Is money short? How to put together a cheap Christmas dinner in 2023

O Christmas approaches, and for many, that means the traditional Christmas dinner. However, putting together a Christmas dinner doesn't have to empty your wallet. This year, with the economic challenges we face, it is more important than ever to save money without sacrificing the quality of your supper.

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In other words, putting together a simple and economical Christmas dinner requires planning and creativity. In this sense, it is possible to celebrate the date in a memorable way without compromising your budget.

This is because the important thing is to share special moments with family and friends, regardless of the size of your dinner. Check out some tips below:

Christmas dinner 2023: planning is key

The first step to putting together a simple and cheap Christmas dinner is planning. Start by making a guest list and confirm who will be attending. Having an accurate number of guests will help you calculate the amount of food and drink needed.

Ideal amount of food per person for Christmas dinner

Calculating the amount of food per person can be challenging, but here are some helpful guidelines:

• Main course: calculate about 200 to 250 grams of meat per person. If you serve several meat options, such as turkey and tenderloin, you can reduce the quantity a little for each.
• Side dishes: for items like rice, mashed potatoes, salads, and cooked vegetables, estimate about 150 to 200 grams per person. If there is a variety of side dishes, you can reduce the quantity a little for each one.
• Appetizer: for starters, such as canapés, snacks and pâtés, calculate 4 to 6 units per person. If there is a wide variety of starters, you can decrease the quantity of each one a little.
• Salads: If you serve salads, calculate about 100 to 150 grams of salad per person. Remember to consider a variety of options, such as green salad, mayonnaise salad, and vegetable salad.
• Desserts: for desserts, calculate one or two options per person, depending on portion sizes. This way, if there is a wide variety of sweets, you can reduce the amount of each one a little.
• Drinks: When calculating drinks, take into account 750ml per person, or you can also calculate 1 bottle for 4 people.

Menu for a simple and economical Christmas dinner

Now, let's discuss what to serve at your budget Christmas dinner:

• Salads: light options such as the tropical salad, with fruits such as pineapple and mango, and the Caesar salad, with lettuce, shredded chicken, parmesan cheese and olive oil, are ideal.
• Farofas: Try pepperoni farofa or carrot farofa for tasty and economical side dishes.
• Meat: Chicken and vegetable skewers or roasted kibbeh are economical alternatives to traditional meats.
• Savory dishes: oven-baked rice and blender pie are creative and affordable options.
• Panettone: Innovate with panettone in versions such as panettone pudding or savory panettone.
• Candy: Inexpensive desserts include strawberry pavé and manjar, as well as classics like French toast and colored gelatin.
• Fruits: Serve cherries and grapes, typical of this time of year, as healthy and economical options.
• Drinks: offer strawberry caipirinhas and coconut and pineapple smoothies to vary the drinks.

Starters, side dishes and desserts

In addition to the main menu, it is possible to add starters such as Caprese salad, canapés, ham rolls with cream cheese, bruschettas and vegetable terrine.

Meanwhile, as side dishes, try the Christmas rice, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables and farofa.

Finally, for desserts, French toast, colored gelatin, lemon mousse and fruit salad are economical options.

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