How Do I Know How Much Food To Buy For A Party?

When planning and hosting a party, there is a somewhat inevitable conundrum that will pop up and temporarily flummox you: just how much food do I need to buy?

The answer to this question begins in the planning of the party; namely, the invitations. To successfully plan for the right amount of food to buy, you will need to know how many guests are coming. It is therefore imperative that you include a request for people to RSVP whether or not they are planning to attend your party or not. When you have received all the RSVPs you expect to get, add five to that number (in case of stragglers or late announcements) and use this as a base for planning the amount of food you need to purchase.

Fortunately, most part food manufacturer’s will include a guidance label as to how many people a portion or serving of food will serve. If possible, you should overestimate this so as to allow for second helpings. If for example, you have 40 people coming to your party and you have a cake that “serves 10”, buy five cakes.

Apply the overestimating wherever you can, as far as your budget will allow. If you have individual items of food, ensure there is enough for everyone and include a couple of spares. It is always better to have too much – which you can offer as doggy bags – than too little, after all.