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<\/p>\nWhat fun is it to have a well decorated patio or other outdoor space if you never show it off? Outdoor parties are a great way to bond with friends and family, or even to celebrate a special event. If you are not used to hosting, though, trying to figure out how much food and drink to serve can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, there are some formulas that make calculating food and drink for an outdoor party a breeze.<\/p>\n
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When it comes to food, plan for one pound per adult and 1\/2 pound per child. This is spread between all of the dishes you serve, so the more choices you have, the less you need of each. If you are serving a buffet or other very large spread, decrease the main course portions below by one to two ounces each. Time of day matters too, as guests will eat more at traditional mealtimes, and will eat and drink more at night.<\/p>\n
If you are serving alcoholic or nonalcoholic punch, plan for one gallon per 10 guests, and possibly a little extra if the weather is very hot. If you will serve liquor and mixers, one liter of alcohol makes about 22 mixed drinks. Plan for one quart (one liter) of mixer for every three guests, plus a little extra if you know several of your guests are underage or non-drinkers.<\/p>\n
One bottle of wine will serve eight guests if other alcohol is available. If you are serving only wine, plan for a half bottle per person. The majority of guests will typically choose white wine when outdoors during the summer, but have some red on hand for those who dislike white. A bottle of champagne will fill six flutes, and most people drink no more than two glasses. Beer drinkers typically consume two in the first hour and one per hour after that.<\/p>\n
Water should be readily available and offered frequently, especially during hot weather. Plan for at least one liter per four guests. Also provide two pounds of ice per person and plenty of garnishes.<\/p>\n
For a pre-meal cocktail hour, plan to serve six bites per person. If your party is hors d\u2019oeuvres only, plan for four to six bites per person per hour. A 10-ounce leafy green salad will serve 10 guests as an appetizer.<\/p>\n
If the protein is the star of the show, expect each adult to eat 6 to 8 ounces total, and each child to eat around 4 ounces. If you want to serve a variety of options, consider chicken legs, ribs, hot dogs, and sliders, rather than meal-sized portions. Remember, if your protein options are on a buffet, cut the expected consumption by an ounce or two per person.<\/p>\n
Assuming you serve multiple sides, plan for just one cup of lighter dishes such as pasta salad, and 1\/2 cup of denser items such as baked beans, per person. These quantities can be slightly cut if you have a wide variety of sides.<\/p>\n
For a cookout, be sure to have ketchup, mustard, and relish on hand. You will need about twice as much ketchup as mustard or relish.<\/p>\n
For an outdoor party, grazing options are a better choice than large, heavy portions of dessert. Each guest will eat roughly four ounces of dessert items, divided among all the available options. Consider cutting cakes and pies into bite-sized pieces, and scooping ice cream into tiny paper cups. If you will only serve a single dessert, consider pre-dividing it into four-ounce portions.<\/p>\n
Hosting an outdoor party is a wonderful way to bond with friends and family. Just follow the tips above to be sure you have plenty of food with some, but not too many, leftovers.<\/p>\n