Happy and Healthy Holidays Ahead!

As we move to the next steps of living with social distancing and covid-conscious living a lot of us are starting to invite guests into our homes again– because we miss our friends and we miss (let’s face it) talking to someone other than those in our family…hahahah….and that’s OK if you follow the new rules for entertaining safely. 

Entertaining with a gathering of family and friends is so good for our mental health. After being cooped up during the stay at home period of the pandemic we have all gained new appreciation for talking and listening to each other. It’s also nice to have a reason to dress up in something other than yoga pants!

 Rethink your serving utensils:

Charcuterie boards are all the rage. But, if you’re going to do a big glorious cheese and meat board make sure to serve it with tongs and toothpicks to avoid folks touching the foods.

No more big bowls of communal chips and dips and big platters of nachos that everyone digs in with their hands! 

Covid-Conscious Creativity: 

Arrange individual small plates of cheese, charcuterie and crackers on each with grapes in small cluster or strawberry –whatever you have on hand.

Use individual clear glasses with hummus or blue cheese dip in the bottom of the glass and crudité vegetables slices on the top, so each person gets their own to freely double dip!!! 

Designated Server:

If you’re having a holiday buffet, why not assign a ‘designated server’, someone who has obviously washed their hands and is wearing clean gloves and serves each person at the party. This is better than everyone using the same serving spoon, which can potentially become a vehicle for germs when everyone is touching the handle of the serving utensil. 

It’s OK to have foods out in family style bowls, but each person would have their own utensil for serving themselves.  

Think Single!  Not just for school lunch anymore, those small snack packs of chips, cookies, nuts, cheese or cookies are perfect for entertaining safely now.  You can create your own pretty little individual packages of snack items too in a holiday themed paper cup. 

The tradition of individual shrimp cocktails is a great idea to bring back now!!!! Rather than a big bowl of shrimp on ice for everyone to dip into, arrange shrimp in small indy bowls or a martini glass. (:

Sweet Treats get a safer treatment. Why not serve tiny brownies or cupcakes so everyone gets their own dessert instead of sharing a big cake? 

To -Go Containers Cut Food Waste.  Allow your guests to bag up what they didn’t eat from their cheese/charcuterie platter or other dishes/desserts.

You can’t keep the leftovers they’ve touched so reduce food waste by offering disposable plastic containers or bags so they can enjoy for lunch tomorrow or snack later..

FOR MORE HEALTHY HOLIDAY IDEAS FOR PARTY PLANNING VISIT PORCH.COM WHERE YOU’LL FIND AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE BY Cassandra Rosas WITH HAPPY & HEALTHY QUOTES FROM ME.

Planning Your Gatherings at Home With Every Detail to Prevent Covid Spread