Help! Feeding a large group of college students!

[QueenIsabella]

Hi all! I need some budget menu suggestions from my fellow cheapskates. First, the back story:

My oldest is in college, and she's very passionate about volunteering. One thing she does is, her school offers service trips over spring break, for students to help out in communities all over the country. I think it's wonderful that these young people are giving up their time to help the less fortunate and underserved. But, here's the issue: we live ~850 miles from the school, and we happen to be in a good spot, geographically, for a "rest stop" for the groups heading south. Naturally, DD volunteered us to be a way station/hostel for some travelers. We have a big house, and I'm happy to put these college kids up for two nights (one on their way down, one on the way home). So far, I've been contacted by 2 different groups, 13 students per group, and there might be a third group as well.

So, gang--what do I feed them? Honestly, I'm happy to donate my house and the food, I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed at the sheer number of kids I'm going to have here.

I was thinking of doing Italian food one night--make a bunch of pasta, have a couple different sauces, maybe a crockpot with meatballs and/or sausages. Add a huge salad and garlic bread, and we're there.

On the trip back, I might do something similar with Mexican food--have tortillas, taco meat, beans, fixings, etc. Maybe make rice and/or beans to go with.

In addition, I'll be making up cookies and brownies ahead of time, throwing those in the freezer, for kids to snack on. I'll buy chips and drinks from Sam's club.

As to breakfasts, I'm looking for ideas. Maybe some kind of crockpot breakfast casserole, that could be supplemented with pancakes and fruit? I might have granola and yogurt available as well.

So, any ideas? Thoughts? Should I just start a GoFundMe page for my commitment to the insane asylum? All ideas and suggestions are welcome! Thanks

 

[Narnia_girl]

I think you have a great plan in place, now you just need to organize it so you can be stress free. Try writing out a timetable of when things need to be prepared/cooked. And then do as much prep work as you can in advance.

Congrats on raising a generous child!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I wouldn't prepare anything for breakfast if you're going to go all out for dinner. Just buy some pastries /donuts, yogurt and bananas. I think your dinner ideas are great. I wouldn't worry so much about adding meatballs and sausages. I think they'll appreciate a free home cooked meal without all the extras.

 

[Calee]

What a great daughter! My husband is a college coach, so we feed his players a lot! It overwhelmed me at first but 10 years in it's old hat. Your dinner and dessert plans sound perfect! Breakfast I wouldn't worry too much about. they may not be big breakfast eaters. I do have a couple egg and meat breakfast casserole recipes that take about 5 minutes to put together and then cook for 20. Super fast and easy. But I think you would be totally fine with bagels, cream cheese, fruit, etc. Have fun!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd do trays of baked ziti, salad, and bread. On the way back, trays of Mac and cheese, salad, and bread. I wouldn't do hot breakfasts.

 

[jen73]

Donuts, bagels, fruit would be easy and perfect. If you wanna add in the yogurt that would work too. I agree with the others you prob don't need a hot breakfast

I think your ideas about pastas and taco Night are perfect. You can also do hot dogs and hamburgers too. Baked potatoes with assorted toppings is great. Crockpots with pulled pork is another option.

I'd precook as much as possible freeze it all and pull out the day of.

What fun! I'd help if we lived closer. I love feeding the masses..lol

And what an amazing daughter you hv raised, Good job, mama.

 

[Miss Whimsy]

Make pasta night easier and do lasagna! You can make them in advance, either with meat or without, could even freeze them if you want. Add garlic bread and you are all set!

 

[Eureka]

I say make it easy on yourself and order deli platters from the store. Get chips, fruit or salad stuff and cookies and they can go to town. Sandwiches are easy and if there's leftovers, you can use or freeze the meat for your own family. Sometimes it's not the cheapest up front but in the end convenience sometimes wins out for me.

 

[Southernmiss]

I like all of your ideas, Op. I'm a believer in some protein at breakfast. So many people are on paleo type diets these days. Maybe frozen precooked sausages that you heat and serve.

