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Plan Thanksgiving for 10 with a vegan and a nut allergy with ChatGPT

WorkedEvidence: Article or interviewPosted Oct 15, 2026Last checked Nov 3, 2026

Amanda Caswell tested ChatGPT and Claude on a $175 one-oven Thanksgiving, and ChatGPT won by making almost every side vegan by default.

Source checked Nov 3, 2026
Results shared

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Send it, then read the answer before acting on it.

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Prompt

Original prompt

The prompt as the person shared it in the source.

What the prompt labels mean

These are the person's own words, as shared in the source.

I'm hosting Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people. One is vegan, one has a nut allergy, two are picky kids and I only have one oven. Create a menu and cooking schedule that gets everything on the table at 5 p.m. without spending more than $175.

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ChatGPT Used in source Gemini Grok Claude Used in source

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Optional stronger version

Our rewrite with extra checks. The poster didn't test it.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish.

Goal: Plan a holiday dinner menu and one-oven cooking schedule that works for every guest and stays on budget.

Questions to ask me first:
- How many guests, and what diets or allergies?
- What time should dinner be served?
- What cooking equipment do you have?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Guest count and dietary needs: [GUESTS AND DIETS]
- Serving time: [TIME]
- Budget: [AMOUNT]
- Equipment: [OVEN, STOVETOP, SLOW COOKER, ETC.]
- Must-have dishes: [DISHES]

Rules:
- Make shared sides safe for as many guests as possible so I cook fewer separate batches.
- Keep allergens fully out of anything marked safe, and list where cross-contact could happen.
- Fit the oven schedule to one oven, counting resting and reheating time.
- Label prices as estimates.

Checkpoint: Show me the menu and estimated cost and wait for my OK before building the minute-by-minute schedule.

If you get stuck: If the budget can't cover the menu, show the cheapest swaps first.

Verify before you finish: Check that every guest has a full plate they can eat and that no two dishes need the oven at different temperatures at the same time.

Output: The menu with who can eat what, a shopping list with estimated prices and a timed cooking schedule.

Done when: I can shop and cook from the plan and serve everything on time.

Customize the stronger version

Answer these questions and we'll put your answers into the stronger version. The original prompt above stays exactly as published.

Guest count and dietary needs

Serving time

Budget

e.g. 50 dollars

Equipment

Must-have dishes

Your prompt

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish.

Goal: Plan a holiday dinner menu and one-oven cooking schedule that works for every guest and stays on budget.

Questions to ask me first:
- How many guests, and what diets or allergies?
- What time should dinner be served?
- What cooking equipment do you have?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Guest count and dietary needs: [GUESTS AND DIETS]
- Serving time: [TIME]
- Budget: [AMOUNT]
- Equipment: [OVEN, STOVETOP, SLOW COOKER, ETC.]
- Must-have dishes: [DISHES]

Rules:
- Make shared sides safe for as many guests as possible so I cook fewer separate batches.
- Keep allergens fully out of anything marked safe, and list where cross-contact could happen.
- Fit the oven schedule to one oven, counting resting and reheating time.
- Label prices as estimates.

Checkpoint: Show me the menu and estimated cost and wait for my OK before building the minute-by-minute schedule.

If you get stuck: If the budget can't cover the menu, show the cheapest swaps first.

Verify before you finish: Check that every guest has a full plate they can eat and that no two dishes need the oven at different temperatures at the same time.

Output: The menu with who can eat what, a shopping list with estimated prices and a timed cooking schedule.

Done when: I can shop and cook from the plan and serve everything on time.

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5 blanks are still empty: Guest count and dietary needs; Serving time; Budget; Equipment; Must-have dishes. They'll stay in brackets in your prompt, so the chat tool may ask you about them.

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AI tools

ChatGPT Claude

Outcome

Amanda Caswell of Tom's Guide gave ChatGPT-6 and Claude Haiku 5.5 the same Thanksgiving problem: 10 guests including one vegan, one nut allergy and two picky kids, one oven, dinner on the table at 5 p.m. and a $175 limit. Claude accurately calculated the turkey cooking time with a generous resting window and offered equipment hacks, kid-friendly options and allergy suggestions. ChatGPT won the round by making almost all the side dishes vegan by default (mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, carrots and gravy) with olive oil and dairy-free milk, so there was no need to cook separate vegan and non-vegan batches in one oven. ChatGPT also gave a budget breakdown and a backup plan.

Evidence: Article or interviewA newsletter, journalist or interview account of what happened.

Source

Posted: Oct 15, 2026 by Amanda Caswell (Tom's Guide)
Last checked: Nov 3, 2026
Method:: How we verify

https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-tested-chatgpt-6-vs-claude-haiku-5-5-on-everyday-tasks-heres-the-winner

Context: This was a side-by-side test of the two chatbots' answers; the dinner wasn't cooked and the prices weren't checked in a store. Always confirm allergens on labels.