To think three 14 inch pizzas is too much between 5?

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DH has asked me to pick up pizza for dinner. There are 5 of us (4 adults and one child) and he's asked me to get three 14 inch ones. AIBU to think this is way too much pizza for the 5 of us?? I get him wanting me to get 3 due to different preferences but surely we could just get 3 10 inch pizzas?

What would you get for 5 people if it was a choice of 10 inch or 14 inch?

We had 2 large dominos (13.5 inch) for me and 3 kids yesterday. Less than your 4 adults/ 1 child. 3 would definitely be best for your numbers unless they are all birdie eaters. My 11yos don't eat that much, but 14yo eats a lot and I eat a medium amount (probably too much!).

Personally, I can only eat plain pizza. Toppings make it too filling. And too enjoyable. I prefer to be able to maintain an air of martyrdom about my food intake.

I hope you're not having sauce and cheese on that base

I think there are two approaches to approach catering for others.

1. Buy enough so no one is hungry but there is no waste. Yes in that case what you suggest is enough.
2. Buy enough so people can have extras and risk some waste. This is what I always do. Because if people come over for a meal they do normally eat more than they would at a normal meal at home.

They're is never waste in our house. If it's not eaten, you can rest it the next day, whatever it is. Maybe mix it in with something else or whatever!

Imagine OP doesn’t want to consume any more pizza the next day herself, or for her family to do so.

I can't get delivery pizza here at home in the far west of Ireland, so when I'm in the UK I indulge. 1 large Dominos pizza, with green peppers, anchovies, jalapenos, pepperoni, mushrooms and black olives, plus a couple of sides (usually garlic pizza bread or potato wedges and chicken dippers or strippers or whatever they call them). All for me. I eat the sides and a few slices of the pizza the first night (only meal of the day, I plan ahead!), then the rest of the pizza the following day.

If my husband's with me, we wait for Tuesday and do the 'Two for Tuesday' deal plus sides :) This is a once or twice a year treat!

If we have friends round to play games, I cook 3 x Waitrose rectangular pizzas with added pepperoni etc. for 6 of us,. so half a pizza each.

I'm not sure the above contributes much to the discussion, but thanks for the opportunity to fantasise about pizza :)

My 12 year old ds cries if he has to share a pizza, he considers a 10ich too small and a 12 inch just right. If getting 3 14inch between 5 that would be about right but not 10ich. I would want either a whole one or some sides to share.

Definitely go for the 3 pizzas - if they get eaten then you've bought the right amount, and if there's some left over then you've got food for tomorrow too! It's also more economical to get the larger sizes as long as there's no waste (and there shouldn't be with pizza, it doesn't go off overnight).

Nowt worse than ordering too little. Sounds right.

And I would be deeply embarrassed if I had guests and there was no food leftover at all.

We eat 3 large dominoes between the 4 of us (disclaimer, I live with very hungry husband, and two teenage boys. I am a pretty big eater myself as well )

Sometimes I will order 4 as everyone is so happy about pizza leftovers !

Sharing one pizza between 3 (as your friends do) sounds so joyless, but I guess maybe you are all teeny tiny 4ft11 size 4 people with tiny appetites

My 12 year old ds cries if he has to share a pizza

Me too and I'm in my 30s 😁

ALWAYS ORDER THE LARGEST PIZZA AVAILABLE!

It's maths innit? Pi x radius squared.

The area of a 10 inch pizza = 78 square inches
The area of a 14 inch pizza = 154 square inches

You get twice as much pizza in a 14 inch but it doesn't cost twice the price.

So to answer your question, if you used to share 14 inch between 3, that's 51 square inches per person so you need approx 256 square inches of pizza for 5.

Three 10 inch pizzas are only 234 square inches so probably not enough (assuming as this is a treat and you have guests you are thinking about enjoyment over calories).

Three 14 inch pizzas is 462 square inches (approx 9 x 51 square inch servings, almost twice what you need)

So your best bet is 2 x 14 inch pizzas which will give you 6 x 51 square inch servings.

I learned this from Susan (who went on to study engineering at Oxford) who sat next to me in Year 8 maths

@caranconnor quite right. If I had no food left after a gathering it would be a massive failure in my eyes. The despair of going somewhere for dinner and realising there's enough for a starter sized portion. Grim.

Okay, maybe I'm just really greedy, but I can eat a 14 inch pizza by myself. Oops.

But even if you can't, it's great the next day :).

FiL has form for this as he has a small appetite, usually caters for one and has little food in. He’ll make a delicious roast but not enough of it!

I think he's right. You should get a couple of sides as well in my view. We all know you'd be better with two slices and a salad, but it's Friday!

Never seen any place so warped about food and hosting as MN. I agree ,caranconnor.

I bet your friends eat more than the equivalent of 1 between the 3 of you when they aren't providing it.

Come back and update us as to how much they actually eat.

risk some waste.

But there;s no waste because extra pizza is quickly hoovered up for lunch the next day. Or breakfast, if you're a teenage boy.

Your friends sound like tight bastards. And your DH was probably gnawing his arm off with hunger when they hosted so wants to ensure it doesn't happen again!

And we wonder why we have an obesity crisis

It's true though isn't it. Sounds too much to me op. I'm genuinely shocked at the amount of people saying they'd have a 14 inch pizza for the self! That's a 'sharing' pizza, not an 'individual' pizza!

Yes I agree it is too normal for 1 person for a normal meal. But I do think most people eat more when they are going to a friends for a meal. I know I do.

I think it’s fine.

Presumably OP is asking because this isn’t a every day occurrence so I don’t think pp need to worry too much about a localised obesity crisis.

DH and I have eaten an 18" between us in one go before.

Usually we have a few slices left for the next day though.

We would eat a whole 'normal' large based in that.