Feeding 20 or so kids lunch

This is sort of a multi-layered question.

I volunteer for a non-profit organization that provides a place for kids from 5-17 go after school and on Saturdays. They are provided a meal each day and I'd like to contribute one of these Saturdays.

First, is going to a place like Costco significantly more cost effective than Jewel or Target?

Second, do you have any affordable suggestions for easy meals?

Are there any other places you'd suggest I go for bulk food?

Would something like a party sub from Subway be easier and less expensive? If not, do you have any suggestions for restaurants that have good deals on food for large groups?

Just FYI, they normally eat things like pizza, chicken wings and ribtips, so I'm trying to stay away from those.

Thank you so much for an help.

Costco is vastly more cost effective than Jewel. I don't buy much food at Target, so I can't compare. But Costco has a much wider variety of food than Target.

sloppy joes are usually a hit, and travel fairly well (just bring the pot and bread)

Hi,

What is your budget per kid? It will give us a good idea how to direct our suggestions.

Regards,

I'd say $3-4 per child.

There's also Trader Joe's, though that might stretch your budget even though their prices are very good.
I'd say Costco is a very good bet. Depends a bit on what your serving resources are. Do you work out of a place with a kitchen like a school or church? Does everything have to be completely ready to eat?
Still, Costco has a variety of decent big pizzas you can heat up on site.
Very cost-effective cold cuts so that you can make almost any kind of simple sandwich a kid would want.
Bulk fruit. Nice platters of pre-cut mixed fruit.
Blocks of kid-friendly mild cheeses you can cube.
Party-size platters of hummos and variant dips for raw veggies.
Huge bakery area for cookies and other sticky sweets kids like.
Juice boxes, chips, salsa. Ready made guacamole in packs.
Huge aisle for all sorts of snacks from traditional (chips, pretzels) to rice crackers, trail mix, nuts, etc.
I really think you'll have the best value and widest choice options at Costco.
That would

I agree with the Costco suggestion as well. I just had to provide snacks for a project I work with for 20 5th-7th graders, and I did well at Costco. They have juice boxes (or, for the older kids, juice pouches are way cooler) and little bottles of water too.

Would a simple pasta bar be feasible? Offering 1 or two kinds of pasta, a meat sauce and a marinara, and various toppings (veggies, cheese, etc) along with individual rolls should be fairly economical and would have wide appeal among kids of such varying age groups.

Will you have access to a kitchen? How much of this meal has to be prepared in advance? Do you have access to a couple crock-pots?

I'll second pasta - I'd go with a simple jarred marinara and make sure the noodles are buttered or have access to butter, for kids who only eat buttered noodles. You can have cheese available on the side, no need for meat unless you feel it's important want it. I served 12 of Sparky's buddies successfuly this way including 1 vegan 2 kids with food allergies and 2 picky eaters. It seems to be the one universal food left.

Carrots and dip with hummos works, or ants on a log using cream cheese, celery and raisins (peanut allergies are rampant in the 8 and under set.) Quartered oranges and bunches of grapes are the easiest inexpensive fruit until melons are in season (there are often berry allergies.)

Another easy, inexpensive dish that most kids like is Arroz con Pollo, easy enough to do for a large group and you can use chicken legs or leg quarters to make it inexpensively. Since it's a casserole, it isn't as easily adjustable to kids' preferences unless they're OK picking things out, and you can do it in a crock-pot pretty successfully.

A burrito bar might be an easy and inexpensive setup, and can be healthy as well depending on your options.

How about a taco bar? You could brown ground beef with chile powder, cumin, etc in advance (ground turkey if you want to pull a fast one and make it healthy) and bring tupperware containers of shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, corn, black beans, salsa, etc. Soft flour tortillas, corn tortillas or hard shells would work as a vessel. You could heat the meat in a microwave but you probably don't have to.

I won't have access to a kitchen on site. I live about 15 minutes (driving) from the center. At home, I have two crockpots.

Thanks all of you for your suggestions. I think I have a CostCo connection, so it looks like that's where I'll be headed!

Hi,

If you have a tax exempt letter from your organization, you could go to Jetro Restaurant supply house on Division just east of the expressway. I have never been in there. A poster reported buying from there annually to obtain supplies for a boy scout event.

Regards,

Hi-- Costco pizzas are very well-priced and a big hit with the kids. I get them hot from the food court for my daughter's preschool when they have a pizza party. For 20 kids, plus a couple of parents and teachers, I get 3 or 4 cheese pizzas. 3 pizzas is just enough, 4 gives me leftovers-- it is amazing how much some of these tiny little preschoolers can EAT. You can also pick up juice boxes, or milk boxes, plates, napkins, etc. The only downside is that my car smells like pizza for a couple of days.

Cheers, Jen

Carlywood wrote:
Just FYI, they normally eat things like chicken wings and ribtips,

kids 5-17 huh, I wonder if I can pass for 17.., I like the sounds of their typical menu.