After all the fun you’ve been through from the previous holiday season, it’s time to reassess your budget and plan your year. But although it’s time to move on, you might still be suffering from a fridge full of leftovers. Although having some leftovers shouldn’t be an issue, excessive leftovers aren’t a great idea, especially since many people are experiencing hunger.
So, for the rest of the year, whenever you’re having parties or holidays, you should ensure that you’ll have as little as possible leftover food. If you’re wondering how you’ll be able to do that, here are some tips you should try!
1. Plan the Menu Strategically
The first tip you shouldn’t forget is to plan the menu strategically. If you have guests coming over, confirm their attendance first, so that you can plan the proportions of the food. At the same time, you can curate the menu properly. The more balanced your menu is, the less likely your guests are to leave some leftovers.
2. Utilise Portion Planning
Planning the portions is essential. If you’re not used to it, you may end up overestimating. Besides, not everyone will try everything, so if you think a dish isn’t a popular one, you can lessen the portion you make per guest.
In terms of the proportions, you can look for online calculators that can help you identify the ratio of each dish per guest.
3. Use Versatile Ingredients
When curating the menu, also consider using versatile ingredients. If you do, you can easily overlap the ingredients, and shopping will also be smooth. At the same time, if you have some leftover ingredients, you can use them when cooking for other meals after the holiday celebrations.
If you have a theme, like Spanish cuisine, you can easily choose dishes that use the same base of ingredients. So, avoid choosing dishes that are too far from each other in terms of cuisine.
4. Consider Dietary Preferences and Restrictions
When inviting guests, make sure to attach a note that includes questions about dietary preferences and restrictions. This can significantly help you with finalising your menu. At the same time, you won’t have to deal with surprises on the day of the gathering.
Once you know the preferences and restrictions of your guests, you can prevent more food leftovers. For instance, if half of your guests prefer vegan options, you can make a dish that is for vegans, and another option for those who aren’t. So, if your original menu has beef, you can still cook it.
5. Limit “Just in Case” Dishes
Another reason why you have too much leftover after the holidays is because of the “just in case” dishes. This way of thinking allows you to add more than enough variety of food.
Although the main goal of most holiday hosts is to make sure that their guests are full and satisfied, adding more food to the menu can just leave a few of the dishes untouched.
We’ve all added an extra casserole or side dish “just in case” someone wants more variety. These “safety” dishes often remain untouched. Trust your menu and skip unnecessary extras.
6. Serve Buffet-Style
If you’ve been to Spanish restaurants, you may notice that each dish comes in big portions. You can do the same style, or opt for a buffet style. Besides, you should let your guests choose the specific dishes they want to try, instead of giving them all in the same serving size per plate. Usually, the latter often results in more leftovers.
7. Provide Take-Home Containers
If you still have more leftovers than you anticipate, prepare take-home containers, and give them to your guests. At the same time, let them get the food they want to take home so that none will go to waste. It can also be a fun activity for them, especially if more people are hoping to take out the same dish.
Meanwhile, make sure the container won’t spill, so that you can guarantee that your guests will opt to take some food home.
8. Repurpose Leftovers Creatively
In some cases, even if you invest in take-home containers, you may still end up with some leftovers, specifically the side dishes. So, instead of reheating them, you can make another dish with what you currently have. That way you won’t feel as if you’re eating the same mashed potatoes for two days.
So, if you still have some mashed potatoes left over, you can turn them into croquettes or potato puffs.
9. Track and Learn for Next Year
The same as what you’re doing right now, always track your leftovers and learn from them. That way, you can decrease the amount of leftovers you have for every year or event.
10. Prioritise Sustainability
From the preparation of the dishes to the leftovers, always prioritise sustainability. For instance, when peeling vegetables, avoid including the consumable part. In addition, recycle packaging, compost scraps, and give away unopened non-perishable food items to those in need.
Final Thoughts
As you put the past behind you, and completely embrace the new year, don’t forget to learn from your leftover mistakes and consider them into your next holiday hosting plans.
