What are your best ideas for inexpensive party foods?

1. 83

   oceansnsunsetsposted 12 years ago

   What are your best ideas for inexpensive party foods?
   
   My son is having a huge pool party, planned last minute, and tons of kids are invited, over 140!  If even 50 come, we need food to feed all these teenagers.  I was wondering if you have any fun ideas, preferably inexpensive for food or drinks.  They can be anything from snack to dessert ideas.

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2. 59

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   Kool aid is probably the most inexpensive drink. Kids still like it, don't they?  Also chips and dip.  You can find inexpensive bags, get a brick of cheese and do nachos.
   
   Also turkey or chicken hot dogs are very cheap.  Although with 140 kids, nothing will be cheap if you feed them all.  Good luck!
   
   Depending on the age of the kids, a potato bar might be a possibility.  Potatoes are still cheap, bake up a ton, and offer cheese, salsa and things like that for them.

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3. 59

   earth angel Susanposted 12 years ago

   Oh, my!  You are going to have your hands full!  I hope you have a really big pool! Pizza is always a hit with the teens and you can cut them in small slices to make them go further.  I would make it a pot luck and have each of them bring something like a six pack of sodas or a pizza or a bag of chips.  Go to Sam's club or Costco and get the big sizes for less.  Hot dogs are always a big hit around the pool too.  My favorite party dessert for a large crowd is bananna pudding.

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4. 64

   cat on a soapboxposted 12 years ago

   Lucky you!!! I have a teenage daughter, and I've found that teenagers who are busy swimming and socializing usually like to graze on snack foods, hot dogs, and pizza. I'd get bulk at Smart & Final or Costco in the way of individual chip bags,  sodas, &  bottles of water.( Making large coolers of instant lemonade is economical but requires cups. ) Bake brownies/cupcakes and ask others to bring a plate full.  Hot dogs, buns, and condiments are reasonable in bulk. Consider paper hot dog holders or foil instead of plates if they are cheaper.(Think stadium foods)  Large bags of apples are a healthy alternative to veggies. Rolls of paper towels do double duty for spills and as napkins. Pizza might be the same as the cost of hot dogs, and would be less effort. Weigh the pros and cons.   In the end, the goal is happy kids with less trash, less waste, and minimal clean-up- all on a budget. Try to avoid the need for plates, cups, cutlery, or things that sit out and spoil like dips and salad dressings. Have fun!!

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5. 61

   unreasonablegraceposted 12 years ago

   Fruit and yogurt for dipping is relatively cheap, especially if you get a huge container of yogurt.  If you don't want to cook the snacks yourself, pizza rolls work in a pinch and can be purchased economically at a place like Costco.  Jello is also a cheap dessert, and can be combined with Cool Whip as a mousse.  There's also the trick of combining a tub of Cool Whip with a Jello pudding box (small one).  Makes a great chocolate mousse... and who doesn't love chocolate?

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6. 73

   rtburroughs2posted 12 years ago

   This will take a bit of effort. Teenagers have different taste, plan accordingly. To update kool-aid  try adding 7-up and some fresh fruit. If you go to Smart & Final or Costco you can get some bake and serve pizza, Get at least 10 pizzas. You will also need at least 5 cases of soda. Even on a conservative budget expect to spend $2.00 per person.

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7. 61

   landscapeartistposted 12 years ago

   As  a parent with a hyperactive set of kids and grandkids, i found out earlier in their lives that some cheap drinks and snacks aren't necessarily the best way to go. 
   Koolaid is a good cheap drink to buy, but its dye and sugar content was a big no-no for my kids.  I ended up having to get the frozen drink mixes like minutemaid and mckain because its 100% real juice.  Costco is a great place to get party foods in bulk.  I have found that kids around here like the bottled water a lot more then they like the flavored drinks because it quenches their thirst more and they can go play longer.
   I work along the 401 hwy and busloads of kids come through here all the time.  They eat up the veggie cups like they were candy.  Veggie platters is a good idea, and fruit platters for those that don't like to eat their veggies, chips and dip, finger sandwiches, and pizza.  Everyone loves pizza.   Some trays of sweets is a choice you can go with as well.

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8. 72

   artist101posted 12 years ago

   Most teenagers like barbecue. Pork is always on sale, very versatile, and goes a long way when trying to feed many. Place a pork roast in a crock pot simmer for about three hours, with your favorite sauce, its always on sale, serve on crusty rolls. For desert a chocolate cake, can be made into a sheet cake, and cut into squares. Tortilla chips, with sides, such as cheese dip, or salsa. You could even do a taco bar. Place pork, chicken, or hamburger in crock pot, with your favorite seasoning, for about 3 hours, serve with tortillas, shredded cheese, and sides, such as lettuce and tomato. You can do both, for variety. A hot dog bar, with sides, and chips is also an option. I have a lot of versatile, fairly inexpensive recipe ideas in my articles. http://artist101.hubpages.com/hub/pork- … pork-roast

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