 

[old feller]

Include rice

 

[TwoMisfits]

Hi all! I need some budget menu suggestions from my fellow cheapskates. First, the back story:

My oldest is in college, and she's very passionate about volunteering. One thing she does is, her school offers service trips over spring break, for students to help out in communities all over the country. I think it's wonderful that these young people are giving up their time to help the less fortunate and underserved. But, here's the issue: we live ~850 miles from the school, and we happen to be in a good spot, geographically, for a "rest stop" for the groups heading south. Naturally, DD volunteered us to be a way station/hostel for some travelers. We have a big house, and I'm happy to put these college kids up for two nights (one on their way down, one on the way home). So far, I've been contacted by 2 different groups, 13 students per group, and there might be a third group as well.

So, gang--what do I feed them? Honestly, I'm happy to donate my house and the food, I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed at the sheer number of kids I'm going to have here.

I was thinking of doing Italian food one night--make a bunch of pasta, have a couple different sauces, maybe a crockpot with meatballs and/or sausages. Add a huge salad and garlic bread, and we're there.

On the trip back, I might do something similar with Mexican food--have tortillas, taco meat, beans, fixings, etc. Maybe make rice and/or beans to go with.

In addition, I'll be making up cookies and brownies ahead of time, throwing those in the freezer, for kids to snack on. I'll buy chips and drinks from Sam's club.

As to breakfasts, I'm looking for ideas. Maybe some kind of crockpot breakfast casserole, that could be supplemented with pancakes and fruit? I might have granola and yogurt available as well.

So, any ideas? Thoughts? Should I just start a GoFundMe page for my commitment to the insane asylum? All ideas and suggestions are welcome!
Thanks

For Breakfast, I agree with the masses. Don't bother cooking. I'd set up a few large fruit bowls - one with bananas, one with apples, and one with strawberries or blueberries. I'd buy a few big boxes of cereal (Cheerios, Rice Krispies), a bunch of individual Greek yogurts (plain, vanilla), and large bag of bagels and butter/cream cheese/peanut butter/jam. I'd set out coffee, OJ, Milk, (and sugar for the coffee). Kids could perk up their cereal or yogurt with the fruit, milk, PB, jam, and/or sugar, so multi-use on all the items.

For Dinner, I'd agree with doing the lasagnas in advance. I would also make a single vegan lasagna for anyone who is vegan, vegetarian, or with milk allergies (http://www.chowhound.com/recipes/vegan-lasagna-29439) so they could enjoy - heck, some meat-eaters might want a veggie lasagna as something different...then the salad and bread like you mentioned. This will be cheaper b/c not breaking the meat out will help cut down on college guys eating you out of house and home on meatballs.

For the trip back, after all that travel, I'd actually recommend something gentler on the tummy. Mexican and lots of beans and spice would not work with me, although I'm much older than college students. I would think about making individual chicken and veggie pot pies (in cupcake tins), although for vegans, you'd have to make an oil based pie crust (which I've done and isn't too hard)...serve that with 2 salads (maybe green and fruit) and bread and be done. You could also make these in large 13 by 9 casserole dishes and just put the crust on top (I do that all the time)...and you could again premake these the day before and keep in the fridge to cook, so it would be done. That would be even easier (but you might need bowls to serve it in if it gets too runny).

 

[Eastern]

I would probably do baked ziti and meatballs (separate, not mixed), and fruit salad one night and baked ziti, chicken fingers and fruit salad the other night. Sometimes I just slice up an entire watermelon into thin slices and skip the fruit salad.

What I have learned from feeding large groups of young people is that they can be very picky, but those things are universally appealing. I would skip the salad and/or vegetable because they probably won't eat them. Also, if there are vegetarians in the group, the ziti and fruit is ok.

For dessert, cookies and rice krispie treats are always popular.

