Thanksgiving is supposed to be about turkey, stuffing, and gratitude, but for one Redditor, it turned into a food fight without the flying mashed potatoes.
The drama began when her daughter-in-law (DIL) showed up with vegan versions of every single dish on the table, complete with a smug “new tradition” speech.
The result? A tense showdown that ended with DIL getting kicked out before dessert was finished.
So, was this grandma standing her ground, or did she turn holiday dinner into a family feud?
A Redditor’s Thanksgiving Showdown – Here’s The Original Post:
The Setup
Our Redditor, the longtime holiday host, had prepared a feast that included traditional turkey and several vegan sides to accommodate her DIL.
Guests included her daughter, son, grandkids, and extended family, basically the perfect setting for cozy memories. But instead of gratitude, she got a surprise: DIL arrived with her own full vegan spread, clearly aiming to replace the host’s dishes.
Things got worse when DIL made a pointed speech about “starting a new cruelty-free tradition,” undercutting her mother-in-law’s hard work. That’s when grandma’s patience snapped, she told her DIL to leave, in front of the whole family.
Expert Opinion
Talk about holiday drama worthy of a sitcom. The host bent over backward to include vegan options, yet DIL turned it into a moral power play by duplicating the entire menu. That wasn’t accommodation, that was one-upping.
Etiquette experts agree that guests should contribute, not compete. Diane Gottsman, founder of The Protocol School of Texas, puts it simply:
“Guests should respect the host’s efforts and communicate needs politely, not demand a redo”.
DIL’s actions ignored this basic rule, making the host’s frustration understandable.
Still, was sending her packing mid-feast the best call? That’s where things get blurry. Public confrontation escalated the tension, especially with grandkids present.
The Bigger Picture
Food clashes at holidays aren’t rare. A 2023 YouGov poll found that 62% of Americans feel judged by vegan or vegetarian relatives at gatherings. These moments often reflect more than dietary differences, they’re about control, respect, and family traditions.
In this case, the Redditor wanted harmony, but DIL wanted the spotlight. Instead of working together, both dug in their heels, and the fallout spilled beyond dinner when the son sided with his wife and used childcare as leverage.
The Takeaway
The Redditor’s boundary, pausing free childcare until respect returns, makes sense. Grandkids should never be pawns in a food fight.
DIL, meanwhile, needs to rethink her approach: she could’ve brought one vegan dish, hosted her own dinner, or at least skipped the lecture.
Conflict aside, this story resonates because it’s about something bigger than mashed potatoes. It’s about respect at the table.
Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:
Some cheered the host’s clapback, saying DIL deserved to be shown the door.
![[Reddit User] − NTA. This is why people don't like vegans, the proselytising, the smug attitude, the display of privilege through expensive items.](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/wp-editor-1758380881730-39.webp "A Family Thanksgiving Explodes When a Mother’s Daughter-in-Law Claims to Start a ‘New Tradition’")
Others thought kicking her out was harsh and only deepened the family rift. Either way,
Reddit agrees, this was no ordinary holiday meal.
![[Reddit User] − NTA. There were options here. She could have talked to you about bringing the whole meal done vegan ahead of time. And then she went and spit...](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/wp-editor-1758380900015-57.webp "A Family Thanksgiving Explodes When a Mother’s Daughter-in-Law Claims to Start a ‘New Tradition’")
Are these takes a holiday hit or just table scraps?
Was grandma justified in sending her DIL home after the smug vegan speech, or did she overcook the drama by making it public?
If it were your table, would you have kept the peace or drawn a hard line in the cranberry sauce?
