...
By Lydia PatrickShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA woman has sparked a viral debate after calling out people who use disposable aluminum pans and paper plates during Thanksgiving dinners.
Threads user Shedaweda Thompson (@shedaweda) questioned why so many households rely on takeaway-style containers for holiday meals, writing a post that quickly drew 5,100 likes and 7,300 replies.
"Why are ppl [people] still out here making Thanksgiving dinner in those aluminum pans like it’s a church fundraiser? All these years and nobody said, Let me buy a real dish set? Some of y'all have dishwashers but still serve your holiday meal on paper plates like it’s a backyard cookout. It's Thanksgiving I think we need to buy some grown up plates and serving dishes," she wrote.
However, not everyone appreciated the criticism. Writer Shay Stewart-Bouley (@blackgirlinmaine) called the post classist, sharing a screenshot alongside her response: "It's this type of mindset that makes people self conscious about having folks come over to their house. Same people then talk about being lonely. Hosting is hard work and if someone invites you to a holiday meal and you are judging the serving containers, you are a nasty piece of work. As long as everything is clean, the food is good and the company is on point. Who cares about the dishes?"
View on Threads
To better understand why disposable pans and paper plates generate such strong feelings online, Kelly Lyles Verstappen, founder of Chef2Nite, a new chef-host matching tool connecting home diners with local chefs, said the discourse reflects deeper tensions around class and social pressure.
"Nowadays, with social media, people want to make sure things that they eat are Instagram-ready or perfect for TikTok – and paper plates and disposable plates rule that option out. It doesn’t give the same aesthetic as that plate you post from the restaurant or high-end dinner you attended that got a bunch of engagement," Verstappen told Newsweek.
Where paper plates once symbolized relaxed family gatherings, she said many now prioritize how meals look online over “spending time, eating and fellowshipping with loved ones.”
Verstappen added that expectations heighten around the holidays, when families want to appear as if they “have it altogether.” That pressure can lead hosts to strive for elaborate décor or “over-the-top table aesthetics,” especially when comparing themselves to family members known for memorable meals in years past.
...But she emphasized that practical realities—rising costs, limited time and small kitchens—shape most hosting decisions far more than preference. Inflation is “trumping tradition,” pushing people toward foil pans, paper plates, simplified menus and pre-made dishes.
"There is a lot of financial pressure in this country right now, and has been for quite some time. Time and money are important resources that should not be taken for granted. Maturing is focusing on comfortability and peace for the holidays," she added.
Threads users echoed similar sentiments as the debate unfolded.
"Who has room in their house to store 12-15 massive non-disposable serving dishes year-round?" one user asked.
"Wouldn’t this also be easier to let people take leftovers? They can pile food in disposable pans instead of you risking losing dishes you care about," said Dani.
"Years of IG aesthetic kicking everybody's behind. Imagine caring more about the dishes than the food," said Melissa.
Mar added: "If you love me, AND I’m feeding you, why do you want me to have 50 extra dishes to do when I don’t HAVE to?! I get the sentiment of busting out the fancy plates for a special occasion, I do. But as I get older, the most important thing to me is just communing and sharing food and making memories with people I love. I couldn’t care less what we eat off of."
"You know why we use those containers? Easy cleanup. No one has to figure out who owns the crystal bowl you KNOW you don't own," said Christine.
Newsweek reached out to Thompson and Stewart-Bouley for comment via Instagram and Threads. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to [email protected] and they could appear on our site.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
LifeOne Question on X Was Viewed Over 700M Times—Then the Account Got Suspended3 min read
Family & ParentingPregnant Bridesmaid Decides To ‘Guest Swap’ Husband, Shock at What Follows4 min read
PetsShelter Dog Enjoying Day Out Has Saddest Reaction When Realizing He’s Back3 min read
PetsTears at What Senior Dog Still Tries to Do After Losing Vision to Diabetes3 min read
LifeDog Gets ‘Social Anxiety’ When Meeting Puppy, His Reaction Goes Viral3 min read
Home & GardenWoman Has a Plan To Give Room ‘Old’ Aesthetic—Then It Goes Horribly Wrong3 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
NewsDonald Trump Gives Thanksgiving Message to Americans3 min read
NewsUncommon Knowledge: Trump, Biden and the Real Record of Afghan Vetting5 min read
NewsWinter Storm Map Shows Areas Possibly Getting Hit for Thanksgiving3 min read
NewsSarah Beckstrom, Andrew Wolfe Identified as National Guard Shooting Victims7 min read
WorldUkraine War Live Updates—Russia Praises Trump ‘Realism’, Putin Promises Allies New Weapons2 min read
NewsFact Check: Did 20 Million Illegal Immigrants Enter US Under Joe Biden?4 min readTrending
New York8 Million Inflation Refund Checks Sent Out Ahead of Thanksgiving4 min read
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 20 Inches of Snow To Hit: ‘Life-Threatening’4 min read
DogsAfter 2 Days at Daycare, German Shepherd’s Return Goes Viral: ‘Never Again’3 min read
Live BlogThanksgiving Winter Storm Live Tracker, 2,000 Flights Delayed, Up To 3 ft Of Snow Expected1 min read
Live BlogDC Shooting: Two Shot National Guard Members and Suspect Pictured2 min readOpinion
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Anti-Thanksgiving Edition3 min read
OpinionHow to Remain Grounded and Thankful Amid the Chaos5 min read
OpinionThis Thanksgiving, Affordability Isn’t Just About the Turkey. It’s Everyday, Every Bill, Every Choice | Opinion4 min read
OpinionINTERPOL Must Not Elect One of Its Chief Abusers As Its Next President | Opinion4 min read
OpinionWhy We Care About Turkey Costs | Opinion5 min read
