Deciding what to prepare for a dinner party is difficult enough, but next comes an equally difficult dilemma — how to cook just the right amount so that everyone gets enough but nothing goes to waste. It’s a fine line to walk, but this interactive dinner party calculator from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Ad Council at SaveTheFood.com makes it easier, removing some of that holiday stress.
To use “The Guest-imator,” plug in the number of guests you’re expecting, accounting for the small eaters (kids and others with tiny appetites), the average eaters, and the big eaters (here’s where those high school football players go). Next, enter how many leftovers you want to have after the big meal is finished. Then, choose a type of meal (but don’t worry too much about this part, because on the next screen, you’ll have the opportunity to customize everything).
Planning to serve turkey and tofu for your mains, accompanied by pasta, potatoes, and veggies, with a finishing note of cobbler and ice cream? For 10 average eaters, you’ll need 4 pounds of turkey, 20 ounces of tofu, 13.5 ounces of pasta, seven potatoes, 27 ounces of vegetables, one cobbler, and 20 ounces of ice cream. The Guest-imator will even give you tips to maximize your meals — for instance, pre-plate dessert to keep people from taking more than they’ll really eat, and use leftover mashed potatoes on sandwiches in place of mayo or cheese.
The website has tons of other tips, including how to waste less with kids; reviving food that’s stale, wilted, overcooked, salty, or burned; deciphering what dates on products really mean; and much more.
The Right Recipe
What if, despite your best efforts, you still have more left over than you expected? All is not lost to the compost bin. Here are some recipes from SaveTheFood.com that use ingredients that would typically be tossed:
- Chicken bones: Blonde Chicken Stock
- Cilantro stems: Cilantro Stem Green Sauce
- Zucchini vine stems: Zucchini Stem Penne
- Zucchini ends: Zucchini Brochette
- Carrots, carrot tops, potatoes: Whole-Carrot Soup
- Strawberry tops: Strawberry Top Rosé Granita
- Potato peels: Rustic Potato Chips
- Cheese rinds: Fromage Fort
- Onion, herbs, veggie pulp, potatoes: Scraps Falafel
- Bruised pears: Bruised Pear Pandowy
- Overripe avocados: Buried Avocado Chocolate Mousse
- Nearly sour milk: Sour Milk Pancakes
Last but not least, make sure you know how to store all that perfectly usable food so it stays that way. Happy holiday entertaining!
This article was originally published on November 29, 2017.