Enough food for an 8 YO’s party- 18 kids?

[Motherofalegend]

Hi,

Trying to make sure I have enough food for DS’s upcoming party. 18 kids, includes 1 toddler and two 11 YOs, rest are 7/8. Three have dietary requirements. Is this enough food?

2 x 10 inch pepperoni pizza
2 x 10 inch Margherita pizza
2 x 20 kid’s’ sandwich platters
1 x small plate jam sandwiches
1 x platter veg crudites and dips
40 cocktail sausages
6 Vegetable samosa rolls
Share bag onion rings
Share bag cheese puffs

Also considering something sweet, like the mini boxes of rocky road/cornflake bites.

Thanks!!

So per portion-

1 or 2 pizza slices (if cut to 8)
2 or 3 sandwiches
2 sausages
Crisps
Veggies

How will samosas be shared? Will there be sweet treats after? Id personally do one more pizza as most kids will take one of each and I'd probably add another bowl of crisps as they are alway popular.

Sorry just seen sweets bit! I'd have at least a couple of sweet options if it's something like those mini cornflakes I'd allow for at least 2/3 per child. What about a bowl of berries/grapes too?

I think you need more pizza and more crisps for eighteen kids.

You need more pizza, I wouldn’t bother with sandwiches. At my 7 year olds birthday the children had between 2 slices to 4 slices! I ordered garlic bread as well and most had at least a slice of that too. Just stick to pizza, garlic bread, crisps and fruit. Birthday cake for dessert!

HanSB is spot on. I did a party in Feb and did exactly this. There were only a few slices left. I also added cucumber and carrot sticks which were also highly popular.

Even taking into account the sweet stuff, I think you need more; I have hosted for less kids and it’s amazing what they get through.

I think you’ve probably enough sandwiches, I’d buy some more pizzas, sausages and crisps.

I’d be tempted to buy more samosas as well, unless you’ve only bought that many to cater for the dietary requirements you mention? If so, then think about how you present them as it will be a free for all and they may get snaffled up by other kids if put on the table with all the other food.

Will parents be there as well? In my experience, there always tends to be a couple (whether etiquette, or not) who may pick at anything after all of the kids have had their first round, so I’d factor that in as well.

Good Luck OP and have a great party, I’m sure all the kids will have a blast.

Great suggestion @HanSB on the garlic bread front!

Yep, definitely more pizza for almost 20 kids. I'd keep some sandwiches as not all kids like pizza. And you need more crisps, 2 bags for 18 kids won't go far.

Are parents staying? If so, you can expect they'll eat too

2 more pizzas
40 more cocktail sausages (these get eaten first at my parties and usually run out )
2 more big bags crisps (different flavours).

Definitely some sweet treats- it is a party after all!

You'll find even after the sit down food some kids will keep going back for food for the rest of the party.

Have fun.

Buy more pizza. You don’t have to cook it all just take some home.

definitely more crisps. A packet each at least. Will many kids eat samosas? I’d also increase the cocktail sausages and probably not bother with the crudities and dips. Just going by a pizza party DS had.

I would not bother with sandwiches. More pizza and more crisps. I always used to have garlic bread. And also watermelon if it was a physical activity party.

Do the cake whilst they are still at the table and eating and then cut it up straight away.

Definitely more pizza, crisps and sausages. I'd keep a plate of sandwiches back for any one that doesn't like pizza.

Get more crisps. You don’t need to open all the packets at once.

I usually buy lots, put out half and add more later if needed.

Also wouldn’t bother with sandwiches. If you want something else try some fruit

Thanks!

It was supposed to just be a pizza each, but there isn’t enough time and I ordered sandwiches, plus the veg sticks etc. Has anyone served cold pizza at a party as I would need to add extra pizza to my weekly shop and cook everything the night before? The pizzas I have ordered via the food to go service will be cooked at the venue and served hot.

@NotAllWhoWanderAreLost yes, that is, they are Halal. So have veggie options. However, I am double checking if they are observing Ramadan and what I need to do (likely nothing, but thought it best to check).

Also have a kid with a diary allergy too, so will be a vegan pizza available.

I would usually always have a table with snacks for adults, plus tea and coffee available, this is my first drop off party so no adults, or minimum.

I agree, definitely get more pizza and sausages. I actually remember doing 3 pizzas and 40 cocktail sausages between just 7 children of similar ages at a party.

I’d keep the veg sticks but ditch the dip, it’s messy.

I would work on the basis of 1 supermarket size pizza between 4 for toddlers, 1 between 3 for under 9s, 1 between 2 for under 12s, 1 per head for teens.

You don’t have to cook them all at once, it’s nice to have fresh hot pizza arriving at intervals, and means you don’t need to worry about oven space.

Definitely more crisps! I would get 6 large bags.
If oven space is going to be an issue at the venue, how about adding mini sausage or cheese & onion rolls instead? Or chicken nuggets? (These can be cooked in advance and served cold)
You need to keep the samosas in a separate place or get a lot more, as lots of DCs will add them to their plate given the chance (but may not eat more than a nibble if it isn't a flavour they're familiar with).

Right, here we go:

4 x 10 inch pepperoni pizza
2 x 10 inch Margherita pizza
2 x big Margherita pizza (rectangle)
4 x garlic bread
2 x 20 kid’s’ sandwich platters
1 x platter veg crudites and dips
2 x 40 cocktail sausages
Share bag onion rings
Share bag cheese puffs
6 x Salt and vinegar crisps
6 x Ready salted crisps
40 x chocolate mini rolls
2 x watermelon
1.2kg strawberries

I would nearly double that to be honest! Especially pizza and crisps and add on strawberries and grapes and biscuits and cupcakes doesn't sound much at all and the parents can always help eat it up

@MumOf2workOptions I have :)

I would change the ready salted and salt and vinegar crisps to a couple more bug bags, frazzles, skips, hula hoops that sort of thing, also wouldn't bother with watermelon or strawberries, maybe couple of packs of biscuits, like jammy dodgers or iced rings. Plenty of food. Remember wet wipes and kitchen roll
Hope you have fun

Yes, your second menu sounds better, but I wouldn't bother with the fruit either, just some party rings or other biscuits (whatever is halal and dairy free).

I just did a party for 8 8-10 year olds and between them they had 3 large pizzas (probably 14') and 2-3 large portions of chips plus cake.

I’d also swap the actual crisps to monster munch/skips etc.

Better menu. I wouldn't bother with the fruit either. Just make sure there's plenty of water and or juice.

I’d say your second menu is spot on, including the fruit :-)

Fwiw I had 10 kids and did 4 frozen pizzas, 3 packs of chicken nuggets, I big bag of chips, 3 packs of dough balls, and ice-cream with sauce, sprinkles etc for dessert.