How to Estimate Food Quantities for a Picnic

Planning a picnic can be a lot easier with some preparation and planning.

Planning meals for a picnic can seem like a daunting and complicated task, but with a little information you can easily calculate how much food you will need to prepare or purchase for the picnic. Gather information such as the number of people attending the picnic and the number of meals you will need to supply ahead of time to eliminate stress. Purchasing or creating foods in bulk will save time and money when preparing meals for a picnic.

Instructions

1. Calculate the number of guests you need to supply food for at the picnic.

2. Determine the length of time the picnic will last. Base the quantity of food you need to prepare on how long the picnic is going to be and how many people there will be.

3. Ask the other picnic attending guests what they are bringing to determine what you do not need to supply.

4. Prepare and cook the meals for the picnic. On average, a full meal may come to a full pound of food per person, along with the addition of desserts and beverages, so using one pound as a guideline can be helpful in calculating the servings you'll need to cook. If you are creating a punch drink of some sort to bring, use a general guideline of a gallon per 10 people. For hors d'oeuvres and appetizers, prepare five servings per person so each guest has a chance at some snacks. You can also refer to a recipe book you may own to calculate the amount of servings you may need for the picnic based on individual recipes.

Tips & Warnings

• For each dish you are supplying, bring a few extra servings to be on the safe side. Calculate in a few extra servings to allow for seconds, extra guests and potential spills.

References

• Party Recipes and Ideas: Picnic Food Ideas for Large Outdoor Parties
• Food Network: Picnic Recipes and Tips
• Divine Dinner Party: How to Calculate Food Quantities for Parties
• Great Party Recipes: Party Food Planning Guide