Salad -- How much to make

[disneyfanatic60]

I have to bring a chef salad to a party this weekend. It will be about 36 people (and some of those are kids--it's a communion party). I was just going to buy some bags of Dole salad mix and fix it up. How many bags do you think I will need? There will be other items (chicken, beans, fruit salad, deviled eggs, etc). Any ideas?

[piratesmate]

I have a huge mixing bowl that I've used for taking salad to a pot luck. I'm not sure how large it is, but maybe half the size of a punch bowl? Maybe more than half? :confused3 Mine holds 4 bags of salad mix with some extras thrown on.

I'd say 3 or 4 bags should be enough because you'll be having other things. What do you think?

[MazdaUK]

See how many servings are in a bag, but remember that at a buffet people will probably take no more than half a portion, and that 20% of people will take none at all! So I'd say you need however many bags does about 15/16 servings (our bags here generally serve 3-4 but I bet you can get bigger bags)