Please could you help me with quantities for a childrens party lunch and supper for everyone?

[WideWebWitch]

Hello

20 of us are getting together next weekend to celebrate 3 children's birthdays. There will be 21 of us for lunch, made up of 15 adults and 6 children, ranging from 3 to 11. There will be one 6mo baby and I assume her parents will sort out her food.

My idea is that we will have a birthday party type lunch followed by supper for children and adults who want it, at about 5ish.

I was thinking of trad sandwiches/crisps/cake for lunch and Pizza Express pizza and salad bags for supper. All on paper plates to make clearing up easier (we will be in a self catering place that has to be left clean the next morning).

So, can anyone help with quantities please?
I am intending to ask people to bring things so it would be ideal to say "MIL please bring xxxx thanks" - how could I break it down? There are 7 distinct groups coming so I could ask each one to bring 1 type of thing.

Also how many pizzas do you reckon? Prob will be only half the party there by then.

TIA for any advice to make it as easy as possible and to ensure everyone has clear instructions about what to bring. Thanks.

What a lovely idea, sounds like you'll have a fab weekend.

When I do these things, I always imagine a generous plate full of food per person then times it by the number of people - allowing a little less for children. So, for lunch, perhaps allow for a round of sandwiches (ie 2 slices of bread) each per adult, half a round per child.
You could add mini sausages (a couple each) and pork pies (cut into quarters, a couple each)
A large slab of cheese cut into cubes.
Add carrot sticks (1/4 carrot per person); cucumber sticks - 2 cucumbers between you all; grapes; perhaps a couple of mini cakes (like mini swiss rolls/muffins) per person or a bag of mini-choco bars for the DCs (as it's a party)
3 large packs of crisps.

If you bring out a little at a time keeping the rest refrigerated, you could re-use any leftovers at tea-time.

Evening: a couple of multi-packs of dips, using up cucumber/carrot sticks/crips from lunch. Add a large bag of tortilla chips

Pizza: I'd allow half a large pizza per person (adults will eat more,little ones less so will balance out).
Couple of tubs of coleslaw
Couple of bags of lettuce
Couple of punnets of cherry toms

Then try to work out how you can split it between 7 to share cost and work fairly (ie if someone is asked to bring things that need no preparation, ask that they help make up the sandwiches on the day too).
You could also ask every family to bring their own fruit and drinks. When we go away in big groups, we do this and although drinks and fruit get pooled, it means that you don't have to worry about the children who are only allowed certain drinks/don't like certain fruits. Usually end up making a fruit salad.

No doubt someone will come along and say something completely different and totally confuse you, but if nothing else I am bumping this for you, and avoiding my ironing!

Lilolou has given very good advice!

Pizza for 20 sounds difficult though: unless you have masses of oven space, you will all be eating at different times. Baked potatoes, salads, coleslaw etc may be easier?

You could ask one person to bring a big tub of homemade coleslaw or 3 bought ones; one person to bring 3 bags of mixed leaves and a couple of punnets of tomatoes; one to bring lots of potatoes; one to bring big tub of grated cheese etc.

For lunch - one to bring some packets of rolls,; one to bring some sliced meats and cheese; one to bring posh crisps for adults and ordinary ones for children; one to bring a couple of punnets of plums or bags of apples etc. I think rolls and fillings would be nicer than sandwiches prepared in advance.

Lil not Lou - sorry!

Thank you. Enormous family row means this isn't now going ahead but this is useful advice and I'll use it if I ever do a similar sized event. AND it saved you from doing your ironing.

Thank you.