Lunch ideas- band kids

[Katy Belle]

Its band camp time! DS17 and DS15 will both bring friends home with them for lunch on Monday and I'm going to feed them! We are thinking it will be about 2 girls and 8 boys. It could easily end up more than that.

We are in a burn ban, so I can't grill. I could do the grill pan, but it would have to be ahead, since it will be a lot of food. One girl has an allergy to beef. She can be around it, just not eat it, so the others could still have beef. Probably not something time consuming on their part, like assembling their own sandwiches.

So, what would you feed them? I like to cook and am open to any ideas!

TIA
Katy

 

[NHdisneylover]

I tend to do pasta with large groups of kids. it is inexpensive, easy and nearly everyone likes it.

I'd set out pasta with a choice of red sauce or a cream or cheese sauce and meatballs, garlic bread or rolls and salad.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I teach colorguard for high school bands ( start band camp on Monday! ) and have been involved in band or drum corps since I was 14. I'm 40, so I've done this a time or two!

I would go with sandwiches. I wouldn't give them hot food. Nothing that would make them sluggish and sleepy after lunch.

Just put out a bunch of sandwich fixings.....assorted meats, lots of veggies, etc.
I would maybe also do some veggies and dip instead of chips. Fruit for dessert. Maybe a popsicle to be fun.

Also, please don't give them soda!!! The band staff will thank you when they don't puke it up later!!! LOL Water, maybe gaterade, only!!

 

[Hannathy]

I would go with sloppy Joes or tacos. Easy to make a big batch and leave it in the crock pot, put out the buns or fixings if tacos and let them go. That is what we always did for musicals.

You could also get a few of the big subs that grocery stores make and slice them into pieces.

 

[clh2]

I would go with sloppy Joes or tacos. Easy to make a big batch and leave it in the crock pot, put out the buns or fixings if tacos and let them go. That is what we always did for musicals.

You could also get a few of the big subs that grocery stores make and slice them into pieces.

I personally don't like sloppy joe's or tacos that are made with something like ground turkey - so this might then require a "separate" menu for the person that cannot eat the beef.

I think the "fixins" for sandwiches would be great too! Maybe a bowl of grapes (easy to fix!) too

 

[My2Cinderellas]

If you go with tacos or something similar, ground turkey is cheaper than beef (at least for me) and after you add taco seasoning you can't tell the difference. I like a taco bar with enough lettuce to make salads if it's super hot out.

 

[MIGrandma]

If it were me I'd go with cold foods. I'd set out a tray of various lunchmeats (slivered turkey, ham, roast beef) along with buns or breads, condiments, cheese slices, pickles, leaf lettuce, etc. and let them make their own sandwiches. I know you mentioned not going with something time consuming like assembling their own sandwiches, but I really don't think it takes that long, maybe a minute? I don't think that would really be too much time. Or, if you still think that's too much time, you could have croissant sandwiches already made up, with chicken salad, ham salad, etc. and let them add lettuce if they want.

I would also put out a tray of fresh-cut vegetables (carrots, celery sticks, colored peppers) and dip.

Also a big bowl of cold pasta salad. Maybe fresh fruit salad with watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries, etc. etc. A couple bags of chips.

For dessert I would make (a day or two before) a couple pans of brownies or a double batch of chocolate chip cookies.

For drinks I would have bottled water along with a few kinds of the Crystal Lite sticks you add to it to make flavored water. Also a pitcher of iced tea.

 

[SandrA9810]

When it's hot out, they'll probably won't eat as much either.

I'd go with cold stuff over hot stuff any day. Although you could fry up some bacon to make BLTs. And a fix your own meal is easiest. Especially if they're relying on you for food. It's not like they can just pass to go grab a bite to eat later. There's many people that might like mustard but not mayo or neither, and that's the one thing I hate about those sandwich plates from the grocery store.

 

[Katy Belle]

Thanks everyone!

They actually march outside in the morning, then are inside for the whole afternoon, working on music. So that helps a bit in terms of hot vs cold food.

I'm leaning towards tacos/taco salad/nachos. I like to bake chicken breasts with salsa and shred it...that could be on hold in a crock pot, and I could do ground beef or ground turkey too. They can pile it up in whatever manner they wish. If I set up two stations, it could go fairly fast. Thinking watermelon and cookies for dessert...or this cute owl cake one of the girls pinned on Pinterest! Gatoraide and water.

Thanks!

 

[Hannathy]

Personally I don't like Gatorade with food, to salty. I would just go with other cold drinks, Kool aid, lemon aide, etc.