Make the Menu Guest-Friendly

When hosting a dinner party, arguably the most difficult decision a host must make is what to serve for dinner. Because guests' lifestyles can differ so greatly, hosts must consider a variety of things before they settle on the main course.

For those about to host their next dinner party, consider the following menu-related tips to ensure every guest (and host) has a good time and avoids going home hungry.

* Don't be afraid to ask. Because lifestyles can be so varied, hosts should not be afraid to ask their guests what they like or don't like and if their diets are unique, such as vegan, vegetarian, etc. While it might be easy to guess the answers to these questions for your closer friends or family members, why take the chance with something important? Simply ask instead.

* Don't experiment. While experimenting with different foods can be fun and a good way to taste different cuisines, it's best to avoid experimenting when hosting a dinner party. Not all experiments end well, and hosts should serve only foods they've prepared in the past to avoid a disaster wherein no one will end up enjoying the meal.

* Prepare some items in advance. Certain menu items can, and should, be prepared in advance, particularly if your party is larger. Desserts typically have to be prepared in advance, but appetizers can also be prepared in advance and simply cooked the day of the party. For less formal, more relaxed affairs such as barbecues, consider buying cold items and appetizers such as macaroni or potato salads that don't need to be prepared at all.

* Do the math in advance. Most recipes are written to serve between four to eight people. Those throwing a party for a larger group of people should recognize that their recipe will likely need to be altered to serve more guests than is typical. Do the calculations in advance to ensure the meal gets served on time. Also, keep in mind that it's often more difficult to serve larger groups of people, so allow yourself more time depending on the size of the party to reduce stress.