I am planning a graduation party for my daughter. I am having a drop in one from 12 - 3 on a Saturday afternoon. I am inviting around 125 people (including families with children and my own kids). I was wondering if anyone else who has done this before could give me an idea of how much food to buy. I was going to buy trays of fruit, vegetables, and sandwiches from King Soopers which say they serve 20 or so each, but I don't want to buy more than I have to and it seems to me that people usually have a lot left over. Its difficult to plan because we have no idea how many people will actually come. I have done this once before, so I should know, but my other daughter did a different sort of party and we had people RSVP. Anyway, I've heard that you should buy enough to serve half of the people you invite because people are going to other parties and don't eat much. Do you agree with this? Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi, C. I know this may come to late but I just had a pot luck and everyone love it. I provided the meat.... man did we have feast. I would say if you are planing 125 count on 80 to eat and just get 8 trays.
Have fun, T. L.
Here's a tip we have learned as caterers. Put your salads first, then veggie/fruit trays, then bread and last meat (or sandwiches). In other words, put your least expensive items first and most expensive last. That way the plate is relatively full by the time they get to the end and will take less.
When we cater, we plan on 1/4 cup serving sizes for side dishes and about 1/3 lb meat per person. If your sandwiches are already cut, think about how many each kind of person will eat. Teenage boys - LOTS!, moms and small kids - probably 1. If you can estimate how many of each type, you should be able to plan.
My sister in law's in laws are great cooks and often do a lot of food on sticks. Fruit kabobs, chicken kabos, etc, and thinking is it is easier to count sticks for portions.
Also, leftover mean you don't have to cook the next week :)
There's a website that you can enter number of people served and it remakes the recipe for you. I think it might be allrecipe?
