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Original poster

How many meatballs do you serve per person?

117 replies

Tessellation · 02/12/2021 19:12

DC think they should have 6 meatballs per person. I think 3 is sufficient. DH says the number is 5.

I usually try to make mine but when I buy them they come in packs of 12 - what does that mean? 12 for a family of 4?

How many do you serve?

OP posts:
Squizzley · 02/12/2021 19:33

Fill your boots kids 🤣

How many meatballs do you serve per person?
Thesearmsofmine · 02/12/2021 19:34

It depends on age and appetite. Ds5 has 3, my other two 8&10) have 4 or 5 depending on how hungry they are. I have 5 and DH has 6 or 7.

ShirleyPhallus · 02/12/2021 19:34

Ummmmmmm……

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
Soontobe60 · 02/12/2021 19:35

@ShirleyPhallus

My god the greed on this thread!! Shock 2 for an adult and 1 for a child is absolutely sufficient, especially when served with 8-10 grams of pasta and a massive salad

No wonder there is an obesity crisis

Eh? 10 grams of pasta? That’s about 2 teaspoons worth 🤣🤣🤣
CoachBeardless · 02/12/2021 19:35

DH has 6, I have 5.

3 isnt enough for a teenager!

PinkWaferBiscuit · 02/12/2021 19:35

@ShirleyPhallus

My god the greed on this thread!! Shock 2 for an adult and 1 for a child is absolutely sufficient, especially when served with 8-10 grams of pasta and a massive salad

No wonder there is an obesity crisis

2 for an adult and 1 for a child that's madness! I know sometimes on MN posters are prone to small portions but this is madness.

4 or 5 meatballs for an adult seems reasonable probably all 12 as a portion if this child in question is a teenage boy. Grin

womaninatightspot · 02/12/2021 19:35

Like a pp I cut them in half and reshape so double the portion. I'd give everyone 6 but there's normaly some spare for seconds if people are hungry.

Shadowboy · 02/12/2021 19:36

@ShirleyPhallus

My god the greed on this thread!! Shock 2 for an adult and 1 for a child is absolutely sufficient, especially when served with 8-10 grams of pasta and a massive salad

No wonder there is an obesity crisis

8-10grams of pasta?!

That’s like 10 fusilli. We usually have the Swedish meatballs that come in a pack of 20. OH has 8, kids have 4 each and and I have 4 like the kids.

flowersforyou · 02/12/2021 19:36

@Tessellation

16 meatballs?!??!?!?! And no meat sweats???

Yes have teens. I bulk out with veggies yes.

So I'm not mean, I do give them more than 3, especially when I make them, but yes my default portion would be 3. And then I noticed that the shop bought ones usually come in packs of 12 and wondered whether that meant the norm was 3? It feels excessive to buy two packs for a family of 4, but reading the responses maybe not so much?

Oh yuck I don't even want to imagine the smell of meat sweats! (I don't even eat beef meatballs, Linda Mcartney veggie ones are so much nicer) he had the 'I'm a man I need lots of meat' attitude!
ErrolTheDragon · 02/12/2021 19:37

@ShirleyPhallus

Ummmmmmm……
I'm afraid too much food causes irony deficit. Shirley Grin
Afolnerd · 02/12/2021 19:37

We buy 2 packs for a meal for our family of 6

Dh and I have 5 each
Ds17 puts away 8 or 9 with over 100g of pasta and will eat the little ones leftovers as well!
He looks like a stick in case anyone is worried I’m making him fat.

Tanaqui · 02/12/2021 19:37

In ikea, the portion sizes are 8, 12 or 16. With potatoes, peas and gravy! So if the Swedish size ones, I say 8 for an adult. Also, I teach in a Swedish school, and for 11 year olds the portion is 6, with those who are still hungry having seconds. Given Swedes are generally quite slim and healthy, I reckon that must be about right. So unless your homemade ones are massive, it doesn't sound like much! (Although note, this is Swedish meatballs; I assume Italian meatballs in sauce with pasta might be a different serving size).

cloudtree · 02/12/2021 19:37

My god the greed on this thread!! shock 2 for an adult and 1 for a child is absolutely sufficient, especially when served with 8-10 grams of pasta and a massive salad

I’m assuming this is a joke. Or that you don’t realise that pre made meatballs are smaller than a ping pong ball.

Original poster
Tessellation · 02/12/2021 19:37

@Squizzley

Fill your boots kids 🤣
Grinsee now I feel bad!!!
OP posts:
LettertoHermoine · 02/12/2021 19:37

@Tessellation

DC think they should have 6 meatballs per person. I think 3 is sufficient. DH says the number is 5.

I usually try to make mine but when I buy them they come in packs of 12 - what does that mean? 12 for a family of 4?

How many do you serve?

They are obviously still hungry with 3 so that answers that question.

12 meatballs for a family of 4 wouldn't fill a hole in your tooth.

Original poster
Tessellation · 02/12/2021 19:37

@Pipersouth

I cut them in half just to make them look more but 12 for 3 is just about right - could always do more and freeze (I tend to fill up with garlicbread and pasta as well though!)
Yes this is a good idea!
OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 02/12/2021 19:39

Anyway... I looked at the serving size on tescos 12 packs of meatballs, it say 4, coming in at ~200 cals. Which seems about right, with spag, sauce and veg.

KurtWildesChristmasNamechange · 02/12/2021 19:40

I do 6 each for teens and adults, 4 for the younger ones, and just one chopped up for toddler.

ShirleyPhallus · 02/12/2021 19:42

@cloudtree

My god the greed on this thread!! shock 2 for an adult and 1 for a child is absolutely sufficient, especially when served with 8-10 grams of pasta and a massive salad

I’m assuming this is a joke. Or that you don’t realise that pre made meatballs are smaller than a ping pong ball.

Just a little game of MN bingo for y’all.
obesity crisis - tick, massive salad - tick, outrage at tiny portion - tick

But no one really got it. My talent is wasted. Sob.

purplesequins · 02/12/2021 19:43

depends how big.
if the tiny ones you put in soup 10 each
the pasta sauce kind about 6
scotch egg size 2 or 3

disclaimer -adult sizes teens

Deadringer · 02/12/2021 19:43

@ShirleyPhallus

My god the greed on this thread!! Shock 2 for an adult and 1 for a child is absolutely sufficient, especially when served with 8-10 grams of pasta and a massive salad

No wonder there is an obesity crisis

Greedy. If one has a massive salad one does not need meatballs, or pasta.
ErrolTheDragon · 02/12/2021 19:43

I got it, Shirley. You didn't get that I got it. Sad

Grin
Amammai · 02/12/2021 19:43

My preschool DS can easily eat 2 or 3 so for a teenager I should think at least 4 or 5??

NuffSaidSam · 02/12/2021 19:45

@ShirleyPhallus

My god the greed on this thread!! Shock 2 for an adult and 1 for a child is absolutely sufficient, especially when served with 8-10 grams of pasta and a massive salad

No wonder there is an obesity crisis

That took longer than I thought it would!
Toddlerteaplease · 02/12/2021 19:45

I thought 12 was a normal portion. That's what IKEA serve in their cafe.