Help, I need to feed the crowds

[Tink2000]

I am planning early but I have been asked to plan and cook for VBS at church this summer. I will need to feed about 100 kids ages 2-18. I then need to do something for the adults, about 30. I have 4 nights that I need to provide food. Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks

 

[usnuzuloose]

Is the church paying for supplies? You could do spaghetti with bread, hot dogs with chips. Are you doing this by yourself or is someone helping you? If someone is helping you split up what you are making. Hopefully the church has a kitchen. I will keep you in prayer for your need. Have fun doing VBS! Hope this helps a little. Jo

 

[csss31399]

I agree with the spaghetti idea. Sometimes when I cook for a crowd, I do bowtie pasta with alfredo sauce too. My kids love it.

Last year for VBS, we did tacos in a bag (I don't remember what we called them). You start with a little bag of Doritos (like 30 pcks for $10 at Sam's) and then build your own taco with meat, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, etc.

We also do fish sticks one night and hot dogs one night. Not exactly nutritious, but the kids scarf them up. We had PB&J every night in case we ran out or a kid didn't like the main meal.

For the adults, we have chicken spaghetti one night and taco salads (build your own) one night. There are a lot of good budget ideas on here; just search some of the threads.

I love VBS. It is so nice of you to do this.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

One word: Spaghetti!
Not sure what VBS is, but I think I have a general idea ...
This site has a wealth of info: http://lotsofinfo.tripod.com/
I heartily recommend you read thru it thoroughly if you've never done something on this scale before.
I've catered plenty of large scale events, and this will help you get thru it. Hope you have lots of help.
Don't hesitate to ask if you need more advice.
Gretchen

 

[Justsyd2]

Spaghetti may work for the older kids, but I think for the little ones chicken nuggets or mini corn dogs or fish sticks, anything more kid friendly. A two year old and Spaghetti can be a huge mess! Adults: Baked Potatoes, Salad bar, Taco Bar, Chicken and Dumplings, Chili...

 

[Tiggerish]

"Walking tacos" - hand each kid (adults also) an individual bag of Fritos and a plastic fork. They open the top of the bag and go to the first station where someone puts spoonful of taco seasoned meat into the bag. Then to the next station where a spoonful of shredded cheese goes into the bag and then a third station where taco sauce is poured in. The kids can skip any station that they don't want to have.

 

[hlkeck]

Meatballs? Pretty easy - go to GFS or Sam's Club - whatever you have near you and buy a bunch of meatballs with a very easy sauce. You could have hot dog buns and add a few meatballs in spaghetti sauce and top it with mozzarella for a meatball sub.

 

[dyna]

WHERE is your church? I never got anything but cookies an koolaid at our local churches for bible school. An now most ofthe time they want healthy snacks most nights an only have cookies an koolaid the last night.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

We have done full dinners each night before the start of the evening for the past 7 years. It is wonderful and parents love being able to come and eat and then the kids go to VBS. We served everyone the same thing, we did not do anything special for the adults.
We have done spaghetti using small noodles instead of long ones.
Walking tacos is always a great choice.
mac and cheese and hotdogs. We cook the hotdogs in a giant roaster and you can serve right out of it also.
Chicken nuggets are a good choice if you have the budget for it and the oven space.
Subs can you can make before hand and then have the condiments available with chips.
We also do pizza one night. It is good pizza arranged with a local place that gives us a great deal.
We have established relationships with the local grocery and fast food places.
They have been able to supply us with things at a better cost. Sometimes items are even donated.
We only do water. No fruit drinks etc. We just set out the large coolers filled with water and parents can get the drinks and they remain full all night for the kids to drink from. Much cheaper and better for them.
We still have snack time built into the program that we do cookies for the kids.

 

[mhsjax]

Are you providing full meals or heavy snack type stuff. AT our VBS we have it during the morning, but the teachers are given a break to go and get food. We have stuff like sandwiches, bbq meatballs, dips, veggie platters, brownies, cookies and stuff like that. WE are Baptist, so there is no shortage of food, Baptists love to eat. lol

 

[Deesknee]

homemade mac & chz w/mini hotdogs. Bowl of salad premixed w/italian dressing & ital bread. Yummy & easy. I find just about everyone like mac & chz.

 

[Tink2000]

Thanks for all of the ideas. Yes we do have a kitchen at the church so I will be using it. At this time I am the only one doing the food, we will just have to see if there is help the closer we get to time.

 

[laurafergie]

One word: Spaghetti!
Not sure what VBS is, but I think I have a general idea ...
This site has a wealth of info: http://lotsofinfo.tripod.com/
I heartily recommend you read thru it thoroughly if you've never done something on this scale before.
I've catered plenty of large scale events, and this will help you get thru it. Hope you have lots of help.
Don't hesitate to ask if you need more advice.
Gretchen

This website is awesome. I sent it to DMIL - she cooks homeless shelter meals a lot and is always looking for new ideas.

 

[Perditamarie]

I make this casserole in a 9x13 pan:

3-4 chicken breasts cut up, cover w/2 cans cream of chicken soup, then sprinkle w/frozen broccoli

cook 40 minutes on 350 or until chicken completely cooked

when done, cover w/2 cups cooked white rice and then sprinkle w/cheese - put in oven until cheese melted.

Have seen this done w/stuffing instead of rice, but my strange crew doesn't like stuffing!!

 

[nunzia]

We have done full dinners each night before the start of the evening for the past 7 years. It is wonderful and parents love being able to come and eat and then the kids go to VBS. We served everyone the same thing, we did not do anything special for the adults.
We have done spaghetti using small noodles instead of long ones.
Walking tacos is always a great choice.
mac and cheese and hotdogs. We cook the hotdogs in a giant roaster and you can serve right out of it also.
Chicken nuggets are a good choice if you have the budget for it and the oven space.
Subs can you can make before hand and then have the condiments available with chips.
We also do pizza one night. It is good pizza arranged with a local place that gives us a great deal.
We have established relationships with the local grocery and fast food places.
They have been able to supply us with things at a better cost. Sometimes items are even donated.
We only do water. No fruit drinks etc. We just set out the large coolers filled with water and parents can get the drinks and they remain full all night for the kids to drink from. Much cheaper and better for them.
We still have snack time built into the program that we do cookies for the kids.

Our VBS is in the morning so we just do cookies
I used to be the church hostess so cooked for crowds a bunch. I just cooked for our Kid's Night Our (really for parents, but don't tell the kids) and just did sloppy joes, chips, fruit and homemade cookies. The little kids just got a half of a bun with a lighter amount fo sauce to help with the mess factor.
If you serve hot dogs please cut them in half lenghtwise..also beware of other little kid chokeables: marshmallows, thick peanut butter, carrots, grapes, popcorn.

 

[nunzia]

One word: Spaghetti!
Not sure what VBS is, but I think I have a general idea ...
This site has a wealth of info: http://lotsofinfo.tripod.com/
I heartily recommend you read thru it thoroughly if you've never done something on this scale before.
I've catered plenty of large scale events, and this will help you get thru it. Hope you have lots of help.
Don't hesitate to ask if you need more advice.
Gretchen

Wow..neat site..