Quantity Food Planning Guide
Determining how much you need for any size gathering just got
easier. The guidelines and chart below will help you plan how much to
purchase for your next party.
Fruits
Allow ½ cup bite-sized pieces per serving
- 18 pound watermelon = 16 cups
- 4 pound pineapple = 5 cups
- 3 pound cantaloupe or honeydew = 4 cups
- 1 pint strawberries, blueberries or raspberries = 2
cups
- 6 oz. kiwi = 1 cup
Vegetables
Allow 4 to 6 pieces per serving
- 2 pounds broccoli or cauliflower = 30
florets
- 1 pound baby carrots = 65 pieces
- 1 pound celery = 50 (4x½-inch) sticks
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes = 25
- 1 pint grape tomatoes = 75
- 1 pound cucumber or 1 pound zucchini (2 medium) = 50
(¼-inch) slices
Dips
Allow 1 tablespoon per serving
Meat and Poultry
- Bone-in meat and poultry allow ¾ pound per
serving.
- Boneless meat and poultry allow ¼ pound per
serving.
Quantity Foods
|
Serving size |
25 servings |
50 servings |
100 servings |
Sliced ham, turkey, beef (½-ounce
slices) |
2 to 3 ounces |
3 to 5 pounds |
7 to 9 pounds |
14 to 18 pounds |
Cheese (½-ounce slices) |
1 to 1½ ounce |
1½ to 2½ pounds |
3 to 5 pounds |
6 to 10 pounds |
Buns |
1½ buns |
3 dozen |
6 dozen |
12 dozen |
Potato salad |
½ cup |
1 gallon |
2 gallons |
4 gallons |
Baked beans |
½ cup |
1 gallon |
2 gallons |
4 gallons |
Coleslaw |
½ cup |
1 gallon |
2 gallons |
4 gallons |
Chicken or ham salad |
½ cup |
1 gallon |
2 gallons |
4 gallons |
Mayonnaise |
1 to 2 teaspoons |
½ to 1 cup |
1 to 2 cups |
2 to 4 cups |
Mustard |
1 teaspoon |
½ cup |
1 cup |
2 cups |
Pickles |
1 |
1 quart |
2 quarts |
4 quarts |
Olives |
2 to 3 |
6 ounces |
1 pound |
2 pounds |
Potato chips |
1 cup (1 ounce) |
1½ pounds |
3½ pounds |
6½ pounds |
Cake |
2x2-inch piece |
¼ sheet cake (24 pieces) |
½ sheet cake (48 pieces) |
1 sheet cake (96 pieces) |
Ice cream |
½ cup |
1 gallon |
2 gallons |
4 gallons |
Coffee |
¾ cup (6 ounces) |
3 cups |
6 cups |
12 cups |
Punch |
½ cup (4 ounces) |
1 gallon |
2 gallons |
4 gallons |