Cooking for 50 teens - portions

[TwoMisfits]

Hi everybody,

So, I'm cooking for a Church pre-teen youth group (so 12-14 year olds) and their adult volunteers. The leader has gluten and dairy allergies, so everything will accomodate that. I also have to accomodate a few vegetarians. And do it all for about $130 (they said they'd give me more, but I wanna see if it's doable).

The plan that they approved (now we'll see if sales are good) is roasted chicken breast or thigh (with olive oil, s&p only) with a raw bruschetta topping (fresh tomato/basil/balsamic/olive oil/s&p) (with roasted portobello for the veg sub), roasted carrots with a sweetened balsamic glaze (olive oil, s&p and then sugar/balsamic for last 5) and an Italian macedonia for dinner (lemon/sugar/basil over fruit) with GF/DF marshmallow treats (and I'll bring a bag of juice pops for the veg b/c no one can tell me if she also skips gelatin...they do know she eats eggs)...if I have money, I want to take the olive oil, s&p, and basil I'll have left and buy some regular Italian and gluten free bread for the tables to have bread with dip, but that may be skipped...

So, questions...is this amount enough?

25lbs chicken breast or thigh - this will be bought boneless and skinless, so it will all be true chicken weight. Looking at $2/lb (I'll hit Aldi's if I have to for that, b/c that's their normal price - hoping for $1.70/lb or less b/c that would help the budget) - $50
2 lbs of portobello tops - $6
15 lbs of baby carrots - (13 will get roasted, and 2 will be saved for kids who hate cooked) - $15
20 lbs of fruit - gonna do something sale based and keep it at 99 cents/lb, I hope - pineapples/honeydew can help fill it out - hoping strawberries are $.99/lb again next week - $20
4 boxes of rice cereal (this is Aldi's GF brand) - $6
6 bags of Aldi's marshmallows - $6
10 lbs of fresh tomatoes - may go 15lbs here, too - $15 (gonna try to find at $1/lb like this week to get to 15 lbs - if I don't, I'll serve with a little less on each chicken)
2 bottles of olive oil (Aldi's) - $6
1 bottle of canola oil (Aldi's) - $2
1 bottle of balsamic vinegar - $3
Container of salt (Aldi's) - $1
And that's $130 - this is extra...

Container of black pepper - $3
Bunches of basil - 2 - $6
1 container of sugar - $1
1 bag of lemons - $3
1 bag of juice pops - $2
1 jar of garlic - $2 (forgot this - goes in the bruschetta - which I like better with balsamic vs red wine vinegar - and one bottle, 2 uses)...https://www.spendwithpennies.com/hollys-bruschetta/

Which is $147 in "the plan"...so I don't have money for bread...yet...unless I find some great baby carrot/fruit/chicken sales...and still won't if you all don't think 25lbs of chicken is enough. I mean, the web says plan for 8oz chicken each...but ya know...

 

[kymom99]

A half pound of chicken per person? That’s a lot of chicken

 

[TwoMisfits]

A half pound of chicken per person? That’s a lot of chicken

See, that's what I thought...but online says that's the preferred number...maybe I can drop to 20lbs...

 

[kymom99]

See, that's what I thought...but online says that's the preferred number...maybe I can drop to 20lbs...

You might cut it into strips to cook faster and to avoid waste.

 

[TwoMisfits]

You might cut it into strips to cook faster and to avoid waste.

I'm going to roast in the oven for ease (I did this for 13 adults, and it did work well). And I think I'm going thighs over breast b/c it's more forgiving to overcook and a little cheaper (and better with the fresh topping)...and smaller per item.

I did ask my husband how much chicken...and the man said 100 lbs...so I told him he broke the budget before we started...when he was serious, he still said 50 lbs...never ask a gym rat how much...so now, I'm back to 25 lbs...I may do 1.5-2 thighs/person and then only serve 1 each, so the "my husbands" of the world could come up for 3rds, while "my daughters" (who only ever eat one) would never eat 2nds...

