The countdown to Christmas has already started. With only a few weeks left, it’s fair to say that most households will be busy planning their Christmas parties. If you are receiving guests this Christmas, you know too well that a festive get-together party is likely to be costly. Unfortunately, most American households often plan a handful of festive catch-ups during the festive seasons. Christmas parties are a great way to see your extended family, catch up with old and new friends, invite co-workers, and strengthen your bonds with your neighbors. So, if you are planning to host one or numerous get-together events, the first thing you want to focus on is drafting a budget. Whether you throw a meal or a buffet-type event, food is often the most significant party cost. Yet, you can still have a delicious meal or snack on a budget. Here are some impressive, yummy, and appealing ideas to feed all your guests without breaking the bank.
Let the party time define the food
Should you always plan a large table of food for your guests? The answer depends on the time of the invitation. Indeed, party experts recommend planning your food menu with regard to meal times. For instance, if you throw a neighborhood meet-up between 10 AM and 12 PM, light snacks would do the trick. On the other hand, a party held between 6 PM and 8 PM will need a full dinner. The typical schedule of what to serve will look like the following:
- Before 10 AM: full breakfast
- 10 AM to 12 PM: light snacks
- 12 PM to 1:30 PM: full lunch
- 2 PM to 6 PM: light snacks
- 6 PM to 8 PM: full dinner
- after 8 PM: dessert and snacks
You may not need a big buffet
Does your invitation fall around one of the three meal times during the day? It still doesn’t mean you should plan everything by yourself. It’s a great idea to ask your guests to prepare a dish or a snack too. This will not only provide plenty of diversity on the table, but it’ll also keep things easy and manageable.
One of the main reasons why people tend to overspend on party food is lack of time. You don’t have enough time to prepare everything by yourself or to consider your menu carefully. As a result, you are forced to take shortcuts, which results in food waste or buying expensive pre-made dishes. There’s no need for that! Get everyone to bring a simple dish instead.
Something for the pets
What do pets have to do with party food? A lot more than you think! Throw a BBQ party, and you can be sure that guests will try to feed your dog some grilled meat. The fancy fish dish you’ve prepared as a Christmas starter is likely to be shared with the house cat. Why? Because in the spirit of parties, we want to involve our beloved pets. While the intention is sweet, it makes it tricky to plan food for your guests and your pets at the same time. So, cut yourself some slack by opting for delicious and fresh pet food such as this wet Walmart dog food or simple homemade chicken cat food. You can rest assured that your pets will also enjoy the festive mood without begging for food at the table.
Are you ready to throw an impressive food party with little effort? The more manageable you make it, the more cost-effective it’ll be!
