At all-day shape-note singings, dinner on the grounds is a cherished tradition where everyone brings a dish to share. Potluck Dish Info Cards offer a simple, optional way for cooks to list ingredients or dietary notes—making it easier for all to enjoy the meal, especially those with restrictions. Sharing a dish is an act of generosity; sharing info about it is just more of the same.
I have revised these cards several times and look forward to feedback from people who want to use them, and photos when they do!
Download
I am so grateful to singers with far more experience with dinner on the grounds and dietary considerations that they have provided feedback on the cards.
Currently in its third variation, you can download a sheet with the cards here to print out before the All-Day:
Notes on the Design
I redesigned them as four cards:
- MEAT/SEAFOOD
- NON-MEAT/OTHER
- VEGAN
- BLANK SLATE
“Vegetarian” is not used because it means too many different things, so I’m allowing the “Allergen & Dietary” checklist to do some heavy lifting to help guide folks.
With “meat/seafood” I’m allowing people to note a few specific types of meat, because that can be an issue, but I’ve left all those off “VEGAN” because they are moot.
In the development of this version of the card, on person objected that the food lines would slow down because everyone was studying the cards. As someone who has worked professionally in the sign industry, I can assure them that most people don’t read signs! Only a small portion of the people will really need to look at information on them, but for those that do, it might be life-or-death.
On Facebook, Catherine D. says “I’m the parent of a now adult child who’s been to the E.R. 3 times for accidental exposure to peanuts, a life-threatening allergy. I’ve also cooked in a church setting for crowds of 100 plus for over 20 years. It makes me so happy to see this conversation taking place.”
I’ve uploaded the designs to archive.org, and placed them explicitly in the public domain. You are free to use them wholly or any part of them for any purpose without credit.
A Note on Voluntariness & Gratitude
These measures should always remain voluntary for the singers bringing food. The goal is to enhance the communal experience, not to create extra work or make cooks feel pressured. It should never reach the point where someone thinks, “It would just be easier not to bring food at all.” Those who provide meals should always be welcomed and thanked, as they always have been. If these cards are used, they should be readily available and easy to fill out—never a hassle or an obstacle to participation.
A Note on Optional Color-Coding
One idea that was suggested is color-coding the cards for easy at-a-glance identification:
- Pink for dishes containing meat or meat-based broths/seasonings.
- Yellow for non-meat/other.
- Green for vegan dishes.
This does complicate things a bit more, but not by much.
I was able to implement this in a slightly different way. Instead of different colored paper, I used trays for the cards. I may try to use the color coding at the next event. The trays matching the color of the cards will reinforce the color meaning.
When to NOT Use a Card
Some dishes are so universally self-explanatory they don’t need a card. A plate of (dairy-based) cheeses would probably not need a card, but a plate of VEGAN cheeses SHOULD. A bowl of pickled onions probably don’t need one, or normal rolls with gluten. Gluten-free bread should probably be labelled! Also, I must reiterate, that using a card like this should be completely voluntary.
Table Space & Dish Clips
At a big singing, table space quickly becomes a premium, and it’s easy for dish cards to get covered up, lost, or shuffled aside. While there’s no perfect solution, one option is to use plastic dish clips—similar to those used in food merchandising displays or for table numbers. These clips attach to the dish itself, keeping the card visible without it being in the food or taking up more space.
- They help free up space on the table by keeping labels upright and attached to the dish.
- They’re washable and reusable, making them a practical investment.
- A few well-placed clips—especially on larger pots or centerpiece dishes—could help prevent key information from being lost in the shuffle.
That said, overuse could clutter the table and get in the way, especially for dishes placed on the edges. Like the info cards themselves, this is simply another tool to help make the serving process smoother, not a rigid system.
The Beauty of Shared Meals
There’s something special about coming together after hours of singing to share food, stories, and companionship. A table filled with home-cooked dishes represents the generosity of a community, and small acts of consideration—like sharing a little information about what’s in a dish—can help extend that welcome to even more people.
I think there was a time 100 years ago where the food brought to an All-Day sing was much less varied, and therefore easily identifiable as to what was in it. Our tables today are filled with dishes that might not have been common even a few years ago—I recently had a blueberry avocado pie in North Carolina, and it was amazing! Sharing food is an act of kindness; sharing information about it can be, too.
Thank You!
Again, a huge thank you to my Sacred Harp friends for their generous and thoughtful feedback. Your insights and ideas have helped shape these Potluck Dish Info Cards into something truly useful for our community. I hope these cards help make future dinners on the grounds more inclusive, enjoyable, and welcoming for all!
Would you find these cards helpful at your next potluck? Let me know what you think!