Ugh! Trying to feed 35 people on a budget!

[swilshire]

I love the ideas for the adults, but most 3 - 7 yos I've encountered wouldn't eat any of it. Pizza and ice cream was always our staple and is probably the best bet at that age. You can always do something better for the grownups.

Sheila

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I love the ideas for the adults, but most 3 - 7 yos I've encountered wouldn't eat any of it. Pizza and ice cream was always our staple and is probably the best bet at that age. You can always do something better for the grownups.

Sheila

I agree and then you can do the sub sandwiches for the adults.

 

[toddlerhouse]

What about moving the grill to the front yard for cooking??

 

[kbkids]

Last year for DS's birthday party, there were 34 kids and about 40 parents. We ordered ten $5 pizzas from Little Ceasar's. Cheap, easy, had food left over. $50 plus the cost of the cake and drinks - can't beat that!

 

[daughtersrus]

Oh I know... when I look at what's on some of them, they're wayyy.... overpriced! A few of them were OK, just not the stuff I wanted.

I think I'll go with this plan then. Just get some turkey, ham, couple cheeses, and maybe roast beef. Then I'll have the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mustard, and mayo to go with it. Already bought pickles the other day, knew I needed those. And it's a good help that the Grandmas are bringing something.

So then I just need to buy all this on Friday, and put it all pretty on a platter for Saturday. And cut up the fruit too...

I noticed that your in Chicago. Do you have a Caputo's or Meijer store near you? They have much better prices in their Deli departments than Jewel does. Caputo's also has a great produce department. I go a little out of my way but the quality makes it worth while. http://caputomarkets.com/

Sam's Club is also another idea.

I hope this rain clears up for you by Saturday!

 

[dougsmom98]

We always do pizza and chips for every birthday party we have had. The left overs never ever go to waste and no one ever complains. The only pizza place around is about $10/pizza. We figure between 2-2.5 pieces of pizza per person and there is always left overs for dinner the next night. Some of the middle aged guys like DH will eat 3 pieces. Some kids and grandparents only eat one piece. Like another poster mentioned Little Ceasars does have $5 large one topping pizzas and you can't go wrong at that price if there is one near you. We put out a couple of bags of chips and some dip with it. I usually sneak a couple of bags of M & Ms into the shopping cart a few weeks before to save for the party. We always have baby carrots and cucumbers and ranch dressing in our fridge so I put those out. I also put out cheese and crackers and call it good. It is so easy. I tried to do a budget cook-out for father's day and it was a lot more work and it ultimately cost more money than pizza would have. Good luck.

 

[Free4Life11]

Jimmy Johns isn't really a "cheap" sandwich place...have you looked into Subway? I know they do the party subs and party platters as well. I had a party a few years ago and I used them for the sandwiches. What I did was buy some strawberries and just chop them up and also made some veggies platter (easy stuff like carrots) and a bowl of dip. Throw in some chips and you have a great time! Have fun.

 

[HeatherC]

Check your local supermarket to see if they do "party pizzas?" Ours has them for like $16 each and they feed something like 15 people each. They are served cold and cut into rectangles. They come in a box a little larger than a sheet cake box...to give you an idea.

You could make a large salad to go with it.

Hope this helps.

Heather

 

[kctwinmommy]

YOU did say you were having 18 or 30 [can't remember] ADULTS so you have to have something 'adult'...and you DON'T want LUNCH MEAT for kids....hmmmm....and you want to do on a BUDGET.......

How about cute PB&J in fun cut-outs [star, football, whatever] for the kids and the ham bbq idea for adults? Then chips pretzels big homemade container of lemonade and cake [skip ice cream]. Costco has the BEST CAKES and they're HUGE for $14.99. Voila.

Fruit platters are not budget friendly although yummy.

Trish

I never said I didn't want lunch meat for the kids, that's exactly what I want. I said my DS has some issues with which ones he'll eat. So I'd rather be able to have something I know he's going to eat. I think adults can eat sandwiches for a lunchtime meal too.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone, I'm just going to go to stick with the lunchmeat and rolls for everyone, people can make their own sandwiches. I already have salads & veggie tray coming from the Grandmas. And definitely plan on doing fruit, it's not that expensive.

And the person that asked, yes we have Caputos. I get my fruit there. Never tried their deli, but I'll check it out.