In honor of World Food Day, we’re creating a comprehensive guide to help you successfully curb food waste at your next dinner party.
A well-thought-out food waste plan is an undisputed requisite in the modern host’s party toolkit. From food prep to party scrapes, we’re listing some easy but essential steps you can take to ensure maximum fun and minimum waste.
Go Local, Be Seasonal
Make an audit of your guest’s eating preferences and prioritize seasonal and local produce while planning your party menu
Plan with the Industry Portion Size in Mind
In order to avoid cooking excess food, try streamlining the preparations to the catering industry portion size of two helpings per person.
Recyclables or Reusables Only
Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones, and opt for serving food in reusable cutlery & crockery.
This way, not only do you get to show off some gorgeous linens and fine china, but you can also effortlessly elevate the mood of the party by making your guests feel valued & appreciated.
#ProTip: Make sure to start the party with an empty dishwasher and washing machine, so at the end of the night you can load everything at once and wake up to two less home chores!
Make the Party PSA
Before you begin the feast, make a quick announcement to guests about the recycling process and food scraps disposal. You can inform them about your waste reduction efforts and educate them about waste separations bins.
Segregate Your Waste
Have a system for waste segregation, and also to separate out quality food from the leftovers.
Make sure trash, recycling, and food scraps are sorted correctly for the disposal process. Clearly label your waste bins to avoid confusion and contamination (do keep in mind that plastic bags should not go in your recycling bin!).
There’s a Lot You Can do with Leftovers
For the leftover food, you can request your guests to bring lunch boxes to take food in, or you can hand it out to them in reusable containers.
Alternatively, you can tie up with organizations that feel the needy, homeless, or even stray animals, and donate the leftovers for their feeding drives. This way, you’ll not only be reducing food waste but also be helping goodwill forces fight food shortage and hunger at the grassroots level in your city.
Consider Composting
For food scraps, you can consider composting at home, and if that’s not feasible, see if you have a neighbor or friend who will take your food scraps to compost or use as animal feed.
Once you start implementing these steps, you’re on your way to becoming a conscious and responsible green host, whose parties are not only fun but also kind to the Earth.