Do you like potlucks or no

I love them but sometimes not as much. Because financially it’s hard and cooking/baking really puts a ton of pressure on me. And I feel bad if I go to a potluck with store bought dessert. But one the other hand I understand why potlucks are a thing and it can help families or single moms/parent/caregivers that have low income. So I have very mixed feelings about them. 😅 plz no one come at me! I have really bad anxiety and ADHD with perfectionism imbedded in me.

What the heck is a potluck😭😭

@Katie everyone bring food and drinks of their choice.

We did a potluck style for my son’s 1st birthday!

Ah! In the UK we'd call it BYOD/BYOF. Personally I think it's a great idea! Don't put yourself out for the sake of others ❤️ For my sons first birthday we're planning to do a bbq in the garden and ask everyone to bring something with them!

I hate potlucks because I don't eat out of just anyone's kitchens 🥴

Aw I love a pot luck! Would be absolutely fine/ happy if we were invited to a friends 2 year bday and asked to bring a dish Fair warning - people will bring the same things so try to organize it in some way like tell each person a category (EG sweet dessert or savory appetizer or non alcoholic drinks etc). Or if you know everyone really well honestly just do a spreadsheet on Google Docs and let people sign up for what they want to bring

It depends on the situation. For a birthday party, I think I'd be annoyed to bring a dish. We started doing our kids parties between lunch and dinner and just having snacks and cake. It's on the invitation so everyone knows. So we just have like chips and dip, veggies, maybe fruit salad, and cake and ice cream. It's just fine when it's not at a meal time.

@Rachel this is honestly a great tip thank you. I come from a big family so it's like the party is about themselves and it's been very annoying trying to battle all these conflicting opinions I'm really pissed off right now

@Rachel and I'm having the party at a time between lunch and dinner

Our family is big too. When my oldest was little I always felt obligated to invite all the extended family and order pizzas, etc. It just got to be too much. With our younger two we did a bigger first birthday celebration and then scaled back after that.

im not a big fan mostly because people bring things that aren't fun to eat or just not enough food. youll have like 4 people bring salad and 1 person bring chicken and then theres nothing to eat lol

Only if i it’s a picnic. Otherwise no. When people come to mine or my party I have 5-6 dishes on the table, I pride myself on cooking. And people love my food haha. However, having said that my gfs and I have done so many gatherings over the years that we can make elaborate platters like fruit or cheese/antipasto or sandwich platters that look like they were bought, (we’ve gotten better over the years 😂 plus IG inspiration) so for some parties I delegate and ask them to make a platter each in lieu of present. We do potluck mainly if it was last minute gathering and the host or the person who’s house we going, doesn’t have time to cook. Or we do a steamboat or Korean bbq or rice paper rolls, something that can feed a crowd but not tiring for the host coz all the ingredients are laid out and we cook on the table communally. For a Bday party though we usually get catering or delagate platters

@Kellie omg I'd love some ideas for the spread of you don't mind omg! You sound like you got so much talent. Mind you it's for a mixed crowd of bestie friends and acquaintances who where food is not the focal point because they understand it's about the kids and the guest of honour then my actual Asian family who make the party about themselves (my aunt literally asked me to schedule it according to her work schedule just so she could come) and will come to judge sneer and expect to give red pocket money so my mom said they will not be wanting to do potlicl and we must give them good food. I wish I had $500 to just place an order with pumpernickels and that would solve everything and nobody has to make food or order from all over the place (my mom and aunt always do the food and it's all about my mom never about me and my son) looking like 20-35 ppl total maybe even 40 will pass through

@Kellie mmmmmm!!! I love the idea of the popcorn!! Lovely. What did do I see top right and is that a paper box?

@Kellie ah yes ham, egg and tuna. Classic. Did you make them???

@Kellie you said shein sells stuff.. I wonder if the have these boxes too.. is it with the coating within it so it doesn't get soggy? Nice spread too! Served with tongs right otherwise donno how u get in there.

@Kellie ok what's that on middle left and what cheeses?

@Kellie I like them and pop of colour! I'm not planning to make anything because no room in moms kitchen to do anything so I leave it up to her. Fml

@Kellie sandwiches are a hit.here. I personally love jap chae and would do the same it's always my contribution to potlucks lol What do you budget for all this

@Kellie what'd you do for the cake? Or was the cupcakes the cake portion for happy birthday?

@Kellie oh what size are these boxes and how many did you feed?

Cake and sushi platters are the only thing we buy. One girl brings each platter or decide to bring something else cupcakes glazed cookies etc. Top R of the top photo is a whole bag of mixed nuts poured in a glass jar and some cracker sticks, I ended up wrapping the sticks w prosciutto in the middle of the party. Yeah they are cardboard food boxes sold at my local home goods store I’m not sure if they’re on shein, when I mentioned shein last time it was more for themed decorations, paper plates, happy birthday balloons and whatnot. The boxes do get soggy, I learnt my lesson last time when I brought a fruit platter to a picnic lol the watermelon wet the whole bottom of the box and started to get soggy lol but I find only watermelon does that, dry food doesn’t matter, next time I need to line the bottom w something I’m thinking baking paper maybe. There are 2 sized boxes at the shops we get the bigger one that’s the largest one available. Maybe shein does have them, I haven’t checked Xx

The smaller box available fits maybe 12 cupcakes. 4*3

@Kellie great idea to get paper boxes as platters and just Chuck them after

I love throwing potlucks

@Rachel yea I think after this one I'll not throw the next big one until he's 5