Organizing a Family Meal

Family gatherings are always full of fun, frivolity, and good feelings. That is, except when they are not. One of the most stressful times that can come about at any family gathering is when trying to organize a family meal. It always seems like what one person or family wants, the rest don't. How many family fights, feuds, and hurt feelings have come about due to this? Too many to count, that's for sure. Why not try something a little different for a change?

Instead of trying to "organize" the family meal and dealing with all of the obvious problems that can develop, why not do a complete pitch-in. A pitch-in, or pot luck as it is also known, is a simple and easy way to actually make everyone happy, or at least as happy as possible. Be aware of the two most common problems though:

• Assigning food. People usually complain about who brings what, the cost, the particular menu chosen, and so on. In addition, there is always someone with an assignment that cannot come at the last minute, which will leave a hole in the menu.
• Is there enough? For some reason it seems like someone always forgets to bring enough food. This usually means that people at the end of the line go hungry, usually because someone only brought one small dish, instead of enough to feed multiple people.

With proper planning though, these never need to be problems that you face. Instead of assigning a single dish, assign a complete meal. This means an entree, vegetable dish, dessert, drinks, and so on, needs to be brought by each participating family. Remember that you should, at the very least, plan to cook for the same number of people that you have in your family. For example, if you have four people in your immediate family, then you take a complete meal that will serve four. If you have only two, then take a meal that serves two. These meals are then set out on the table in the pot luck style, with everyone sharing the available options.

This method for organizing a family meal is that everyone gets what they like and no one goes hungry since there is enough food for everyone in the family. Better yet, everyone is able to try little bits of many different things. Imagine the possibilities! In essence it would be like going to a buffet restaurant without the expense.