 

[MrsPete]

Can I throw out another idea? You didn't say low-carb ... so how about a baked potato bar? Thoughts:

- Baked potatoes are super easy to cook, and everyone likes them. You might need to order ahead from the grocery store to assure you could get enough big, fat potatoes.
- You can provide a wide range of toppings -- butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, chives, chili, broccoli, onions, BBQ chicken, pulled pork -- you can keep going. Oh, my British son-in-law's favorite: Baked beans over a potato. Yeah, weird. But the point is that this accommodates everyone's needs: vegetarians, gluten-free folks, etc.
- I bet you could easily do it for your $130 budget and still have plenty of money left for drinks and desserts.

 

[Alesia]

A half pound of chicken per person? That’s a lot of chicken

Not for kids that age.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Can I throw out another idea? You didn't say low-carb ... so how about a baked potato bar? Thoughts:

- Baked potatoes are super easy to cook, and everyone likes them. You might need to order ahead from the grocery store to assure you could get enough big, fat potatoes.
- You can provide a wide range of toppings -- butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, chives, chili, broccoli, onions, BBQ chicken, pulled pork -- you can keep going. Oh, my British son-in-law's favorite: Baked beans over a potato. Yeah, weird. But the point is that this accommodates everyone's needs: vegetarians, gluten-free folks, etc.
- I bet you could easily do it for your $130 budget and still have plenty of money left for drinks and desserts.

They did that last time to varying degrees of success...they are hoping for a "healthy and home cooked" vibe (specifically protein/starch/veg were their original desires) that's still teen friendly, and not worrying about allergies getting the wrong stuff (thus if I get bread, allergy folks will have theirs from the kitchen with their own dip cup...but I might can that)...

I'm the 1st volunteer who gave them a plan close to what they want this year, so they did privately offer to up my budget to $160 (and that's without bread)...but I told them to keep the same budget to see if it's even possible and then I'd let them know...this was me planning to see if it's possible - thus, thoughts on amounts...

 

[ImDMous]

See, I thought of how much my husband ate at 15 and thought, you're going to need more chicken. Hahaha, I'm sure that will balance out with the kids who still eat like little kids though.

 

[MrsPete]

They did that last time to varying degrees of success...they are hoping for a "healthy and home cooked" vibe (specifically protein/starch/veg were their original desires) that's still teen friendly, and not worrying about allergies getting the wrong stuff (thus if I get bread, allergy folks will have theirs from the kitchen with their own dip cup...but I might can that)...

I'm the 1st volunteer who gave them a plan close to what they want this year, so they did privately offer to up my budget to $160 (and that's without bread)...but I told them to keep the same budget to see if it's even possible and then I'd let them know...this was me planning to see if it's possible - thus, thoughts on amounts...

Ah, well, I see why you wouldn't want to repeat the same meal.

So if you're sticking to chicken, I can share an old caterer's "rule of thumb": plan on 1 1/2 of everything. So if you're serving chicken to -- did you say 50 people? -- you should make 75 pieces.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Ah, well, I see why you wouldn't want to repeat the same meal.

So if you're sticking to chicken, I can share an old caterer's "rule of thumb": plan on 1 1/2 of everything. So if you're serving chicken to -- did you say 50 people? -- you should make 75 pieces.

Good idea...I may even do 95-100 with thighs b/c they are smaller...I haven't looked at a boneless skinless thigh pack lately, so I can't remember if they are 3-4 oz...or if they are "fat" chicken thighs of 5-6 oz...

 

[mjkacmom]

My 17 year old was diagnosed with celiac 11 years ago, don’t bother with the gf bread on the table. It really needs to be toasted, when we are having Italian bread we doctor it up with butter, garlic and mozzarella.

