Expert: Teri Davis Newman - 8/4/2009

Question
I am having a graduation party for approximately 70 adults and 10 children (under the age of 8).  I am planning on getting the food partially catered and making things to supplement myself.  For appetizers there will be spinach dip (in a 5 quart crock pot), a vegetable tray, a fruit platter and a cheese and cracker tray.  I was also planning on having salad.  For entrees my mother is making a half tray of beef lasagna and a half tray of turkey lasagna (both will be the standard catering size).  I was also planning on getting some baked ziti, stuffed shells and meatballs from a catering place.  How much of these items (in standard 1/2 or full tray size) should I order?  Would it be a good idea to cut back on some of the catering items and make up a lunch meat tray?  If so, how much lunch meat, cheese and rolls per person?  Do I have enough protein if I don't do a lunch meat tray?  Thanks so much for your help.  I just don't want to go overboard with my finances or the food.

Answer
Here's the rule of catering as to how much you will need per person:
7 ounces of cooked meat entree
4 ounces of each side dish up to 3
3 ounces of salad greens
1 4 ounce dessert serving
6-8 appetizer bites per person
16 oz of non-alcoholic beverage
2 oz of chips per person
1 oz of dip per person
Multiply the ounces times the number of guests and then divide by 16 to give you pounds of food and the beverage by 128 to give you the number of gallons of beverage you will need.