How to feed 20 teens affordably—not pizza or homemade?

[Anonymous]

Sandwich tray from a grocery store or Jimmy Johns?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could you do baked ziti made in advance? Just a thought.

+1 I would do a ton of baked ziti, garlic bread, and salad. Prepare in advance and just bake the day of. This will cost you WAY less than $300.

[Anonymous]

We feed 160 hungry band kids before every football game. Taco bar, pasta with salad and bread, breakfast, chili with fixings, …. Be sure to have vegetarian options. Ask about food allergies.

[Anonymous]

I think I'd go the casserole route. If you can't warm at home, look at getting a tray (or 2) of lasagna from some where that you can pick up hot. Does Olive Garden do this? Costco? Then add in some bread and salad.

[Anonymous]

If you're sure no one has a nut allergy, you could get pans of Vietnamese food at Eden Center (7 corners in VA). My husband is Vietnamese, and occasionally he goes there and brings back tons of food, but we have to be careful because one of our children is anaphylactically allergic to peanuts.

The meat-filled bread or rice buns from Cha Lua Ngoc Hung at Eden Center are incredibly caloric and filling, but delicious, and perfect for hungry teens!

[Anonymous]

Agree get a big platter of
Chik fil a nuggets.

They will be gone in like a second.
I think kids like them more than pizza

[Anonymous]

Don pollo. I would get the fiesta for 8. 4 whole chickens, 8 sides, tortillas, and sauce. I think it’s $60.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're sure no one has a nut allergy, you could get pans of Vietnamese food at Eden Center (7 corners in VA). My husband is Vietnamese, and occasionally he goes there and brings back tons of food, but we have to be careful because one of our children is anaphylactically allergic to peanuts.

The meat-filled bread or rice buns from Cha Lua Ngoc Hung at Eden Center are incredibly caloric and filling, but delicious, and perfect for hungry teens!

YUM! I love this idea. Unfortunately I’m in DC but I’m going to remember this for the future.

[Anonymous]

2 Costco lasagna’s if your oven is large enough & something else (something you could throw in a crockpot, like chili) & lettuce salad.

[Anonymous]

Thanks (almost) everyone for the great ideas. Keep them coming if you have others!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're sure no one has a nut allergy, you could get pans of Vietnamese food at Eden Center (7 corners in VA). My husband is Vietnamese, and occasionally he goes there and brings back tons of food, but we have to be careful because one of our children is anaphylactically allergic to peanuts.

The meat-filled bread or rice buns from Cha Lua Ngoc Hung at Eden Center are incredibly caloric and filling, but delicious, and perfect for hungry teens!

PP - can you please tell me more about the pans of food your husband gets, and from which store? I love the Eden Center and love to do exactly this. And I just looked the menu at Cha Lua Ggoc Hung. Which is the meat filled bread that you would recommend? My son would love that.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I'd go the casserole route. If you can't warm at home, look at getting a tray (or 2) of lasagna from some where that you can pick up hot. Does Olive Garden do this? Costco? Then add in some bread and salad.

It'd be about $250:
https://www.olivegarden.com/menu/create-your-own-pasta-station/prod82663/

[Anonymous]

Wegmans does a Game day party package, under entrees, on their catering site.

Two dozen cookies, deviled eggs, subs and wraps, and a meat and cheese tray for $174.

[Anonymous]

Wegman’s, Chipotle, Mezeh, district Taco, etc etc. Really any grocery store or fast casual place.

[Anonymous]

The Costco throw-in-the-oven meals are great, and I'm kind of a food snob. And their street taco meal requires no prep other than microwaving.