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Serving Sizes for Events
Planning large events can be stressful where food is involved. You don’t want people to go hungry, but you don’t want to buy too much. Use this chart as a guide to get you started figuring out food quantities.
Using this guide
Each event will be different depending on the appetites of who’s invited. A big kids birthday party will need less food than an adult-only wedding reception. The serving sizes in this guide are based on a mixed age group of people with average appetites.
This guide is for plated meals and not buffet service. If you’re planning a buffet, you might want to prepare for slightly larger servings.
All items are for cooked or prepared amounts unless otherwise stated. Check out our Food Equivalents page if you need to convert some ingredients.
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Meats, Poultry and Seafood
These are based on RAW meat quantities from recipes on our website.
Food Item Serving Size per Person Beef steak
ground
roasts, bone-in
roasts, boneless
4 - 6 oz (188 - 125 g)
4 oz (125 g)
11 oz (330 g)
8 - 12 oz (227 - 340 g)
Pork/Ham chop
roasts
ground
ham, bone-in
ham, boneless
bacon
ribs
1
4 oz (125 g)
4 oz (125 g)
6 - 8 oz (170 - 250 g)
4 - 6 oz (125 - 170 g)
3 strips
1 lb (500 g)
Hot Dogs/Sausages 2
Hamburgers 1 1/2 patties
Turkey whole
bone-in breast
boneless
1 lb (500 g)
12 oz (375 g)
6 - 8 oz (150 - 250 g)
Chicken whole
breast
pieces
12 oz (375 g)
1
2 to 3
Fish/Seafood fish fillets
scallops
shrimp
8 oz (250 g)
4 oz (125 g)
4 oz (125 g)
Eggs 2
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Dinner Accompaniments
All quantities are for prepared amounts.
Food Item Serving Size per Person Soup starter size
main course
1/2 cup
1 1/2 cups
Stuffing 1/3 cup
Potatoes baked
mashed
scalloped
1
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
Potato Toppings butter
sour cream
bacon bits
green onion
2 tsp
1/4 cup
1 tbsp
1 tbsp
Rice 1/2 cup
Cabbage Rolls 3
Vegetables 1/2 cup
Rolls/Buns 1
Gravy 1/3 cup
Cranberry Sauce 1/4 cup
Horseradish 2 tsp
Salads potato
macaroni
bean
coleslaw
marinated vegetable
ambrosia
green
dressings
2/3 cup
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
2/3 cup
3/4 cup
1/2 cup
3 oz (90g)
2 tbsp
Cold Meats 4 oz (125 g)
Cheese Slices 30 g ( 1 oz or 1/4 cup)
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Desserts and Baking
All quantities are for prepared amounts.
Food Item Serving Size per Person Cakes 1 piece
Dainties 3 pieces
Tea Loaves 2 pieces
Ice Cream 3/4 cup
Toppings dessert sauces
whipped cream/whipped topping
strawberries (fresh, sliced or frozen)
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
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Breakfast
All quantities are for prepared amounts.
Food Item Serving Size per Person Hashbrowns/Cubed Potatoes 1/2 cup
Muffins or Rolls 1 1/2
Toast 2 slices
Pancakes pancakes
syrup
3
1/4 cup
Butter 1 tbsp
Jam/Jelly 2 tbsp
Cereal cold
hot
milk for cereal
1 1/2 cups
1 cup
1 cup
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Barbecue and Picnics
All quantities are for prepared amounts.
Food Item Serving Size per Person Corn on the Cob 1 whole cob
Beans side dish
main dish
1/2 cup
1 cup
Garlic Bread 1 - 2 slices
Buns/Rolls 1 - 2
Burger Toppings cheese slices
onions, chopped
mustard
relish
ketchup
1
1 tbsp
2 tsp
2 tsp
2 tbsp
Salads See "Dinner"
Potatoes See "Dinner"
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Beverages
When organizing an event, plan for 1 drink per hour for non-alcoholic beverages and 1 drink per 2 hours for alcoholic beverages.
Food Item Serving Size per Person Coffee or Tea coffee or tea
cream
coffee whitener
sugar
2 cups
2 tbsp
1 tsp
2 tsp
Hot Chocolate hot chocolate
marshmallows
1 1/2 cups
2 - 3 regular or 5 - 10 mini
Milk 1 cup
Juice 1 cup
Punch 1 1/2 cups
Soft Drinks 2 cans
Wine 5 oz (150 mL)
Beer bottle or can
draught
1
12 oz (355 mL)
Coolers/Ciders 1