Whether you’re inviting 5 guests or 10 guests over for a meal, you don’t want to begin planning the menu until you’ve asked them what foods they like or dislike. Do they have any dietary restrictions? What if someone has allergies or is a vegetarian? Try to get a general idea of their preferences before planning your meal.
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Do any of your guests have dietary restrictions?
If you have a guest who is a diabetic you should find out what they can and cannot eat. Diabetics eat food that is low in fat and sugar content. Before you cook the chicken, it’s best to know the answer to this question. You may not want to use sweet glazes or even gravies, and your dessert menu may have to include something special for your diabetic.
Does anyone have any food allergies?
Do they need to know if there is seafood in the salad? Are they allergic to peanuts or dairy products? You may have to have non-dairy products on hand just in case. If anyone has an allergy to anything, you may just want to eliminate it from the menu.
Find out what types of food your guests like. You may want to come up with three different menu plans and offer them a choice. Not everyone will choose the same thing, so you will have to decide if you want to cook two different entrees, plus a side item, vegetables and dinner rolls.
Are any of your guests vegetarians?
If so, plan accordingly. Have an extra vegetable prepared and also a green salad. Vegetarians can eat lentils, eggs, grains and dairy products too. Maybe you can incorporate one of these foods into your menu. Rice is always a good option and it goes nicely with all kinds of meat.
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Will any kids be tagging along?
Now’s the time to find out if the kids are coming. Some couples will hire a babysitter, but not always. Most kids are pretty picky so you need to find out what types of foods they like. Kids will always eat hotdogs and hamburgers, but this may not be the type of food you want to cook. Chicken, spaghetti and mac and cheese are all favorites with kids.
Armed with your questions, now it’s time to make some phone calls. Ask your guests the questions above to be sure you can have some ideas in mind before doing your grocery shopping. Scan your cookbooks beforehand for some ideas that blend in with everyone’s restrictions and favorite foods. Plan accordingly, giving yourself plenty of time to cook, and most of all, have fun!
This article was written by ezCater.com. Since 2008 ezCater.com has been providing Buffalo catering, as well as Atlanta , Boston, and hundreds of other cities.
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