How to Plan a Meal for 25 People

It is always fun to get together with a large group of people, but when you're the one in charge of planning and entertaining, it can be stressful. Preparing a meal for 25 people successfully requires careful decision making and precise planning. Besides the cooking, you need to consider space, where people will sit and table settings. By mapping out a complete meal plan including these items, your meal is sure to be a success that the guests will talk about for years to come.

• 1

  Make a list of attendants. Next to each person's name, take into consideration any food alerts, such as allergies or vegetarian requests. This will ensure each guest has something to eat, and nobody will go without. It will also help you plan what to cook.

• 2

  Make another list of easy-to-prepare foods that you are comfortable cooking. Simple items like lettuce salads and pasta salads go on this list.

• 3

  Make one more food list that includes the most difficult-to-make dishes, and how long each one takes. This includes complicated dishes like a full roasted turkey or large pot pies that require many ingredients and multiple steps.

• 4

  Create a time line of when to make each dish. Some foods, like meatballs, can be made a month in advance and frozen until the date arrives. Dishes like salads and desserts should be made the day before or morning of the meal.

• 5

  Make one last list of how many table settings are needed for the meal. If it is a five-course meal, several spoons and forks are needed per person. Include exact numbers for each item, including plates, bowls, glasses and napkins. Add a few extra to the final number to prepare for an accident, like someone dropping a glass or a plate.