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Now, Stewart has thrown fuel on that fire.
During a recent appearance on the TODAY Show, the lifestyle icon made a recommendation that has Americans debating heatedly over the timing of Thanksgiving dinner.
And it has nothing to do with turkey recipes or whether the stuffing belongs inside the bird.
Martha Stewart has a controversial new rule for dinner.
She told TODAY that the ideal hour to serve Thanksgiving dinner is 2:00 in the afternoon.
“People are hungry and they’re starting to circle the kitchen if you have a bunch of guests,” Stewart explained. “You don’t want to wait until it’s nighttime.”
Stewart argued that serving dinner early leaves plenty of time for football, cocktails, and dessert without guests feeling stuffed or rushed.
On paper, it sounds reasonable.
But Stewart’s comments have ignited a full-blown social media debate, dividing families nationwide over the “right” hour to eat.
“It’s Thanksgiving dinner, 2 PM is wild,” one TikTok user wrote.
Another added, “Thanksgiving lunch?! No thanks. 4:00pm at the earliest.”
Critics were quick to fire back. Many insist that dinner belongs at the traditional evening hour.
“Sorry Martha we are eating at five,” one commenter replied, followed by laughing emojis.
Some went as far as laying out their full day’s schedule to prove Stewart wrong: “Nope… we watch the parade then the dog show and chill. Then we do cocktails around 5:00 and dinner around 6:30.”
The debate is splitting generations, regions, and even entire friend groups.
Yet Stewart has her defenders as well.
“I sort of assumed everyone started Thanksgiving dinner in the early afternoon, I can’t believe [anyone] is doing a meal that big at like 6,” one supporter said.
Another added praise for Stewart’s timing: “Thank you, Martha. I hate being told to come at 4:00pm and we eat at 9:00pm! 12:00-2:00pm is best.”
At its core, the argument is about efficiency and avoiding hangry guests.
Many hosts plan a time, only to scramble in the kitchen while their hungry relatives circle the kitchen, growing irritable as dinner is delayed.
Interestingly, a 2018 survey found that 42% of Americans serve Thanksgiving dinner between 1:00pm and 3:00pm, meaning Stewart’s preferred 2:00pm is far from radical.
Still, the remaining 58% of households follow different schedules, fueling debates and family arguments nationwide.
The clash isn’t just about clocks. It touches on turkey prep, naptime schedules for children, leftover policies, and whether Thanksgiving is an all-day marathon or a single, monumental meal.
Experts say this timing dispute reveals a deeper truth.
The “perfect” Thanksgiving doesn’t exist. Families are juggling expectations, old traditions, and the desire to recreate a Norman Rockwell-style holiday.
Stewart’s 2:00pm recommendation works for smaller adult gatherings where timing is simple.
But families with young children or out-of-town travelers may find the suggestion impractical, with naps and early flights interfering.
Ironically, Stewart may have unintentionally done something brilliant: she’s sparked a nationwide conversation about turkey timing rather than politics or culture wars.
Families are so invested in whether dinner should be at 2:00pm or 6:00pm that other holiday disputes have been temporarily sidelined.
And honestly, debating turkey timing is far more harmless than arguments over politics or family drama.
So, the takeaway? Pick a dinner hour that works for your family, stick to it, and be thankful that this year’s Thanksgiving controversy is about the clock—not Washington, D.C.
