When you’re throwing a dinner party or gathering that involves a large number of people, it can be easy to overcook or overorder food and end up with a lot of waste. Catering professionals have a basic rule of thumb for how much food is needed to keep guests from going hungry. For appetizers, think six large bites per guest, plus a few easy side snacks like nuts or crudites. For the main dish, go with 6 to 8 ounces of protein and 3/4 cup of two to three sides for the main meal. If it’s a hungrier crowd, add two more serving sizes to the overall order.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Appliance repair professionals want you to know something: Those conventional plastic dishwashing pods are ruining your machine. The water temperature inside your machine does not get high enough to break down the plastic material, so remnants are left behind that clog pumps and drains and slow down the basic functions of the machine. Beyond lessening the lifespan of your dishwasher by gumming up all the internal parts, the pods wreak havoc on the environment by releasing microplastics into our water. Opt for plastic-free tablets or dishwashing powder instead.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know it takes about 20,000 liters of water to produce one new T-shirt and jeans? The United States produces 34 billion pounds of textile waste every year -- about 100 pounds per person -- that is sent to landfills. One way to cut back on waste is to swap clothes. Make a pile of lightly worn clothes and shoes and try to find someone who wears the same size as you. By reusing clothes, you gain new pieces but also extend the life of otherwise unwanted clothes.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION