How Much Food Do You Need Per Guest? A Practical Catering Guide
One of the most common worries for any event host is running out of food or suffering excessive wastage. Over 20 years and 5,000+ catered events, Nanda Caterers has perfected the science of banquet portion planning.
Appetizers & Starters: If serving appetizers during a 90-minute cocktail or sangeet session before dinner, budget 4 to 6 appetizer pieces per guest. For evening parties where starters ARE the main meal, increase to 8 to 10 pieces across 4 to 5 varieties.
Main Course Curries: For a 3-curry spread, plan approximately 180g to 220g of cooked vegetable and paneer curry per guest in total. Paneer dishes typically experience 20% higher pickup.
Breads & Rice: Expect an average of 2 to 2.5 rotis/naans per person, accompanied by 75g to 100g of biryani or pulav.
Desserts & Sweets: Warm halwas should be portioned at 60g–75g per guest, complemented by 1 scoop of kulfi or ice cream.
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