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You can't have a family reunion without food!
Laughter is brightest, in the place where the food is. (Irish Proverb)
Planning the family reunion food and family meals can be tricky.
First have to decide what type of reunion you’re having, since food types, logistics, dining atmosphere and budget implications can vary a good deal. For instance, it could be a…
- family picnic in the park
- potluck with recipes from all
- restaurant buffet
- formal banquet with entertainment
- multi-day adventure with family camping and cooking
Decide how you’ll manage meal preparation and other kitchen duties. Budget and cost usually become factors at this point, too. You basically have...
FOUR OPTIONS
and there are pros and cons to each.- Have someone else take care of it all. Your family and you, as the event planner, will be able to visit with each other stress-free. If you are planning just one meal or one main meal over the course of several days, this is a more viable option.
- Hire a caterer.
- Use your friends – or swap with another family.
- Go to a restaurant.
- Potluck. On one hand, costs will be less and you’ll be able to recipe swap with Great Aunt Sally. But on the other hand… you never know how clean the kitchen was where those other dishes were prepared and you risk food poisoning from the mayonnaise in the potato salad that was accidentally left in a hot car. Bringing a potluck dish can also be challenging to those family members who travel from great distances. Potluck picnics and meals tend to be more casual and everyone gets to enjoy the satisfaction of being involved.
- Group cooking. Each family branch is in charge of one meal prepared for everyone. The individual family is responsible for planning the menu, purchasing all of the ingredients, cooking the food and cleaning up afterwards.
- Fend for yourselves. Instead of worrying about preparing a meal and/or keeping everyone together during dinner, provide a list of dining options instead. Some family branches may still wish to cook together or plan to eat together, but that becomes their responsibility and not yours.
A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness.
- Elsa Schiaparelli
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Regardless of how you decide to handle your family reunion food, there are a few basic guidelines that will help your family event run smoothly:
- Keep things simple. Pick recipes with fewer ingredients that will have less preparation and cooking time. Do as much as you can well in advance of the family reunion. Food is fun but shouldn't take up too much time.
- Estimate portions accurately. There’s nothing worse than running out of sweet potatoes at the family Thanksgiving dinner OR having 4 years worth of leftover BBQ.
- Remember the vegetarians. Give your family choices (but not too many!).
- Offer plenty of water, especially during hot weather. Most of us are dehydrated on a daily basis and don’t even realize it.
- Choose recipes intended for large groups. Quantity cooking is not as simple as multiplication – you can’t automatically convert that recipe for two into a recipe for 200 for the family reunion. The food just won't turn out the same.
Getting together to smile and rejoice,
Eating, and laughing with folks of your choice.
Other fun family reunion food projects
Family cookbooks can incorporate your family history when you include pictures and personal facts. Use the cookbooks as reunion keepsakes or for fund raising.
Kids and adults alike can get involved in fun cooking games. Scripture Cookies and Scripture Cake are always popular.
Use the food items from your menu and make their preparation a fun food craft.
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