Plan your menu when cooking for friends and family.
Hosting a dinner party is the perfect way to catch up with friends, family or colleagues in the comfort of your own home.
When planning your next get-together, remember to use the same menu planning and shopping principles that work for you on week nights. The only real difference is the amount of serves required – it can be tricky to estimate when you are having a crowd over and most of us end up over-catering as a result. The Love Food Hate Waste Serving size calculator is the first step to planning a great event with few leftovers!
Think about your menu too. Aim for a detailed menu of dishes that not only work well together, but means you won’t spend the entire time in the kitchen. Plan for several dishes that you can prepare in advance, and that way you can enjoy the dinner party too! Ask your guests if they have any special dietary requirements – this way you won’t have too much if some guest can not eat certain foods. If you have any leftovers, offer them to your guests to take home – and you will be doing the environment a favour.
After your party, it’s a great idea to write down what you have leftover or what you didn’t have enough of – that way you will know exactly what you need for next time.
By thinking ahead you will be able to create a menu that you feel comfortable preparing, and be confident that you have the right amount of food to make your friends and family feel special, while minimising waste.