Does the effort and cost needed to host prevent you from inviting people over for dinner? Planning, shopping, cooking, and tidying up can feel like a lot, especially for a group. But what if gathering people for a meal didn’t have to be so complicated?
Recently, some Northern Health dietitians came together to host a build-your-own taco bar – a simple, shared way to cook, eat, and connect. By splitting ingredients and tasks, the group made the meal affordable, low-stress, and genuinely fun.
“Sharing food lets people try new flavours and combinations, which I find really enjoyable.”
— Mara Goetschmann, NH Clinical Dietitian, Ksyen Regional Hospital, Terrace
Why we chose a shared cooking get-together
Sharing the prep made the meal easy and enjoyable. Everyone brought one filling or topping, which kept costs reasonable and spread out the work. Ingredients included homemade salsa from last season’s canning, Mexican street corn made from local frozen corn, tortillas, black beans, red cabbage slaw, and sour cream.
“Hosting can feel like a lot of work, but our shared meal was so easy. I made a dessert the day before and chopped lettuce while socializing with others.”
— Christine Geier, NH Primary Care CHANGE BC Dietitian, Terrace
“Your contribution to the meal doesn’t need to be anything fancy or elaborate. Bring what you can, and you’ll be surprised how quickly things all add up to a tasty and varied meal.”
— Hannah Zmudzinski, NH Primary Care Dietitian, Smithers
“I enjoyed being able to bring salsa I made last year and froze. It was a small, practical contribution that added a lot of flavour to the tacos.”
— Emilia Moulechkova, NH Population Health Dietitian, Terrace
With a build-your-own format, everyone chooses the flavours and fillings that fit their preferences or dietary needs – whether vegetarian, allergy-friendly, or spicy!
“Lately I’ve been eating more plant-based, so it was such a treat to see so many whole food, plant-based, and delicious options at our shared meal.”
— Vanessa Allen, NH Clinical Dietitian, Ksyen Regional Hospital, Terrace
Preparing ingredients ahead of time meant the group could assemble and eat together, without rushing. Assembling our tacos side-by-side created moments to catch up, laugh, and learn from one another. These connections nourish us just as much as the meal itself.
This Nutrition Month, NH dietitians are highlighting that meals don’t need to be complicated to be nourishing. Sometimes, the most important ingredient is the people we share them with.
Try it yourself
Interested in hosting a build-your-own meal get together?
Choose a theme – loaded baked potatoes, bowls, wraps, pizza, or tacos.
Connect with your guests to find out what they can bring and if they have any dietary needs.
Remember to keep it simple—and focus on connection.
Ready to give it try? Share your experience or your favourite taco filling!
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