Food is one of the top draws of any gathering, whether it’s a backyard spring BBQ meet-up with friends or a grand wedding reception in a banquet hall in Los Angeles. From pouring over recipe ideas and catering menus to finalizing each dish for the main event, it takes an army to plan the food for a party. But what stumps even the most seasoned hosts is estimating serving sizes for the guests and doing catering calculations for the party.
After all, you don’t want to leave your guests asking for more. Neither is it nice to have too many leftovers and waste food.
Here’s an easy guide to calculating food for a party so your guests go home with full stomachs and you don’t have to sweat over leftovers.
How to Calculate Food Portions for Catering
While a one-size-fits-all approach may not work for estimating catering portions for every party, a few common denominators can help you do the math.
1. Before You Begin
Ask yourself these three essential questions:
– What kind of event is it?
– What’s the cuisine you’re serving?
– What’s the duration of the event?
The kind of event matters because it affects the food or cuisine you can serve and how much your guests will eat. For example, guests tend to eat more during informal buffet dinners when they’re mingling with each other than during a formal corporate lunch or a seated dinner arrangement.
Next, the choice of cuisine you serve affects catering portion sizes because some foods are more appetizing but less filling than others. If you plan on serving sushi, you should be calculating a serving size of eight to ten pieces per person.
Lastly, the duration of the event also impacts catering portions. Depending on how long your party lasts, you may have to arrange for one or more meals in a day.
2. When You Start Planning
How do you calculate catering per person without overestimating or underestimating the quantity? It’s simple — get the headcount right. The easiest way to ensure you have the correct headcount is to have your invitees RSVP you. That way, you will have clarity on how to calculate food portions for catering.
Asking your guests to RSVP is standard practice for hosts. You’ll also need the correct estimate of how many people are attending your party to finalize venues in Glendale that can accommodate them.
Here’s a cheat’s guide to estimating serving sizes. You can use this chart to build your meal plan.
| Type of Food | Quantity |
| Non-alcoholic drinks | 1-2 drinks per person/hour |
| Alcoholic drinks | 1 drink per person/hour |
| Appetizers | 3-5 pieces per person |
| Sides | 4 ounces per person |
| Proteins | 4-5 ounces per person |
You will find this portion size chart very useful because estimating serving sizes can often be a subjective process, which means you may end up with the wrong calculations. This is a good starting point to plan the entire menu in a foolproof manner.
For those of you who don’t like doing the math, you can opt for a food-catering calculator to plan your party. There are multiple catering calculator per person available online that you can use for calculating serving size.
Disclaimer:
When you’re planning the food for an event, you should be mindful of your guests’ preferences. Some of the most common dietary restrictions are dairy and gluten. So, include dairy and gluten-free options on the menu.
Don’t forget to have vegan choices in your food spread. Inclusivity matters — all your guests should have a good time, not just a few. Mindful food spreads also show that you genuinely care for your guests and value their presence at your party.
There are two ways to ensure everyone is satisfied with the food — either ask your guests their preferences or make an attempt to serve a variety fair so that nobody is disappointed.
It’s not the easiest job to plan the menu and catering portion sizes. We recommend going for professional catering services.
Vivaldi Catering: The Perfect Menu for Your Feasts
Learning how to calculate portion size and planning the menu for an event can be a steep learning curve. Why lose your sleep over catering portion sizes when we can do the job for you?
We offer different types of catering services in Los Angeles based on the event, guest list, and your preferences. Check out our most popular packages below if you don’t want the hassle of calculating food for a party:
1. 5 Person Special Package
This package is especially for small groups of five guests and includes:
– 7 types of appetizers
– 4 different main courses comprising beef, chicken, pork with optional choices of fish, lobster, lamb, etc.
– 3 side dishes comprising baked potatoes, grilled veggies, and rice
It also comes with a bread platter paired with lavash. You can add the choicest selection of dishes to the set menu and customize it to your liking and even add special instructions if you have any.
2. 10 Person Special Package
Ideal for house parties and backyard BBQs, this package includes:
– 13 types of appetizers
– 5 different main courses
– 5 sides comprising all three dishes from the 5 Person Special Package along with borek and steamed veggies
From assorted cheeses and cold cuts to delicacies like basturma and sujuk, your guests will be spoiled for choice while you take a break from catering calculations and attend to them.
3. 15 Person Special Package
We offer a variety of catering styles to suit every taste, and this package is just an extension of the 10 Person Special Package with the same inclusions.
If you want to experience the benefits of full-service catering (not worrying about estimating serving sizes, catering portions, etc.), then get in touch with us today. You can also request a custom quote for your event catering. We are eager to serve your needs and ensure your guests have a great time at your party.