They don't necessarily have to be finger foods, but it's best if the food is easy to grab or spoon out one-handed. So make something that can easily be served with one hand. Remember, people will be holding their plate in one hand, while serving with the other. Also keep in mind the company that will be eating the foods! Don't make something that's crazy spicy or really out there if the majority of your group doesn't eat that type of food. The best foods are those that don't have to be kept ice cold, but can be served cool or warm. When you're cooking food for a potluck, serve something that won't melt easily. Focus on making sure there's enough of the right kinds of food to serve everybody! HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOOD Pro Tip: Make sure the names are broken down evenly! If there are 12 families bringing a main dish and only 3 bringing a dessert, you obviously need to even it out. For example, families A-H bring a main dish, I-R bring a side and S-Z bring a dessert.

You could also break it down by last name (or first if you all have the same last name!). Once you know who all is coming, you could easily ask each family to bring a certain type of dish. While we are ALL about the desserts, you don't want to have one main dish, side, and then a ton of desserts! Okay, would that be the end of the world? Maybe, maybe not… 😉 If you're the one throwing the potluck, then it's always a good idea to assign the type of food you'd like each family to bring.

Best pot luck