Budget snacks for a crowd??

[klacey1]

I volunteer for a nonprofit and need to feed approximately 60 people a snack during an event. It'll be between meals, so does not need to be substantial. I'm looking for quantities-- we want everyone to have enough but nothing/close to nothing leftover--and ideal snack choices. I'd prefer nothing that required any real set up or cooking! What about beverages? How much and what? Since this will come from our nonprofit's funds, as cheap as possible would be great. TIA!!

 

[brightcutie]

How fancy does it need to be? If its very casual, you can make or buy chex mix type snacks pretty inexpensively. You could also purchase good cheese and crackers from a discount warehouse store for a good price.

 

[AJ1983]

I think we need to know a bit more about the event to help know what would be an appropriate snack. For example, if the event is a Walk for Breast Cancer, then an appropriate snack might be bottles of water, juice, muffins, fruit and cereal bars. If its an information session, perhaps muffins and coffee.
Some sort of appreciation ceremony, maybe a few finger foods.

 

[klacey1]

How fancy does it need to be? If its very casual, you can make or buy chex mix type snacks pretty inexpensively. You could also purchase good cheese and crackers from a discount warehouse store for a good price.

It doesn't need to be fancy at all-- chex mix is a good suggestion. Thank you!

I think we need to know a bit more about the event to help know what would be an appropriate snack. For example, if the event is a Walk for Breast Cancer, then an appropriate snack might be bottles of water, juice, muffins, fruit and cereal bars. If its an information session, perhaps muffins and coffee.
Some sort of appreciation ceremony, maybe a few finger foods.

Sorry-- some more details. Most of these people are teens, with some young adults in the middle. It's a very casual event, the 50 teens are applying to be volunteers and will not be doing anything physically demanding. Also, should have mentioned the snack will be around 4:00 p.m., so it does not need to be substantial.

 

[drcmk]

My go to light snack for a crowd is popcorn. Using an air popper, you can make a lot of popcorn quickly and inexpensively. You just need a microwave to melt a little butter and some salt. I'd distribute it in medium sized paper cups.

Drinks end up being more expensive than snacks for me. What are your options? Bottled water is expensive but seems to be the most socially acceptable alternate--de rigueur in some settings. It does save you from having to provide cups. If cups and pitchers aren't a problem, you can make powdered lemonade inexpensively. Cups and water from the water cooler, if available, is the easiest option.

 

[ssawka]

Sorry-- some more details. Most of these people are teens, with some young adults in the middle. It's a very casual event, the 50 teens are applying to be volunteers and will not be doing anything physically demanding. Also, should have mentioned the snack will be around 4:00 p.m., so it does not need to be substantial.

Do you know what the ration is for boys to girls? Teen boys and teen girls eat very differently. What might be enough for 50 teen girls probably will not be enough 50 teen boys.

For drinks, you can just get powdered drinks (ice tea, lemonade, gatorade, etc.) They may involve more work, but are far more cost effective than soda. If you don't want to go that route, check the ads from your local grocery stores. 12 packs of soda are often discounted as a "bait" item.

For snacks, you can often get pre-made items at warehouse clubs, if you belong to one. For example, Costco has large 7-layer bean and sala that you can get big bag of chips to accompany.

 

[clm10308]

I just sent snacks for a band event practice for 50 high schoolers.
I got 2 packs of sandwich cookies. They were 2 pound packages for $2. And I got 3 boxes of the individually wrapped cheese crackers, PB crackers from a local discount grocery store. They were a round $3 for a pack of 8 individually wrapped portions (6 crackers to a portion)

My DD said the kids really like them. There was only a few cookies left over.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Teens, boys AND girls, can eat a lot of food. If you could borrow a professional popcorn popper (MANY school and churches have them), I would do that and then maybe some type of fruit punch type drinks. Cheep and easy. Teens however will eat anything. Cookies and that some punch also works. Healthy is great but gets much more expensive; fruit, cheese crackers etc. I would avoid nuts. Out of 50 kids, good chance at least one with a peanut allergy.

 

[klacey1]

Thanks everyone!! The no-nuts thing is great advice! Popcorn, too-- didn't even think of that!

 

[disykat]

I always try to do a fruit and a carb choice. Maybe grapes, washed and cut into little bunches, and some snack mix. I would just do ice water as the drink if I was including fruit.

If grapes aren't available fairly cheaply, slicing up apples isn't that hard and I find that each apple (if they're good sized, like Costco apples) actually feeds 3 or 4 people because they just grab a few slices. I'd probably only get 2 dozen apples.

 

[happygirl]

Veggie tray
Cheese and cracker tray
Nachos
Cookies
Chips and dips

Beverage I would do bottle water and then if you wanted to do the little water flavoring packets

 

[pearlieq]

How about some bananas? They're super cheap, healthy, and require no prep or utensils. Popcorn is also a great suggestion. Those two together would probably tide them over just fine.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

for a drink I would offer water and lemonade. Popcorn is good or the lunch size chip bags are good. I cater a managers meeting every month and I go to Sams club and get a box of chips that has 36 bags of various types of chips for $9.00 a box. No fuss and muss. Sams also has a platter of assortment of cookies for less than $11.