How much food (tacos) do I make for my daughter's graduation party?

Question

My daughter is graduating this May so we are having an open house. She wants a taco bar, queso and bean dip with chips, and a fruit salad. It sounds easy enough to me, but I have no idea how much food to make! She is sending out 49 invitations that would equal 118 people if they all showed up.... PLUS.. she is inviting the rest of her class (37 more) and some of her friends that are juniors (probably about 20 more). With a possibility of about 175 people, I am only absolutely certain of the attendance of 58 of them. I have found information about the quantity of food that will serve "this many" people, but how do I plan it when i have no idea how many in addition to the 58 will show up. We did not request RSVP because it is an open house instead of a party and we did not mention in the invitation that food would be served although it has been spread by word of mouth and it is customary in my area for food to be available at graduation open houses. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

caligirl?  What a super idea you have!  A taco bar. Not only can THEY fix em.. it will save the hostess tons of trouble. Now she can spend more time getting ready for the party.That's a great idea.. You should get best anwser!

Answer 2

ok heres my thought on that.....go somewhere in the middle.cook for 80 people.if u run out,send someone for some pizza and salad.u dont want to pay for and waste that much food.noone will care that they get pizza instead of tacos.good luck and congrads to your daughter for graduating!

Answer 3

Fortunately for you, tacos are relatively cheap.  One rule of parties is. people will eat as much as there is.  Another rule is, you are probably talking about teenage boys here.  I would make lots and lots of food.  Taco meat can be frozen in little batches and be used over, again and again.  Me, I would make 1/4 pound of meat each for 180 or 200 people.  Shredded cheese probably freezes OK too.

Answer 4

instead of making tacos, set up a taco bar. start out with taco shells and/or tortillas on one end and let everyone make their way down the assembly line. this way, it will be easier on you and people can put what they want in it.

Answer 5

make lots of food if there is any left send it tooo me!!!!!!!!!!!!

jk

make go home boxes if there is any left

Answer 6

i say order the 175 tacos !

Answer 7

plan to feed them all. what you dont use you can send home to your freinds or take to the soup kitchen. never ever run out of food. it makes you look cheesey! pun intended.

Answer 8

yeaaaaaaaaahhhh... chances are... after graduation, if the kids have no where to go, you can guarantee they'll all come to your house... you can bet on all the kids showing up for sure...

as for the invitations, you gotta figure at least three tacos per person.... might as well make millions of tacos.

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