Cirque du Salami

Why is it that at any sort of function where they serve a dinner, the plates they give you are the size of a tea coaster? I always end up piling a bunch of crap on making my plate look like a diorama of Mt. McChicken and as I head back to my table, I have to balance the bountiful feast and turn myself into some sort of acrobat with an appetite from the Cirque du Salami.