3 year old Birthday
Angela
10/22/09 		Hi I am having my daughter's 3rd birthday party, I am serving hotdogs, nacho cheese, chili, & corn chips. How much of each do you suggest that I get? How many bags of chips? This would be for approx. 50 adults & 30 kids. We have a large extended family & she is the only grandchild. That is how this 3year old party has become so big. Please help...Thanks!!!! =)
ellen
10/23/09 		Assuming that many of the kids are her age or youngish, count each as 1/2 person for eating. Junior high and up count as adults. For 65ish people, use 2/3 the amounts for 100.

Count 2 sausages per person. I always suggest you get (mostly) Polish sausage or kielbasa as grownups like them much better, and 1 pack of tofu or other vegetarian dogs is a good idea unless you are absolutely certain there are no vegetarians or heart patients in the group.
I allow 1/4 to 1/3 cup cheese sauce, 2-3 ounces of chips and 1/4 cup chili per person for toppings. If you are serving the chili in bowls as a meal option, allow 1 cup per person.

I would DEFINITELY add fruit trays, at least 2 of the fruit trays for 25 on my fruit tray page. Can be made ahead, look pretty, kids and grownups like them, and with all this heavy food plus dessert, they will be a welcome addition.

ellen
10/23/09 		If you are considering ice cream, you might want to try something I suggested to another preschool mom that was a huge hit: whip cream sundueas instead. The kids absolutely loved them, You just fill the little dish with spray whip cream and add the sprinkles and toppings and cherry. It does not melt or spill like ice cream, much easier to serve and doesn't have to be kept frozen, And, did I mention, the kids LOVED it.