If you had to make 40 filled rolls.

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I need to feed some volunteers, grab and go style. I'm thinking rolls, crisps, fruit and baking. I'm thinking average two rolls each. Let's say 40 to be on the safe side.

Don't want to spend an excessive amount, but do want it to be decent. Also don't want to get bogged down in faffy fillings.

What tips do you have?

What fillings and in what proportions?

Definitely vegetarians in attendance, possibly vegans. I'm not going to start taking orders.

Also to clarify, there is no electricity in the area food will be available so no hot plates or slow cookers. Those suggestions stored for occasions when we won't have members of public traipsing through the area that does have electricity. I'm not getting embroiled in extension cables.

You definitely won't please everyone, but keep it simple and of sufficient quantity, and folk will be content.

Nobody ought to be expecting anything but the basics, and most will prefer that anyway. I'd prefer a plain cheese roll with optional salad.

It's just for volunteers. I would do egg mayo, houmous & carrot, chicken and ham, put some cherry tomatoes and cucumber around the sides on the platters and any fussy buggers can bring their own packed lunch.

Make at least four of them gluten free, and make sure they’re only available for coeliacs or those who need them.

You do?

Makes it go a lot further

5 x plain cheese on a white bap
5 x plain cheese on a wholemeal bap

5 x chicken salad on a white bap
5 x chicken salad on a wholemeal bap

5 x ham salad on a white bap
5 x ham salad on a wholemeal bap

5 x vegan sausages on a white bap
5 x vegan sausages on a wholemeal bap

Thin layer of butter on each except the vegan sausage one, which has vegan spread. Provide a jar of pickle, a bottle of mayonnaise, and a bottle of ketchup. Job done.

Thing is, stuff like chutney and onion and hummus etc are garnishes to basics like cheese or ham so just go basic to make sure everyone is happy.
Those wanting a special chutney or chopped onion won't be put out by just having plain cheese or ham but those who don't like extras won't be able to eat if there's wet chutney or chopped onion that seeps into everything. It's just one meal, one nice easy grab meal. And how many sodding dairy gluten free vegans are going?! Just do easy cheese or ham with other bits in the bag and majority will be happy 🤷‍♀️

Loving sone of the answers!!

Seriously op, have you costed up a Morrisons platter? It could be cheaper than making your own.

Er why ?

If there’s no fridge then:

1. Cheese and pickle
2. Ham and Cheese
3. Grated carrot, hummus
4. Tuna Mayo

Since when is Hummus a garnish ? Hummus is a mainstay. If you want to go super easy what about peanut butter for the vegans ?

I help out at an event and we do a grab bag for lunch

12 Cheese and pickle
12 Ham and tomato
12 Cheese
12 Tuna and mayonnaise

Crisps
apple or pear - as they don't get bruised like bananas

home made fruit cake - all in one method with melted butter and baked
Madeira sponge

we wrap the rolls in cling film so they can pick there own

The rolls are quick and easy to make without having to prepare anything but the tuna and mayo

the cakes are robust enough in loaf tin shops to be cut and last without crumbling or toppings getting smudged

The issue with peanut butter is risk to those with an allergy. It really depends how well you know your audience, no allergies, no problem. But if there were even one person with a nut allergy I wouldn't serve them, particularly if you set up as a buffet. Too much risk of cross contamination.

What about a thermos of peanut butter and individual serving cups for a satay style French dip

dont do egg or tuna mayo if grab and go .... wet n smelly especially in heat...

i would do all veg and vegan spread just for ease....
cheese & onion/ tomato..although had a good vegan cream cheese and sun dried tomato if u want that vegan too...

hummus & pepper or salad?
falafel and salad?

the coronation chickpea recipe on bbc site went down a treat ..although prefer without raisins personally!

I'm not vegan or vegetarian but happily would at a volunteer lunch.... rather than cheap ham or smelly tuna!

Pondering Morrisons platter but it involves driving up to Morrisons to get it and I imagine comes on a big plastic plate with big plastic cover, does it? Not impossible but a bit of a pain to carry. I usually operate by bike or on foot but I could. I'm just imagining them being claggy and tasteless.

I agree with a couple of pps suggestion of doing hot dogs. They can be prepared in advance and ime most people are fine about eating cold sausages

Finger rolls
Meat sausages
Veggie sausages
Squeezy bottles of tomato ketchup and mustard

Cold hot dogs is a horrific idea. Sorry, but it is. Also, I'm not getting the impression that OP will have any flat surface whatsoever on which to place condiments, extra bits. There will be open cool boxes and people will take out what they fancy.

I'd be strongly tempted to buy a job lot of currant buns/unseasonal hot cross buns (various flavours maybe so the weirdoes who don't like dried fruit are still catered for), split and butter some, leave a few plain, job done. No worries about refrigeration. Crisps, fruit, water/soft drink. Not the healthiest meal in the world, but so what, it's free, it's easy, it's cheap, it's safe.

"What about a thermos of peanut butter and individual serving cups for a satay style French dip"

Wtf? 🤣

The OP wants a simple sandwich she can take in a cool bag on her bike. This thread is brilliant.

I got them for a work do and was really impressed come in a highly portable cardboard box

I got them for £10 for 20 pieces

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g, iirc the op said the majority of the people they are catering for are teenagers who ime will eat most things if they are hungry. It only needs a small table/surface to place the relatively limited amount of food on. And can be prepared in advance

Has worked on camping, scouts etc type events ime

"It's just for volunteers"

What a poor attitude. There is no "just" when it comes to volunteers who no doubt perform an important role for the organisation that they give their time and skills to for free.

I feed 30 every week at work, I do ham, cheese, tuna or chicken (ready made pots) and hummus. I have gf rolls on standby but otherwise I plate up with side salad, crisps and cake