Danny Seo's Do Just One Thing

Dec. 8: On major holidays like Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July and Christmas, hundreds of millions of pounds of food are thrown away due to too much being made for gettogethers and parties. Professional chefs and caterers have a simple rule to calculate how much food to prepare for a crowd. Per person, it's around 1/2 to 1 cup of protein, 4 to 8 ounces of starch (think mashed potatoes or stuffing), and 4 to 6 ounces of a vegetable dish. For light to normal eaters, this a meal; for heartier eaters, double it. Planning ahead can ensure you don't cook more than is needed, saving money and reducing food waste.