How Much Lunch Meat to Feed 40?

Sandwiches are an affordable food option for a party of 40.

Determining the amount of lunch meat to provide a group of 40 might seem daunting. You can make the task easier with a little planning and knowledge about serving sizes for lunch meat.

Size

According to the Food Guide Pyramid, a single serving of meat is 2 ounces. That means 40 people, each eating one serving, would require 80 ounces (5 pounds) of lunch meat.

However, guests might expect more meat per sandwich based on past experience with sandwich shops which can put double that amount of meat or more on a single sandwich.

Considerations

Check with your guests to see if they have any special food requirements. Guests who are vegetarians will not be able to eat lunch meat, and people with diabetes or weight issues might need salt-free or low-fat options.

Sides

The number of sides offered will also determine how much lunch meat to offer your guests. Side dishes like soup, beans or coleslaw will fill up people and cut down on second helpings of lunch meat.

References

• MyPyramid.Gov: Luncheon Meat
• "Health Action Newsletter"; Lunch Meats: The Slice is Right; Jayne Hurley and Bonnie Liebman; November 2001

Resources

• Ellen's Kitchen: Plan Your Sandwich Event