Hey ladies I have a 4 yr. old who will be turning 5 next month. My DH decided that he wants to do a Party for our daughter, I wasn't to crazyabout the idea because I tend to get pretty stressed out every time we do parties. My daughter also wants a party so I agreed, my problem is that the parties that we've had in the past always end up with a lot of food to the point where we have to throw it away. My thing is that I would rather for it there to be leftover food than to not have enough. The menu will consist of 'appetizers', Hotdogs and Hamburgers, Chips and for those adult that don't like hotdog or hamburgers we will buy 1-container of rice/beans and 1 container of pork shoulders shredded. We will have about 70 guests more or less. We will order food for 40 people what do you ladies think to small or should I order more. I really need advise.

Can you do a potluck type of thing where people bring a dish, salad or dessert and then they can take the leftovers home with them at the end of the party?
If not I would order more food. If you are thinking you are going to have 70 guests I would order more than food for 40.

In my experience, you will not need nearly as much food as you think! People will graze, you'll be eating cake, there'll be drinks. Have a cookie/dessert table (make some cookies ahead of time that can be frozen to save yourself last minute craziness).



I think food for 40 will be plenty. I doubt every single person you invite will come, and even if they do, will eat a full plate. It's just a birthday party, not a major sit-down reception. If people don't leave stuffed to the gills it isn't a big deal. My 2 cents.

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~~Amanda~~ Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), TTC #2

WE'RE ADOPTING!!!
http://daughterinthedistance.blogspot.com/

How about doing the party at an off-time so that all you have to serve is snack-type food and the birthday cake? That would be a lot easier and a lot cheaper.

If you are really stressed I suggest cutting the guest list. That is a lot of people for a fifth birthday. I have never and would never have a party that big for a little kids birthday but that's just me.

I also would say if someone doesn't like hamburgers or hotdogs oh well. I would not do the added 1-container of rice/beans and 1 container of pork shoulders shredded. I go by the "you get what you get" motto.

I guess all i am saying is don't stress yourself out and don't spend a ton of money. There really is no need to. Your daughter will have a blast no matter what.

Oh and also.....i see you have three daughters.....what happens when the other two don't get such huge parties this year or for their fifth birthdays? Might want to think about that too.

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Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)

Wow, that seems like a lot for a 5 year old's b-day party. Why not have it sometime between lunch and dinner, and that way you can just serve some munchies like chips, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, etc, and then cake and ice cream.

I agree, I think just the hot dogs and hamburgers usually if they don't like one they like the other. 40 people for a 5th kids party seems like too much to me. I would keep it low key so she can really enjoy herself and you can enjoy the day you gave birth to her. If you do decide to do a large party I would do it later and have it a cake and ice cream and maybe chips type party.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

I see you are in Miami. Could you just get a bunch of trays of croquetas and pastries, maybe a tray of veggies? You can get that pretty cheap, probably less than hot dogs, burgers, buns, and all the condiments...... I think Publix has a catering package that has croquetas and stuff in it....check it out. If not, try Don Pan, or there are so many bakeries down here....

Maybe you could cook up a huge pot of rice and beans and keep it hot in those steam pans. Rice and beans are cheap.