Lean Mode
Light appetite + shared-menu assumptions across all items.
$190 - $481
Office Lunch
Office Lunch for 40 Team Members
Workday lunch with dietary variation and strict per-person budget cap.
By FeedMyGuests Editorial Team • Reviewed: February 19, 2026
Guest Count
40
Target Budget
$520
Baseline Status
Borderline against target budget
Real-World Constraint
45-minute lunch slot and distributed pickup lines
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandwich Anchor | 50 sandwiches | $200 - $400 | Calculator page |
| Salad | 42 cups | $42 - $126 | Calculator page |
| Veggie Tray | 14 cups | $11 - $28 | Calculator page |
| Cookie | 56 cookies | $28 - $84 | Calculator page |
| Drink | 56 drinks | $28 - $112 | Calculator page |
Baseline total: $309 - $750
Budget Tradeoff Modes
Balanced Mode
Anchor item + supportive sides using baseline event appetite.
$309 - $750
Comfort Mode
Hungry-crowd assumptions with stronger buffer on the anchor item.
$389 - $944
Tradeoff Notes
- •Higher sandwich volume reduces complaint risk but raises waste
- •More salad lowers cost and improves nutrition but may feel less filling
- •Packaged drinks reduce labor but cost more than bulk service
What Changes at +10 Guests
Scaling from 40 to 50 guests moves this baseline plan from $309 - $750 to $389 - $944. Budget impact: +$80 to +$194.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Too much single-flavor sandwich inventory
- •No line flow plan causing bottlenecks
- •Skipping clear vegetarian labels
Decision Log
- •Anchor on sandwiches with balanced support from salad/veg
- •Build two pickup lines with mirrored options
- •Tag dietary-safe items with simple table cards
Execution Timeline
- 72 hours before Collect dietary requirements
- 24 hours before Finalize mixed sandwich count
- 1 hour before Stage two service lines
- Post-service Record leftovers for next event calibration
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 40 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)
Corrections policy: if you spot an error, email contact@feedmyguests.com with the page URL and issue details. Material corrections are logged here after review by the FeedMyGuests Editorial Team.