Don't go crazy with breakfast, either. Bagels and cream cheese, fruit, maybe a casserole with protein (eggs and bacon or sausage). Coffee and OJ.

 

[dromio42]

I have to feed 25-60 people a night for 1 week of the year at work - so I have a lot of experience with this. You plans look great. For our pasta night we do baked ziti (no meat) and the crock pots with meat balls in extra sauce (buy big bags of meatballs at BJs or Costco) - big hit! I usually make a mini ziti with no cheese for the few lactose intolerant.

For breakfast - you can pre-make hard-boiled eggs and serve as is or make deviled eggs (they go like crazy). Pastries, bagels and cream cheese, PB & J makings and lots of whole fruit. If they are leaving in the am, whole fruit can go into their pocket for later if they are not breakfast eaters.

You are awesome for donating to these great kids.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Thanks so much for your replies! I do appreciate it, especially from the people who have done something similar. A few minor additions...
I don't know yet when they expect to arrive--or leave--our house. They may be too late for dinner, and they may want to leave early in the morning. I'm leaning towards the idea of a cold breakfast--bagels, cream cheese, fruit, yogurt, cereal. That way, kids can grab and go.

I like the idea of baked ziti. Here's the thing--I'm Italian. I love lasagna, love making lasagna, but for me, I can't make a cheap, easy one--it has to be the passed-down-for generations, takes-all-day recipe. Instead, I think I'll go for a couple disposable pans of baked ziti--maybe one with ricotta mixed in, one without. I would want to do a crockpot of meat (meatballs or sausage or both) on the side. My college kids, at least, can eat their weight in food, so I want to have plenty.

I really like the idea of a watermelon. I don't know if I'll be able to find one (haven't looked around).

I was also thinking of going Italian (my comfort zone) for both nights--they would be a week apart, I doubt anyone would mind.

I don't generally make special meals for special diets, but the kids would be welcome to look around and eat what they find. My DD (the college kid who got me into this) is a vegetarian, so I'm very used to setting aside meatless food for her. But, I don't want to start catering to a ton of different diets. 3 of us are lactose intolerant, so almond milk is always in the house--usually vanilla and chocolate.

We also have a coffee bar set up in our family room--we're not much on drinking, but Dh loves his Keurig! I already have K-cups for coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and cider, due to kids with various tastes.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Thanks so much for your replies! I do appreciate it, especially from the people who have done something similar. A few minor additions...
I don't know yet when they expect to arrive--or leave--our house. They may be too late for dinner, and they may want to leave early in the morning. I'm leaning towards the idea of a cold breakfast--bagels, cream cheese, fruit, yogurt, cereal. That way, kids can grab and go.

I like the idea of baked ziti. Here's the thing--I'm Italian. I love lasagna, love making lasagna, but for me, I can't make a cheap, easy one--it has to be the passed-down-for generations, takes-all-day recipe. Instead, I think I'll go for a couple disposable pans of baked ziti--maybe one with ricotta mixed in, one without. I would want to do a crockpot of meat (meatballs or sausage or both) on the side. My college kids, at least, can eat their weight in food, so I want to have plenty.

I really like the idea of a watermelon. I don't know if I'll be able to find one (haven't looked around).

I was also thinking of going Italian (my comfort zone) for both nights--they would be a week apart, I doubt anyone would mind.

I don't generally make special meals for special diets, but the kids would be welcome to look around and eat what they find. My DD (the college kid who got me into this) is a vegetarian, so I'm very used to setting aside meatless food for her. But, I don't want to start catering to a ton of different diets. 3 of us are lactose intolerant, so almond milk is always in the house--usually vanilla and chocolate.

We also have a coffee bar set up in our family room--we're not much on drinking, but Dh loves his Keurig! I already have K-cups for coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and cider, due to kids with various tastes.

On the watermelon...I might skip that b/c out of season watermelon won't taste as good or be as cheap as the ripe, fresh stuff we're used to in summer.