 

[tcufrog]

A taco bar can be healthy and a lot less work if you can borrow some crock pots. Plus it's easy to accommodate vegetarians if everything except the meat is vegetarian. You can have taco bowls for the GF people instead of dealing with GF bread. I've done taco bars for large groups.

Another one I've done is a pasta bar with GF pasta as an option. Crock pots can be helpful for that too.

Both options could easily accommodate your dietary restrictions with very little extra work, assuming you are careful about how you prep. Another benefit is that they can be done inexpensively.

 

[piccolopat]

I would add a tray of seasoned rice. Rice is cheap and filling and also GF.

 

[TwoMisfits]

A taco bar can be healthy and a lot less work if you can borrow some crock pots. Plus it's easy to accommodate vegetarians if everything except the meat is vegetarian. You can have taco bowls for the GF people instead of dealing with GF bread. I've done taco bars for large groups.

Another one I've done is a pasta bar with GF pasta as an option. Crock pots can be helpful for that too.

Both options could easily accommodate your dietary restrictions with very little extra work, assuming you are careful about how you prep. Another benefit is that they can be done inexpensively.

We have a combo dairy and gluten allergy (on top of the vegetarian)...and since the leader of the program is one that has that double combo (as a celiac), I think the poor guy has suffered through not eating at pizza nights (that's what the plan was last year in his 1st year as leader, since he just did what they always did)...and probably wants the "healthy and homey" protein/veg/starch plate as much for himself as the kids (he's the one who saw the proposed menu and offered me more money directly, so I know my menu is a win with him, even before I cook it)...plus, our Church does spaghetti night once a month with the Knights of Columbus and they get teens to volunteer (and eat), so if I go pasta bar in the future, it would have to be pretty darn creative b/c it couldn't be a dairy sauce...and probably shouldn't be a tomato sauce...and couldn't be meatballs and sausage (all of that is duplicative) yet, still needs to be teen friendly...

That said, I am considering a future GF pasta salad "side dish" bar to go along with a main protein...but that might be even more pricey til I can figure out how much these kids eat...

EDIT: And Fajita bowls are on my "possible future" menu...I like fajitas b/c it's adds the veg and all the lime goes really well with a dairy-free crema and guacamole I make (both which are naturally GF, so I could get away with only having shredded cheese as the only dairy item on a separate, add it yourself, table)...

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would add a tray of seasoned rice. Rice is cheap and filling and also GF.

I thought about that, but how much rice for 50 kids? And does it fit in one big pot...

I only have me and my 2 teens cooking, so I also don't want us to ruin something b/c we had too many "pots" in the air...

 

[TwoMisfits]

My 17 year old was diagnosed with celiac 11 years ago, don’t bother with the gf bread on the table. It really needs to be toasted, when we are having Italian bread we doctor it up with butter, garlic and mozzarella.

So, skip the bread - got it...glad to know it's not worth it (at least in the current set up b/c all my ovens will be cooking chicken after cooking carrots)...

 

[piccolopat]

I thought about that, but how much rice for 50 kids? And does it fit in one big pot...
I only have me and my 2 teens cooking, so I also don't want us to ruin something b/c we had too many "pots" in the air...

I would plan on 1/2 cup of cooked rice for a serving plus maybe a little extra. If you google online, there are sites that show you how to cook rice for large crowds like this in the oven.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would plan on 1/2 cup of cooked rice for a serving plus maybe a little extra. If you google online, there are sites that show you how to cook rice for large crowds like this in the oven.

Yeah, I won't have an oven...darn...so save that plan for my fajita bowl plan later...

Or for a future cajun night with red beans and rice, maybe...

 

[FreeTime]

I have a celiac young adult and I second the one that said the gf bread needs doctored up. On another note, I have never purchase Aldi’s rice cereal but many other brands are not gf since they have malt in them.

I fed 50 girls that age and their adult men coaches and did only a 1/4 lb of shredded chicken per person and we had some leftovers.