Lean Mode
Light appetite + shared-menu assumptions across all items.
$96 - $200
Kids Birthday
Kids Birthday Party for 20 Guests
Kid-heavy party with short duration and strong waste-control target.
By FeedMyGuests Editorial Team • Reviewed: February 19, 2026
Guest Count
20
Target Budget
$180
Baseline Status
Borderline against target budget
Real-World Constraint
75-minute food window with mixed kids/adults
Baseline Menu From Calculator Outputs
The first menu item is treated as the anchor dish. Supporting items are calculated with shared-menu assumptions.
| Menu Item | Quantity | Cost Range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza Anchor | 6 large pizzas | $72 - $120 | Calculator page |
| Hot Dog | 21 hot dogs | $21 - $53 | Calculator page |
| Chips | 21 oz | $5 - $11 | Calculator page |
| Cupcake | 11 cupcakes | $17 - $44 | Calculator page |
| Veggie Tray | 6 cups | $5 - $12 | Calculator page |
Baseline total: $120 - $240
Budget Tradeoff Modes
Balanced Mode
Anchor item + supportive sides using baseline event appetite.
$120 - $240
Comfort Mode
Hungry-crowd assumptions with stronger buffer on the anchor item.
$198 - $396
Tradeoff Notes
- •More pizza improves simplicity but increases leftovers
- •More snack foods reduce cost but can feel low-quality to adults
- •Adding veggie tray improves balance but increases prep complexity
What Changes at +10 Guests
Scaling from 20 to 30 guests moves this baseline plan from $120 - $240 to $178 - $356. Budget impact: +$58 to +$116.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Planning adult-size portions for all children
- •Serving dessert too early and collapsing savory demand
- •Ignoring allergy-safe backup options
Decision Log
- •Treat pizza as primary and reduce secondary items
- •Push cupcakes to final 20 minutes
- •Keep plain cheese and plain chips as fallback items
Execution Timeline
- 3 days before Confirm attendance split (kids vs adults)
- 1 day before Prep allergy labels and serving trays
- 30 minutes before Set savory foods only
- Final 20 minutes Bring out cupcakes
Planning Intent Cluster Links
Move between this scenario, calculators, and guides in two to three clicks.
Editorial Process and Sources
Last reviewed: February 19, 2026
Publisher: FeedMyGuests Editorial Team · Contact: contact@feedmyguests.com
This scenario is authored and reviewed by FeedMyGuests Editorial Team using calculator outputs for 20 guests, then adjusted with practical constraints, execution tradeoffs, and post-event risk checks.
Reference Sources
- USDA FoodData Central Retrieved: February 19, 2026
- FDA Safe Food Handling Retrieved: February 19, 2026
- USDA FSIS Safe Temperature Chart Retrieved: February 19, 2026
Editorial Change Log
Auto-generated from repository commits. Latest sync: 2026-02-19.
- 2026-02-19 • Improve trust signals, scenarios, and editorial content workflows (e90d416)
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