On Wednesday, November 22, the co-hosts of the daytime talk show "The Real" discussed an online Debate that has been going on for several days leading up to Thanksgiving on Thursday. It seems that some families are charging those who come for dinner. The co-hosts were divided with their opinions just like the people online were divided.

The debate started when one person posted on social media that her family was charging $30 for a plate of food. Some people thought it was a good idea since it is expensive to host a dinner party for a large gathering.

After all, they would have to pay if they went to a restaurant. Therefore, some people were fine with paying for their dinner even if the meal was prepared by a relative.

Others believe Thanksgiving is a time of sharing and there should not be a charge. A survey was conducted, and Buzzfeed reported that only 1 percent of people say they get charged. Another 50 percent say they don't pay, but they pitch in by taking a side dish to share while the host provides the main course like the turkey and ham. The remaining 49 percent admitted that not only do they freeload, but they also take food home to eat later.

Arguments for charging

Those who agreed with charging believe that the host not only pays a lot of money for the food, but she has to travel to about four or five stores to get the ingredients she needs for everybody's favorite dishes. She spends time cleaning the house before and after the gathering. She also has to buy decorating supplies and spend time making the house look festive.

People tend to forget that when there is a large gathering, it is not just the food that costs, but there is also an expense for extra things such as the use of paper towels, toilet tissues, and water because of extra flushing.

A solution

Instead of putting a price tag on a dinner plate, the host could ask family members to bring their favorite dish to minimize the expense of the groceries, and all the cooking would not be the sole responsibility of only one person.

The purpose of Thanksgiving is to come together as a community. After all, that's what the first Thanksgiving was all about. They shared their bounty and gave thanks for it.

The host would also appreciate it if someone would come early to help prepare the meal and stay late to help clean up. The idea is for everyone to chip to do something so the host will not be too tired to enjoy the dinner also with everyone else.

What do you think about charging for a plate of food at a family member's house? Would you charge if you were the host? Would you be willing to pay to eat at your relative's house?
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