Hosting a party is all about creating a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for your guests, and the food you serve plays an important role in that experience. While some dishes are ideal for a party or gathering, others can bring about unexpected challenges or problems. To make sure your event goes smoothly and everyone has a great time, it’s essential to consider your menu choices carefully. Here are 18 foods you shouldn’t serve when hosting a party to avoid mess, discomfort, and any potential awkward moments.
Smelly Cheeses
Strong odors can be pretty off-putting for guests and can linger in the air even after people have finished eating, so it’s a good idea to steer clear of smelly cheeses at your party. Some guests may also be particularly sensitive to the smell. According to YouGov, a “poll of over 8,000 US adults finds that America’s favorite cheese is a classic: cheddar.” So, just stick to simple cheeses to make sure your party doesn’t stink (literally)!
Beans and Cruciferous Vegetables
You should try to avoid including beans and cruciferous vegetables on your party menu or buffet, as they’re known to cause digestive discomfort and bloating for many people. No one wants to be uncomfortable at a party! On top of this, not everybody enjoys the strong flavors of these vegetables. Beans and cruciferous vegetables can also often require lengthy cooking times and precise seasoning, which can make preparing for your party more time-consuming and complicated.
Foods That Need Utensils
Some foods can be quite difficult to eat at a party, especially if you’re eating while standing up. Foods that require utensils are particularly awkward and inconvenient for guests to eat when standing and mingling. These dishes can also slow down the pace of eating, leading to longer meal times and less time for other activities. They will increase the amount of cleanup required after the party too!
Dishes With Nuts
Nut allergies are extremely common, so playing it safe and avoiding having any dishes with nuts at your party is definitely a clever idea! People with nut allergies can have severe reactions to dishes that include nuts, which can potentially be life-threatening! If you include nuts in your menu, there’s a high possibility of cross-contamination with other foods during the preparation or when guests are eating, so it’s best to simply avoid nuts altogether.
Raw Shellfish
Raw fish is a definite no-go when feeding your guests at a party! There’s a very high risk of foodborne illnesses with raw shellfish if it’s not prepared properly, and it requires careful storage and handling to keep it fresh. This can add a lot of unnecessary stress to the food preparation process. Raw shellfish is also quite an acquired taste, so not all your guests will likely enjoy this dish.
Dishes With Lots of Garlic and Onion
There’s nothing worse than someone having bad breath while you’re trying to talk to them! Leave dishes that are heavy on garlic and onion off of the menu to avoid this problem, as they can cause bad breath and make social interactions pretty uncomfortable. Garlic and onion can also leave a strong, lingering aftertaste in your mouth that can overpower and ruin the taste of the other items on the menu.
Foods With Common Intolerances
Verywell Health reports that “an estimated 26 million adults and 5.6 million children have food allergies.” With food allergies affecting this many people, it’s highly likely there’ll be at least one person at your party who has a food intolerance, so it’s important to keep this in mind. Avoid providing too much dairy and gluten or make sure there are alternative options for people with lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity, or celiac disease.
Messy Foods
Giving your guests messy dishes will significantly increase the likelihood of spills and stains; therefore, you should refrain from serving any messy foods at your gathering unless you want to clean up spills and stains left, right, and center! Messy foods are also awkward and difficult to eat gracefully. If you insist on serving messy ribs or wings, make sure you have plenty of napkins and preferably enough seats for all your guests to sit down.
Durian Fruit
If you haven’t heard of durian fruit before, it’s one of the world’s smelliest foods. While the fruit can taste delicious, its strong odor is extremely unpleasant and enough to put anyone off eating it! Some people do like the taste of durian fruit, but even if they can get over the unappealing smell, its unfamiliar flavor and texture may not be enjoyed by all. It can also be difficult to find and pretty expensive.
Exotic Meats
When you’re hosting a party, it’s better to stick to simple, classic foods that everyone typically enjoys instead of providing unusual foods like exotic meats, as strange and unique flavors and textures may not appeal to everyone. There are also ethical and cultural concerns about consuming certain animals to take into consideration when it comes to exotic meats, as some guests may be offended by your choice of food or unable to eat it.
Spicy Foods
Spicy foods can be a risky choice for a party, as it’s more than likely that some guests won’t be very good at handling spice or may end up with an upset stomach if they’re sensitive to spice. Spicy foods are another common intolerance that can cause discomfort for certain people and may lead to indigestion or other digestive issues. You don’t want people running off to the toilet in the middle of your party!
Rich Desserts
If you want to offer desserts at your party or gathering, make sure they’re not too rich and heavy. Rich desserts can be overly filling and tend to leave guests feeling full and uncomfortable. They typically contain high levels of sugar and fat too, which is not ideal for any health-conscious guests. Rich desserts can also overpower and overshadow other lighter dessert options and be too substantial to follow other courses.
Foods That Can Cross-Contaminate
It’s vital to manage and prevent any cross-contamination when you’re preparing and serving the food at your party. It’s a good idea to avoid foods like raw meat and seafood that can contaminate other dishes if they’re not handled properly, as cross-contamination can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses. The World Health Organisation says “an estimated 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420 000 die every year.”
Caffeinated Foods and Drinks
Foods and drinks that contain caffeine shouldn’t be included on the menu for your party, as not everyone likes to consume caffeine. Caffeine can cause jitteriness and anxiety in some individuals, and it can interfere with people’s sleep patterns too, especially if the party is in the evening. Caffeinated foods and drinks are also not suitable for children, so it’s crucial to bear that in mind if children are attending your party.
Sushi
Some people love sushi and some people hate it, so it can be quite a polarizing dish to provide at a party. As well as raw fish potentially being off-putting to some guests, it can be a pretty risky food to serve. Sushi requires precise preparation to ensure its safety and quality, and it also needs to be kept at a specific temperature to avoid spoilage. There’s nothing worse than accidentally making your guests sick!
Complicated Dishes
Serving complicated dishes for your guests at your party or gathering can make the process of preparing for the event much more stressful than it needs to be. Complex dishes can require more time and effort to prepare than simpler dishes and they can increase the risk of cooking errors or mishaps. The ingredients for complicated dishes can also be more difficult to source and can cost a lot more.
Foods Infused With Alcohol
Foods that are infused with alcohol can be quite controversial to serve at a party, due to people’s mixed views on alcohol. Some guests may not consume alcohol due to cultural or religious beliefs, and it can be found to be inappropriate to provide alcohol-infused foods at a party that children are attending. These foods can also lead to unintended intoxication if the guests are unaware of the alcohol content.
Dishes Requiring Last-Minute Preparation
Dishes that require last-minute preparation can put more pressure on the party’s host. If the food is being served during the party, its preparation can also take the host away from socializing with their guests and can disrupt the flow of the party. On top of this, you’re more likely to make errors or cause delays if you need to prepare your dishes at the last minute, as you may be distracted.
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