To Ask Guests To Bring NYE Food?

[ChicMintUser]

AIBU to ask guests to bring food to my NYE party?

I’m hosting NYE this year and I’m already dreading the sheer volume of foods I’ll need to buy. I’ve always been high-energy and very lean (I prioritize fitness and honestly, my body just doesn't require much fuel to thrive. I intermittent fast from 5 pm to noon the following day).

The problem is my guests. They are lovely people, but they seem to treat New Year’s Eve like a competitive eating trial. Last year was a bloodbath, I put out what I thought was a generous spread and it was inhaled within twenty minutes. I'm talking platters of cheese, fresh fruit, delicious charcuterie, imported European crisps, sandwiches, etc. By 11 pm people were looking at the empty platters like I was starving them, despite the fact they’d already consumed more calories in one sitting than I do in three days.

I want to be a good host, but my internal gauge for "normal" portions is clearly broken compared to the average person. I find the sight of mountains of beige food quite off-putting, to be honest. I don't want to spend my evening watching people descend into a food coma while I’m trying to actually celebrate.

How do those of you with "normal" appetites handle catering for the "bottomless pit" crowd?
Do I just buy out the local Costco and accept the waste? How many sausage rolls per person is considered "enough" for people who don't know when to stop?

Am I a total Scrooge for wanting to serve elegant, light nibbles rather than a buffet that looks like a Viking feast? I just can’t wrap my head around needing that much fuel to simply sit in a living room and wait for a clock to strike twelve.

Is it unreasonable to ask guests to bring the snacks they like instead of buying a pile of food I would never, ever eat?

Yes, I can see that. Gorging isn't the right word, I suppose. I don't want to shame anyone for eating and celebrating!

Don’t have a party then. Obviously won’t involve drink so I’d rather stay at home.

I thought you’d “always been very high energy and very lean”? Which made your slightly disingenuous lack of understanding of different eating habits more understandable, if a little simplistic, but now you sound like someone either deeply into an eating disorder, or one of those hugely irritating ‘converts’.

What time are people invited for? Unless it’s like arriving for 10pm, well after dinner, people probably came assuming you were serving a hot dinner. Hence why cheeses and cold meats and crisps got inhaled. It sounds like you need to serve something wholesome and filling.

Agree with bowls of chilli, stew, curry, etc, something hot and full of good protein. Then ask them to bring snacks for a midnight feast of sorts to see in the new year. They can then bring the cheeses and crackers and fruit salad and sausage rolls and brownies, which they won’t inhale as quickly having had a meal first.

No, plenty of drink! I was out earlier today getting the champagne and wines and spirits. What a silly assumption.

I always say 9 and people trickle in. But of course you are making sense - perhaps they had eaten in the afternoon and were starved! I like the idea of a high protein, proper meal which can then lead to the nibbles being savoured.

Really appreciate the advice I have recieved regarding a chili/curry/stew!!

Good lord, I thought this was tongue in cheek. The OP is apparently serious.

I try not to dwell on the past. I am lean and high energy now but was not always that way. I apologize if it seemed like I was concealing information.

Has anyone ever been to a nye party that has no food? Ive been invited to one and im just wondering

Maybe just pop down to Lidl for some more "imported European crisps"? 😂

If you want to be a good host, you need to serve enough food. Maybe you should invite different guests if you only want "elegant light nibbles" you sound really judgemental of your friends.

We usually spend NYE with the same 3 couples and each bring a course, with the host doing the main.

Brets Crisps are French and fab (so much less oil than British crisps) and you can get them on Amazon!

Agree. People eat. It's not a moral failing.

You sound very obsessed about this lean diet. I'm slim because I work out but I love to eat as well. It sounds so miserable your take on people gorging when simply enjoying their food. Buy loads of crisps and nibbles for the fatties and you can sit with your protein shake watching them with disgust.

1/10

NYE is a long night, (8/8.30 to 1ish) usually woth plenty of booze.

In your shoes, no you can't at this stage ask people to bring stuff. However, I'd serve chilli, or lasagne or cottage pie at 8.30ish. Olives' crisps and dips on arrival. I'd probavly also gice them satusmas and mince pies afterwards, lay out a cheeseboard, anti-pasti, crackers, bread and pate.

Oh, I didn't mean it that way! I adore my friends. I just find once they get some drink some of them can become eating machines and it's a bit overwhelming as a host to know how much to cater. Not a comment on their eating habits as I used to be bigger so I would never judge someone's eating habits.

Oh I have an idea: why not ask them all to bring whatever edible or drinkable thing they're about to give up for new year? Chocolate/ crisps/ alcohol/ biscuits/sausage rolls?

You do need to have plenty of food at a NYE party - to soak up alcohol if nothing else. There's nothing wrong with a bring and share arrangement, asking people to bring a plate of buffet food that they can take home with they at the end of the party. All you need to do then is provide the basic backdrop of breads, salads and fruits etc.

Well, I partake in the crisps and olives and cheese and mince pies as well. Not really sure what my "lean diet" has to do with it - I just watch what I eat and am glad I dropped the weight because of it. Not trying to force anyone to follow my diet.

You sound incredibly judgy. Best not to host people you despise if you'll be tutting every time they eat a specially imported crisp.

Perhaps the greedy gobblers would be satisfied by a massive salad and a fruit platter?

A party with no food to mop up all the alcohol sounds like a blood bath in the making.

The reason people are horsing down the snacks is because you are not providing proper food. And if you are serving booze for four hours, you need to serve proper food.