how much food?

[Lisa]

I am having 2 parties for my DD 1st birthday back to back days. I'm trying to make it as simple as possible. I plan on having lunch meat/cheese, rolls, veggie tray, fruit tray and a spinch dip. My question how do I judge how much lunch meat, veggie and fruit to prepare? I looked into Publix doing all the trays and even part of them and they are SO expensive. There will be about 25 people at each party and that includes kids. Any help is SO appericate.

[laura]

Have you considered a place like Costco or Sam's Club?

For 25 people, I would do about 3 dozen sandwich rolls, about 4 kinds of meats (1 lb. each, shaved), maybe 2 kinds of cheese, 1 pre-made veggie tray, and 1 pre-made fruit tray - size large. If you want spinach dip, I would do 1-2 recipe's worth for each party, depending on what the recipe yields. If the party is majority kids, you could get away w/ less meat/bread.

I would say you should be able to do the food for both parties for $200-$300, depending on what you actually buy and where you buy it.

ETA: Instead of spinach dip, you might consider a cheese/cracker tray as an appetizer or go with no appetizer and get a pre-made pasta salad or the like from the deli - quicker and easier. Or you could get pre-made spinach dip, which would be more expensive, but quick and easy. If you buy pre-made I would say about 2 quarts per party.

[Chimichanga]

We have always figured 4 sandwiches per pound of meat. So, if you're having 25 people, I'd say at least 6 pounds of meat. Turkey, ham and roast beef are usually pretty universal and liked by most everyone. I'd also say 2-3 types of cheese, maybe a pound of each (usually only use 1 slice per sandwich). My family has always over estimated - rather have too much than not enough is our motto.

[Lisa]

Have you considered a place like Costco or Sam's Club?
i Have but my Dh loves boars head lunch meat and only wants that:rolleyes: :p
Thats for the help. you all are the best

[laura]

I actually meant Sam's Club or Costco for the veggie/fruit trays. They are large and fairly reasonably priced there. Ditto on cheese trays, if you desire.

[ManteoChik]

maybe you could buy the lunch meat at Publix.....but get everything else at Sam's Club. Sam's Club also sells the trays - you could put the cheese and fruit and deli trays together yourself....it would save a lot of money rather than have Publix put them together.

[Brady]

What time are you having the party at?
I'm actually also planning my son's 1st birthday and thinking along the same lines with the lunch meats... but, I'm having it at Noon, so I'm actually not going to do appetizers as a $$ saver. I figure we'll just have the sandwich stuff out right when they get there, and I'll serve it with some chips, green salad and maybe a pasta/potato salad. I was also going to do the fruits/veggie trays, but it does get so expensive. I feel like you can get away with less food, the earlier it is.

Great suggestions by everyone though, I'm glad I found this thread!

ETA- the next post reminded me... we are also getting a sheet of pizza for the kids at the party.

[beachlvr]

Kids probably won't eat a sandwich, if they eat anything at all. I'd buy a few extra sandwich rolls for the adults, and plan on just meat, cheese, and chips for kids.

For veggie trays, I do a bag of baby carrots, 3 pints of cherry tomatoes, three of the English Cucumbers, a bag of broccoli, and a can of black olives. I usually have very little left over.

For spinach dip I'd do a double recipe with a large loaf of bread.

[Lisa]

ohhh...I never thought about a trays from costco...thanks. That will be a total time saver.
Our parties are at 11 and 1pm. SO I thought this fit good. Thank you all SO much!