Playing Favorites

Things might get a little quiet around your Thanksgiving table this year. You want people to connect and converse, but you also want to keep things harmonious and stay away from potentially divisive conversation topics like politics and Coke vs. Pepsi. At some point in the day, you might look around and start feeling disheartened by the football being watched when everyone is meant to be rejoicing in gratitude for those around them.

Let's see, you could shake things up with a game of charades, but those who forgot to wear sweatpants may be feeling too bloated to really get in the spirit. You could get out Trivial Pursuit or Taboo or a deck of cards, but if there are a bunch of children running around (whose kids are those, anyway?), good luck with that.

How about a game where participation requires very little energy-output, there are no "rules" and so no one needs to raise their voice and feel like a bossy butt (who me?), and everyone wins?

That's right, everyone wins. Everyone wins when we learn more about our family members and friends!

Intrigued (and perhaps also repelled by my cheese factor)? If things get dull for you over Thanksgiving, why not play a few rounds of The Favorite Game. It's an oldie, but a goody.

Pick a category and each person names their favorite for that category. Easy as that.

I'll give you some examples:

Color? Green

Color to wear? Brown

Christmas song? "Baby It's Cold Outside"

Cracker? Triscuit

Cookie? Iced Molasses

Board game? Trivial Pursuit

Kids' show? Phineas and Ferb

Plotline on this season of The Office? The Andy/Darryl friendship

Toilet Paper? Scott

Variety of M&M? Peanut Butter

Sport to watch? Basketball

Sport to play? Tennis

Form of exercise? Walking fast

Pro or former pro on Dancing with the Stars? Julianne

Food Network chef? Ina Garten

Small kitchen gadget? Pizza Cutter

Convenience store snack? Fountain Diet Coke and white chocolate Flipz

Flavor of Jolly Rancher? Cherry

Beer? Miller Lite

Herb? Basil

Sugar Cereal? Golden Grahams

Donut? The kind with icing (not pudding) inside

Part of the newspaper? Book reviews (and the ads)

Hot beverage? Chai Latte

Sure, there might be some controversy. I know my hubby, for example, would claim Cottonelle as his favorite t.p., and I can see a debate ensuing with me arguing for the cost efficiency and plumbing friendliness of Scott while he promotes the comfort of Cottonelle.

Sure, there might be some difficulty. People will want to give multiple answers or might overthink things as if their favorites are being recorded for posterity on a gold tablet. You can decide if you want to be breezy and allow for double answers. You can decide if you need to tell your cousin to pick a favorite kids' show in fifteen seconds or else you'll show him the door.

But there might also be some beautiful moments of connection. When you and your husband's cousin's daughter realize you both heart Barefoot Contessa and single-ply toilet paper . . . beautiful moment right there.

You'll have to customize the categories for your group. Make sure to give everyone a chance to come up with a category. Have fun and stay breezy!

If people seem to be in a Grinch kind of mood, you could try The Least Favorite Game:

Herb? Cilantro

Sport to watch? Golf

Flavor of Jolly Rancher? Watermelon

Kids' show? Fresh Beat Band

Games played at family gatherings? The Favorite Game (just kidding)

You get the picture.

Please share any of your favorites or least favorites in the comments. Any traditions to promote bonding and fun at your Thanksgiving celebration?