If you’ve ever ordered food catering for your party home, then you know what it’s like to have a ton of leftovers the next day.
Most of that food will end up getting thrown away. And that’s a waste of money.
Food wastage is actually a serious problem in Malaysia. As reported by The Star Online, Malaysians discard 15,000 tonnes of food waste daily and 3,000 tonnes of it are still in good and edible condition.
Therefore, deciding the amount for a catering for an event can be a challenge. Too much and it will go to waste. Too little, and you’ll be left red-faced when the food runs out (or labelled as a cheapskate).
Try these methods to avoid food wastage when catering your next event.
1. Ask guests to RSVP
If you are planning a company function or wedding, it’s common practice to ask guests to RSVP. So why not do the same for your party at home?
When you host a party at home, the guest list can unexpectedly get out of hand. To get an accurate count of guests to feed, ask them to confirm their attendance, and adjust your order with your caterer accordingly.
2. Further discount the confirmed guests by 20%
Based on the number of guest that RSVP’d, you can expect only 80% to actually attend. So if the confirmed guests is 100 people, only order food catering for 80 people. 20% no shows are normal due to emergencies and sudden change of plans (or maybe they were just being polite).
3. Confirm your food catering order near the cut-off date
Prior to making any payment for the catering order, make sure you have discussed with the caterer on the cut-off date for the final order amount. Request for the closest date to your event, so you can count the last minute confirmation and cancellation from your guests. Only pay the deposit based on the latest headcount.
4. Order the favourites
Unless you are a seasoned host, it’s best to stick with the fan-favourite dishes, as long as they are delicious. Now may not be the time to try out experimental dishes!
If you have guests with dietary restrictions, such as vegans, by all means prepare something for them. But don’t change the entire menu to suit their needs, especially if there are only 5 vegans out of 100 guests.
And if the event is mainly for kids, remember to order less spicy and easy to eat items from your caterer.
5. Plan an ’emergency’ dish
It can be highly embarrassing if the food runs out halfway through . To avoid this, plan an emergency menu with your caterer beforehand. Items like Nasi Lemak, Ayam Goreng Berempah, Laksa Penang are easy to prepare or buy.
6. Ask your caterer to supply takeaway boxes
Too much food? Let your guests tapau or takeaway. Prepare containers and plastic bags beforehand, and keep them under the buffet table so you can whip them out as the event draws to a close.
An experienced caterer will know how to budget the amount of food based on your requirements. But they will tend to cater more instead of less, otherwise your guests will go hungry. So it’s up to you to make sure none of it goes to waste.
