can keep the host happy. -AssetPath
Struggling with what to bring to Thanksgiving dinner? These tips can keep the host happy.
View
Date:2025-04-14 04:01:50
It's never too early to start thinking about what you might bring to Thanksgiving dinner.
Whether you are invited to dinner to meet your partner’s family for the first time or attending a Friendsgiving celebration hosted by your closest pals, a side dish or gift is certainly appreciated.
Any stress or nervousness associated with the task can be alleviated pretty easily with some good communication at the very beginning, Emily Post's great-great-granddaughter Lizzie Post shared with USA Today.
A conversation regarding the environment, vibe, style of entertaining, dress code, or whether a hosting gift would be appreciated can take some of the guess work out of it.
“I find a lot of people don’t have those kinds of conversations about what to expect in the style of the Thanksgiving or the style of the holiday. And that can make it harder for folks who are newbies to know where to take it,” Post said.
Here’s what you should consider before you bring your world-famous pumpkin pie or a bottle of wine to a family or friend’s Thanksgiving dinner, courtesy of etiquette experts.
Healthy Thanksgiving side dishes:Here are options you'll want to gobble up
Thanksgiving meals to-go:Where to pre-order your family dinner
What should I consider before making a side dish or purchasing a gift for holiday dinner?
Hosting an event of any kind, a holiday dinner included, can be pretty difficult so a couple ways to show your gratitude for being invited is by making sure you don’t show up empty-handed and to ask the host what you can bring, etiquette coach Myka Meier shared with USA Today.
Its probably a good idea to bring some kind of hosting gift with you, if this is the first time you are invited to someone’s home or holiday. But its not something you are obligated to do, at least from an etiquette standpoint, Post said.
“The host has invited you to their home. You are not a burden. You don’t have to bring something to exchange the amount of work that someone is doing to have you at their home, which is a common misconception with hosting gifts. But often, its a really thoughtful thing to do because it is really nice to be included and welcomed into someone’s home a day on a family-oriented day like Thanksgiving,” Post said.
Its very common for guests to ask if they contribute to Thanksgiving dinner or for a host to ask their guests to bring a part of the meal like a side dish or a dessert since its a big meal, often shared in community, Post said.
A host gift is an item you weren't necessarily asked to bring, unlike a meal contribution. Post says she opts into a hosting gift if there has been no discussion about whether you should bring something.
“‘Oh, nobody asked me to bring anything to Thanksgiving so I’ll make my famous vegetarian lasagna and bring it just in case.' Don’t do that. That’s gonna throw off your host, if you have not been asked to bring food or if you've offered and been turned down,” Post said.
You also don’t usually have to bring a hosting gift in addition to a food item you have already been asked to bring, Post said.
What kind of items can I bring to a Thanksgiving dinner?
A great hosting gift doesn’t have to take too much effort, especially if the gesture is holiday-specific or is an item you know the host of the party would appreciate that’s a little more personalized, Meier said.
If they love to cook, you might want to get them a holiday-themed apron or some kind of treat for their pet if you know they love animals, Meier said.
Just don’t show up with an “item that needs to be dealt with or prepared” because it creates more work for the host and isn’t the most thoughtful gesture, Post said.
That is, showing up to a holiday dinner bag of chips and a jar of salsa without some kind of serving platter might not be the best call, Post said.
Here are a couple of suggestions:
- Flowers (arranged in a vase or container)
- Cornucopia
- Box of chocolates
- Box of teas
- Gourmet treats like specialty cheeses, jam containers, crackers or a beautifully packaged gourmet gift basket
- Wine
- Holiday drink mix
- Book
Small consumable items like the ones listed above can be a great go-to. A couple classic items that might be a little tired are self-care items like bath products, lotions, or candles.
However, they can make excellent gifts if you know they will be appreciated, Post said.
“You have to remember that it's not the host’s obligation to serve whatever you bring in addition to the meal. So, if you bring that very classic box of chocolates or something, don’t expect that it will be opened and shared with you,” Post said.
ICYMI:Is it cheaper to go to a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner? Maybe not this year.
veryGood! (74133)
Related
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- NWSL Championship pits Megan Rapinoe vs. Ali Krieger in ideal finale to legendary careers
- Why Hunger Games Prequel Star Hunter Schafer Wants to Have a Drink With Jennifer Lawrence
- Shania Twain Speaks Out After Very Scary Tour Bus Crash
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- What is the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal? We break it down.
- Suspected Islamic extremists holding about 30 ethnic Dogon men hostage after bus raid, leader says
- Which stores are open and closed Thanksgiving 2023? See Target, Walmart, Costco holiday hours
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Mitch McConnell, standing apart in a changing GOP, digs in on his decades-long push against Russia
Ranking
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- A teenager taken from occupied Mariupol to Russia will return to Ukraine, officials say
- Ranking all 32 NFL teams from most to least entertaining: Who's fun at midseason?
- The Best Fleece-Lined Leggings of 2023 to Wear This Winter, According to Reviewers
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Moschino Creative Director Davide Renne Dead at 46 Just 9 Days After Stepping Into Role
- The Excerpt podcast: Politicians' personal lives matter to voters. Should they?
- UK police step up efforts to ensure a massive pro-Palestinian march in London remains peaceful
Recommendation
2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
Why Hunger Games Prequel Star Hunter Schafer Wants to Have a Drink With Jennifer Lawrence
Worried Chinese shoppers scrimp, dimming the appeal of a Singles’ Day shopping extravaganza
LeBron James scores 32 points, Lakers rally to beat Suns 122-119 to snap 3-game skid
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
World War I-era munitions found in D.C. park — and the Army says there may be more
Durham District Attorney Deberry’s entry shakes up Democratic primary race for attorney general
DOC NYC documentary film festival returns, both in-person and streaming