I think Italian both nights is a better idea that one Italian and one Mexican. And I wouldn't cater to everyone - I'd make one "normal" dish and then have a smaller "pretty much hits all needs" dish that can be the main or a side (for those eating the real main)...even if it's cooking up some spaghetti squash, dressing it lightly with olive oil and salt and having some of your ziti sauce next to it (to top it). So, low carb kids, dairy allergy kids, and vegan kids (and kids who want more veggies) can all eat the same thing...and kids who have no restrictions could have it as an extra veg side dish. Doesn't take a lot of work, doesn't cost a lot, and gives extra veg for the meal...I suggest this b/c I'd feel weird "raiding the kitchen" of someone I didn't know (now, raiding a family member's, no problem, but I wouldn't want to be "that" person to someone already being gracious and hosting me)...

 

[Burnedout]

A Mexican casserole. Rice and beans are healthy Fillers and easily flavored with Rotel, cheese and a minimum amt of meat. I have groups of Marines traveling through our city and airport

Quiche, or French toast casseroles work for breakfasts

 

[QueenIsabella]

I probably wouldn't do spaghetti squash because I've never cooked it. You did give me an idea, though--grilled or roasted vegetables, which can be enjoyed both warm and cold (so I could make them ahead). These could also go well in omelets, for the kids or my family, depending on how things work out.

When I said poke around in the pantry, I was really thinking of some quinoa mixes that my DD has here. I would be happy to prepare them if someone wanted it. My family doesn't typically eat them. I was thinking more, "look and see what the family vegetarian has to offer". We also have several trail mixes, brown rice, whatever. I'm trying to stay away from preparing a wide variety for different diets, especially of stuff that my family won't eat when the guests leave.

I do like the idea of hard-boiled eggs--I can prepare them in advance, and if there are any leftovers, it'll be an egg salad week. I also have a couple disposable coolers that I can send along with the travelers. I was also thinking of using paper plates, etc., to make clean-up a breeze.

Thanks again for the great suggestions!

 

[TwoMisfits]

I probably wouldn't do spaghetti squash because I've never cooked it. You did give me an idea, though--grilled or roasted vegetables, which can be enjoyed both warm and cold (so I could make them ahead). These could also go well in omelets, for the kids or my family, depending on how things work out.

When I said poke around in the pantry, I was really thinking of some quinoa mixes that my DD has here. I would be happy to prepare them if someone wanted it. My family doesn't typically eat them. I was thinking more, "look and see what the family vegetarian has to offer". We also have several trail mixes, brown rice, whatever. I'm trying to stay away from preparing a wide variety for different diets, especially of stuff that my family won't eat when the guests leave.

I do like the idea of hard-boiled eggs--I can prepare them in advance, and if there are any leftovers, it'll be an egg salad week. I also have a couple disposable coolers that I can send along with the travelers. I was also thinking of using paper plates, etc., to make clean-up a breeze.

Thanks again for the great suggestions!

Funny you wrote roasted veg - that was my 2nd idea, but I thought that was more work than spaghetti squash - I think it's an awesome one to go with the pasta!

 

[shoney]

dinner:
pasta, meatballs, salad or roasted veg, bread
mexican like chipotle...grilled chicken, beans, rice, cheese, sour cream, tomato, lettuce and burrito wraps. They can make bowls or burritos

breakfast:
cereal, fruit, yogurt, granola, boiled eggs, donuts, danish and
Bagels (basically a typical hotel continental breakfast)

I would not try to accommodate all different diets, but just provide meatless options.

You are providing a lot and I am sure it will be appreciated.

 

[onenursebrandy]

I'm an "extreme cheepskate"....so I would suggest couponing. If you have a Publix or similar, and a few weeks to plan, you can feed them all they could eat....and send snack packs with them for little to nothing out of pocket. I would make my menu based on what was on sale/matched with available coupons. I imagine lasagna for 20 could get expensive...but you can buy pasta and marinara for less than $1 nearly every week.