Something super easy like cheese and crackers. The more involved you make the snack or the more snack options you present, the more guests feel like - hmm better eat some of this, they went all out here. And that's when people end up filling up on snacks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah just a single item like pretzels or nuts

No. This is a home, not a bar.

If your home is mistaken for a bar then you have bigger issues!

Anonymous wrote:Yeah just a single item like pretzels or nuts

No. This is a home, not a bar.

One plate with a pear or apple cut up, cheese, a quarter of a sleeve of crackers, a bunch of 15-20 grapes.

I might put out some hummus and carrots and crackers. And/or olives. Just like a little snack.

Yeah just a single item like pretzels or nuts

I would put out some nuts but not a major spread. It's a psychological thing, not based in reality, but if for some reason the guest feels better having a little nibble while they have a drink, you are covered.

A bowl of pistachios, or crackers and cheese. Nothing so involved that she feels she needs to eat a bunch to make you feel good. Just enough to have a little something

If it's less than an hour until you leave for dinner, no.

We are having a friend visit our home before we head out to dinner. We haven’t seen this friend in over a year, and want to make her feel welcome. I assume we will sit and socialize for a little while before we head to the restaurant. Do I need to provide any snacks? I only ask because we offered entirely too many, I think, at our Christmas gathering, and people snacked to the point they weren’t hungry for dinner, and then didn’t want desert.

What, besides drinks, would you offer?