As Thanksgiving lingers just around the corner, people are preparing for the frightening table conversation that comes with complaining, arguing, and if you’re lucky, politics. Now everyone knows these topics are scary to bring up with Grandma and Grandpa, but in an effort to save your meal and your sanity, I’ve prepared some dinner table conversation starters that won’t be as cliche as you think they’d be.

Here are some basics to start off with your stuffing:

• What was the weirdest Christmas present you have ever received?
• If you could only keep one social media platform/app, which would it be?
• (Ask others at table): If you didn’t know me, just off of first glance, what would you think my name would be?
• What color describes me best?
• What’s the first thing you’d do if quarantine suddenly ended tomorrow?
• If you could be the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world (ex. Amazon, Facebook, Google) which would it be?
• If you suddenly gained 100k followers on any social media platform, would you enjoy the “fame” or want to stay private?
• Do you really believe that being famous is the best thing you can possibly be?
• If you had zero technology for a week, what would you do?
• If you could change your college  major, what would you have changed it to?
• Would you rather travel living in a van, or a boat?
• If you were opening a fast food restaurant, what would you name it?
• If you could own any exotic animal, which would it be?
• What crime would you commit if it was impossible to get caught?

Although most conversation starters seem cheesier than your Thanksgiving mac and cheese, I hope that at least some of these got your table talking! Hopefully you enjoy the rest of your family holiday season controversy free!