Graduation Party and Food Quantity??

[ugadog99]

I'm in the midst of planning my daughter's high school graduation party. There will be about 40 people including high school students and adults. The timing of this is right after the students have graduation practice that morning. I'm thinking the kids should arrive between 11:30 and noon-ish. Our buffet will include:

chicken fingers/nuggets/pieces (whatever is the best $$$)
macaroni salad
ramen noodle salad
pasta salad
mixed green salad with toppings and dressings on the side
fruit plate
yeast rolls
petit fours
variety of cookies
canned drinks/bottled water

So, how much food do I need to prepare or purchase? I'm never good at estimating food quantities. I always end up with way too much food. Also, I thought about adding cheese with the fruit plate. Is that necessary?

 

[TinklednPants]

3 kegs, 200 solo cups, about 20 bags of chips and pretzels and at least a dozen ping-pong balls for beer pong (extra cups for the beer pong included in the 200).

 

[ugadog99]

...would that be for ME or them??? If I make it this last month, I just might need all of that for me.

 

[mjkacmom]

You might want to get some cold cuts. None of the adults in our family, or even dd12, will touch chicken nuggets.

 

[ugadog99]

You might want to get some cold cuts. None of the adults in our family, or even dd12, will touch chicken nuggets.

Hmmmmmmmm....hadn't thought about that. I thought everyone would eat chicken nuggets. Shows what I know!

 

[TinklednPants]

In all seriosness I think you need another "Main Course" beyond the chicken.
Cold Cuts (as previously mentioned) or something. It's really easy to do some big trays of baked ziti or the like. A cheese platter sounds good. Pepper Steak w/ rice is beyond easy. Veal Parm. Linguine w/ clam sauce. Pulled pork sandwiches. etc.etc.

 

[korzmom]

this is my 3rd grad party and i'll tell you that with that amount of people you have invited which is what i have, in the past we ordered 200 peices of chicken,hot dogs and hamburgers, potato salad, kielbasi and beans, halushki, sa;sa and chips, other chip type snacks, fruit salad,cookies,and of course a sheet cake. all we had left was about 50 peices of chickenand some cake. mine is june 28 and i hope its nice because we have it in our yard and i dont want all those people in my house. good luck with yours and congrats to your DD.

 

[Pigeon]

I agree about another entree.

Also, you've basically got three pasta salads on the menu. You could change one to something different.

 

[LisaNJ25]

How about pulled pork sandwiches.. I am having a party for about 70 people sunday and I am doing 2 croc pots with bbq pulled pork. It actually costing me less than the burgers and its less work.

 

[princess momma]

I can't help with the amounts, but chicken nuggets doesn't sound appealing for this kind of thing. How would you cook them/keep them warm? Chicken nuggets for 40 is a lot of chicken nuggets. I'd go with something else.

 

[ugadog99]

I'm thinking more the chicken strips not nuggets. That idea actually came from a person here last year (as did the salad buffet). When we get them from Publix, the strips are actually chilled and are very good. I do like the idea of adding cold cuts and buns for those that don't like the chicken. I also like the pulled pork sandwiches. Of course, all this will have to pass my daughter's approval. Keep the ideas coming, please! Although 40 have been invited, I think it will be more in the 25-30 range at the most. You know teens...no one RSVPs anymore (well, for that matter, adults either!).

 

[tiggerunner]

I say serve what you want. I have done many parties and no matter what you can't please everyone. I have been to many myself that I eat the sides as my meal. Love the fruit salad and dressings on the side for the green salad.
For amounts, type that into a search engine and you will find a ton of party planning sites that tell you the quantities.
Plan for your group though,only you really know and don't second guess yourself.
Congrats and have fun.

 

[princess momma]

I'm thinking more the chicken strips not nuggets. That idea actually came from a person here last year (as did the salad buffet). When we get them from Publix, the strips are actually chilled and are very good. I do like the idea of adding cold cuts and buns for those that don't like the chicken. I also like the pulled pork sandwiches. Of course, all this will have to pass my daughter's approval. Keep the ideas coming, please! Although 40 have been invited, I think it will be more in the 25-30 range at the most. You know teens...no one RSVPs anymore (well, for that matter, adults either!).

Chilled chicken, I get it. Oh, a salad buffet sounds yummy. I'd never considered that before.

Maybe you could add some appetizer type food? Taco dip or spinach dip or something? Always a big hit here.

Can the supermarket help you with amounts? I always make way too much and have tons of leftovers, but I like to be prepared.

 

[ugadog99]

I thought about the appetizer type stuff. I thought maybe some chips and salsa (may do mild and medium salsa plus a fruity salsa) and a spinach dip. I'm trying really hard not to have too much hot food. It's already hitting the mid to upper 80s and we have another month to go. I don't want to heat up the house too much, and in hot weather, people seem to like the colder/lighter food.

 

[powellrj]

Keep in mind this is for my area, yours may be different.

Graduations are all open house type events so people don't RSVP, they just show up. People put the announcements in church bulletins, kids post them on face book plus the ones you send out. My DS is a senior this year so we are planning his, but he has been invited to many over the years and has filled me in on what happens, plus the lady I am having the open house with has had a senior every year for the last 3 years so she is a seasoned pro.

If you are the only one having a party that day and your DD has invited kids via face book/myspace, you may have many more people than 40.

I know we are sending out around 20 or 30 invitations, but we are expecting over 100. To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me to have more than that.

Because of when you are having your party, I would think people are going to come hungry and if you are having any teenaged boys, trust me, they can really eat. Anything your DD would eat, most boys will eat that X's 3.

 

[ugadog99]

Any other ideas?

(Oh...and excuse the other thread just like this. I posted it on the Budget board and it ended up being moved over here.)

 

[mjkacmom]

Wow, first day of summer is zombie thread day!

 

[powellrj]

I think her DD graduated from college this year, so the party must have been a success!

 

[scbelleatheart]

Keep in mind this is for my area, yours may be different.

Graduations are all open house type events so people don't RSVP, they just show up. People put the announcements in church bulletins, kids post them on face book plus the ones you send out. My DS is a senior this year so we are planning his, but he has been invited to many over the years and has filled me in on what happens, plus the lady I am having the open house with has had a senior every year for the last 3 years so she is a seasoned pro.

If you are the only one having a party that day and your DD has invited kids via face book/myspace, you may have many more people than 40.

I know we are sending out around 20 or 30 invitations, but we are expecting over 100. To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me to have more than that.

Because of when you are having your party, I would think people are going to come hungry and if you are having any teenaged boys, trust me, they can really eat. Anything your DD would eat, most boys will eat that X's 3.

Same here! We had a small party for family (30) then a regular grad party the next week with no formal invites. A lot of parents of kids who hung out together coordinated dates so no 2 parties were at the same time. We averaged 300 people at all 4 kid's parties.
That said, my favorite website for party/recipe info is "Growlies for Groups"
http://lotsofinfo.tripod.com/

 

[ugadog99]

Holy cow! This was four years ago when my older DD graduated! My younger DD graduated last month. Much smaller party and much, much less food.