Say Goodbye to Party Food Waste with These 10 Portioning Tricks

party food grill

Planning the perfect party means mastering the art of portion control. It's a delicate balance between ensuring there's enough food to go around without ending up with heaps of leftovers. Whether you're throwing a small get-together or a grand bash, knowing how much to serve is key to a successful event.

AUTHOR: Ian Ferrero

1. Storage Containers

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - 05-08-2023: A view of several shelves dedicated to Rubbermaid Take Alongs containers, on display at the grocery store
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Since planning an exact amount of food can be tricky, buying take-home containers for your guests is a great idea to help the mass of food. Buying all that delicious food for your event and having it go to waste is horrible, so more people get to enjoy the great food afterward.

2. Your Leftovers

Leftover food stored in container
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Everyone loves an excellent leftover meal, especially during the holidays. With holidays such as Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, these come with mashed potatoes, ham, and other food that are perfect to reheat for another time!

3. Which Foods Are the Best?

Woman buying Hotdog Buns at supermarket
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Stocking up on food you know people will like is an excellent start to the planning process. People eating up one food they love can help predict how much of the other foods they may need, saving food and a lot of money from not buying unwanted food.

4. Do the Math

Mother checking in mobile
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Trying to guess the amount of food is very tough when you don't know who's coming, so have people RSVP to your party, so you know for sure how many people are going. By doing this, you can assume each person will need about two servings each, which will be good for good portions.

5. Appetizers

Onion rings
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Having a variety of appetizers or other foods for your guests to snack on can save a lot of food. When you do this, people snack on food snacks and talk to keep them distracted, which means they do not eat as much of the main entree.

6. Freezable Leftovers

Leftovers in fridge
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Making sure you have food that could be frozen and eaten again is an excellent way to save money and not waste any food. Delicious foods like soups and pasta dishes can be thrown into a freezer to be kept longer and enjoyed later.

7. Using a Calculator

Middle aged woman using mobile
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Based on what you know about the people attending your event, you can use an online calculator to assist with how much food you'll need. Getting the specific amount of people is essential, along with maybe a few estimates of their weight, and the calculator will do the rest.

8. Finger Food

Chicken wings air fried
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Serving finger food helps people snack on food constantly, resulting in them becoming full much faster. Foods like chicken tenders, wings, or even pretzels are delicious foods that could be put out for people to eat, and those foods will be gone a lot faster with minimal leftovers.

9. Cheap Options

Salsa
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Handing out cheap foods for people to snack on is very budget-friendly, and your wallet will thank you later. Foods such as tortilla chips and salsa, popcorn, or other chips are great to serve since guests love them, and you're saving money.

10. Backup Food

Woman looking in fridge
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

If you decide to avoid being under-prepare (hopefully) and try to get the food exactly right, having backup food in the freezer is a great idea to ensure no trouble. Running out of food during a party may be the worst thing, so having quick and easy food in the freezer will make you worry-free about running out of food.

Source: Reddit.

12 Poor People Meals We Will Eat No Matter How Rich We Get

Beans sausage fries
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Whether it's the nostalgic taste of childhood or the simple pleasure they bring, here are 12 humble eats that keep us coming back for more, regardless of our bank balance.

Click Here For 12 Poor People Meals We Will Eat No Matter How Rich We Get

12 Ingredients That Can Ruin Your Dish

Celery
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Ever added something to your dish and immediately wished you hadn't? We've all been there, messing up a meal with the wrong ingredient.

Click Here For 12 Ingredients That Can Ruin Your Dish

12 Things Old People Wish We Still Had

old people
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

From the simplicity of handwritten letters to the communal joy of drive-in movies, these are the items and experiences that hold a special place in their hearts.

Click Here For 12 Things Old People Wish We Still Had

12 Cheap Costco Finds That Are Worth Every Penny

shopping grocery
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Shopping at Costco can be a game changer, especially when you know what items to target for the best deals.

Click Here For 12 Cheap Costco Finds That Are Worth Every Penny

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *