Whether there’s a new member of the family or a little one’s graduation, sometimes we all need to sit down and enjoy a good meal with our nearest and dearest.
But if you’re the one tasked with organising the feast, it can be a daunting prospect. From brainstorming what meals to create to gathering the right ingredients at the supermarket, there’s a lot to think about.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and anxious about hosting a family feast, don’t worry. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to make organising a family feast a success.
Read on to find out more!
1) Get Everyone On Board
Hosting a family feast can require long, tedious hours. And one of the worst things that could happen is preparing all the food only to guests flake on you.
To avoid this, make sure you get everyone on board from the beginning. It’s possible that your child could have an important after-school gathering or that your husband will have a work dinner on the night of your feast, so make sure their schedule is clear.
For people outside the household, send out invitations (or, if it’s a small gathering, just make a phone call) and give everyone plenty of notice. This way, you’ll get an initial headcount and determine how much food you want to prepare prior to the event.
2) Consider Dietary Restrictions
You also need to take into account any dietary restrictions or allergies that your guests may have. The last thing you want is for someone to get seriously ill because you didn’t take their allergies into account.
Aside from health risks, be mindful of any specific food items that your loved ones (and in-laws) may not be able to eat. For example, if you’re preparing a dish with pork in it, make sure there aren’t any Muslims in attendance. If you have a vegan or vegetarian in the group, have some meat-free options on hand.
The best way to do this is by asking your guests about their dietary restrictions or requesting that they let you know in advance if they have any. This will save you a lot of trouble later on.
3) Be Creative With Your Menu
Once all the logistics are out of the way, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to prepare. Planning the menu is arguably one of the more enjoyable parts of hosting a family feast—so give this step plenty of thought!
If you’re not sure what to make, take inspiration from your favourite restaurant or cuisine. There are many online resources you can consult too. From those sources, draw inspiration from their top review recipes to create an amazing feast. Just make sure you tailor the dishes to your guests’ dietary restrictions (if any).
If you want a top-tier experience, you can hire professional caterers like Gathar to prepare the food for you. This frees up your time so you can focus more on enjoying the party and socialising with guests.
4) Serve Healthy Options
While a lot of people aren’t too picky about what they eat, many people are on weight-loss journeys and strict dietary plans. If you want your family feast to be a success, you want your guests to feel satisfied without being stuffed. This can be achieved by serving healthier options in your event.
One way to do this is by doing away with unhealthy desserts like brownies, cakes, and other artificial sweets and replacing them with fruit pies or something similar. You may also opt to go for leaner cuts of meat to make your main dishes healthier.
5) Set the Mood With Decorations
Your feast will be much more enjoyable if you set the right mood with your decorations. After all, the ambience can make or break a party.
The trick is to not go overboard with your decorations. Simple centrepieces and candles will do the job just fine.
Removing jarring furniture pieces and decluttering your living and dining room before guests arrive is also highly beneficial. This will make your home look less like a minefield and more like a function hall.
Also, don’t forget the lighting! A bright and welcoming space is a must if you want everyone to feel more comfortable and in the mood to mingle.
6) Have Fun & Communicate With Your Guests
Last but not least, have fun! Make sure that you’re actually socialising with your guests on the day itself. The point of hosting a family feast is to catch up with your loved ones and create wonderful memories together, not to slave away in the kitchen or work overtime.
You’ll want to encourage your children to do the same as well. This is a great opportunity for them to socialise with their cousins or other relatives that they don’t often get to see.
If they’re the type to stay glued to their screen, take a page out of a behavioural psychology module and reward them for not being on their phone. Rewards should be something healthy and desirable, like descriptive praise or a promise to go to their favourite restaurant next week.
