Plate a fancy meal
Prepare and arrange a simple three-course fancy meal using sandwiches, salad, and dessert; practice plating, portioning, color contrast, and garnishing skills safely.
Step-by-step guide to plate a fancy meal
Plate like a pro with these quick and easy dinner party plating tricks | Food Hacks by So Yummy
Step 1
Wash your hands with soap and warm water and dry them well.
Step 2
Gather all your materials and put them on the clean counter or table.
Step 3
Put your plate in front of you and touch three spots on the plate to choose where sandwich salad and dessert will go.
Step 4
Lay two slices of bread flat on the cutting board to make the sandwich base.
Step 5
Add your cheese and fillings onto one slice of bread in even layers.
Step 6
Put the other slice of bread on top to close the sandwich.
Step 7
With an adult helping use the child safe knife or a cookie cutter to cut the sandwich into a fancy shape.
Step 8
Place the sandwich piece neatly on the sandwich spot of the plate.
Step 9
Rinse your salad greens and veggies under cold water and dry them carefully.
Step 10
Put the salad into the small bowl add a little dressing and toss gently.
Step 11
Spoon or arrange the salad onto its spot on the plate and make a small neat mound.
Step 12
Prepare the dessert by slicing fruit or spooning yogurt into a ramekin then place it on the dessert spot and add a herb sprig or lemon wedge to garnish each course.
Step 13
Share a photo of your finished fancy three-course meal on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a child-safe knife, cookie cutter, or ramekin if we don't have them?
If you don't have a child-safe knife or cookie cutter, an adult can use a butter knife or kitchen scissors to cut the sandwich into shapes and a small cup or clean jar works fine instead of a ramekin for the dessert.
My sandwich falls apart or the salad is soggy — how can we fix these problems?
If the sandwich falls apart while cutting (the step with the child-safe knife or cookie cutter), press it firmly together and chill for a few minutes or have an adult hold it steady while cutting, and if the salad is soggy make sure to rinse and dry the greens thoroughly with a clean towel or salad spinner before tossing.
How should we change the steps for different ages?
For toddlers (2–4) let them touch the three plate spots and place pre-made sandwich pieces and spoon salad into the small bowl, for preschoolers (4–7) let them layer fillings and use a plastic child-safe knife with supervision, and for older kids (8+) let them cut shapes, toss the salad, slice fruit for the ramekin, and add herb or lemon garnishes independently.
How can we make the plated meal more creative or special?
Make it special by choosing themed cookie-cutter shapes for the sandwich, arranging colorful vegetables into a neat salad mound, adding a herb sprig or lemon wedge to each course as the instructions suggest, and decorating the plate before sharing a photo on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to plate a fancy meal
15 Fancy Plating Hacks From Professional Chefs! So Yummy
4 Videos
15 Fancy Plating Hacks From Professional Chefs! So Yummy
Plate it until you make it: 11 clever ways to present food like a pro! | Food Hacks by So Yummy
25 Easy Plating Techniques - Plate like a Pro
How to Plate Like a Chef
Facts about cooking and food presentation for kids
⏱️ Plate just before serving so sandwiches stay crisp, salads stay crunchy, and desserts keep their texture.
🎨 Bright color contrast — think red tomatoes, green lettuce, yellow corn — makes plates look more exciting and appetizing.
🍽️ Many chefs use odd numbers (like 3 pieces) because our eyes find odd groupings more appealing.
🔪 Safety first: kids should use child-safe knives and have adult supervision when cutting or handling hot or sharp items.
🌿 Tiny garnishes (a mint leaf, herb sprig, or lemon twist) can add aroma and make a simple dish look fancy.
How do I plate a fancy three-course meal with sandwiches, salad, and dessert?
What materials and ingredients do I need to plate a kid-friendly fancy meal?
What ages is plating practice suitable for and how should supervision change?
What are the benefits of plating practice and what safety tips should I follow?
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