How Many and How Much?

Personally, I would just do the hotdogs. Much less expensive and you won't "run out". In general... plan on one dog per kid and 2 per adult! All you need are buns, ketchup and mustard- chips, coleslaw and some drinks. All set! If you add in the Brauts, you are adding other expenses and it's tough to tell which people would want.

Have fun!

Are you inviting more kids than adults? Most kids like hot dogs and more adults like brats... If there are more adults than kids, I'd get more brats. But they will eat what you have...

I would think that most people could eat 2 hot dogs or brats each.
Are you having a lot of other stuff too? If so then you *might* get away figuring 1.5 per person.......I definitely don't think that 40 hit dogs and 20 brats is overbuying.
But then again....I'm Italian....and we tend to go big, food wise.
The last thing you want is people hitting a drive thru on the way home from your party!

I would always have extra food. So if it was me I would buy at least 40 of
each and then freeze what you do not use. Not everyone likes brauts so
I would maybe rethink that or add some burgers to the mix . My biggest
fear having a party is running out of food.

Hot dogs for everyone would be easiest.
I'd figure 2 for everyone (although some will have less, a few might have more).
If you have any leftover, hot dogs you can use them in beans n weens, scrambled eggs, mac n cheese, etc so they won't go to waste.
For 40 people, you could do a pot luck and have people bring a dish (salads, side dishes, etc) - you provide dessert - birthday cake and maybe ice cream.
Don't forget beverages.
Soda and iced tea are fine.

I would over buy on the hotdogs and brats. Only open the packages as you need to. Once the party is over, put unopened packages in the freezer and save for later.

I stock up on the Ball Park beef hotdogs when the market puts them on a deal of the week. I probably have 8 packs or so in my freezer! We use them for doggie treats and the occasional hot dog craving!

And, gees..... there is not really a concern that your children get cancer from wating a hot dog now and then, good grief.... Granted, if they ate several packages of hotdogs and nothing else a day, then they might run a risk of getting sick and fat from eating too many hot dogs!

ETA: For the picky eaters, just have some type of hearty salad, maybe a fruit and veggie tray, etc. Sadly, you can't please everyone but maybe you don't have uptight guests.

Have fun at the party!!

Cost will depend on type.

In our area (food is really expensive BUT)

- Big 30 brat package = $9
- OR brats run at $1.50 each

- Turkey dogs are $1.50 for 8
- OR Regular or Kosher dogs are $5 for 8

- $0.88 for buns
- OR $4 for buns

I would personally get 3 packs of 30 brats (2 each) and 10 packs of turkey hotdogs and 1 pack of tofu pups (just to be safe).
90 brats
80 hotdogs
8 tofupups
88 buns
_________

27
12
5
9
____

around $50

I'd also grab a 10lb bag of potatoes and makes potato salad & a couple heads of romaine and make a caesar salad. Also something cheap and easy (like baked beans, homemade is a pain, but dirt cheap OR vegetarian chili... ALSO dirt cheap. People can eat it with, or put it on their dogs for chili dogs. But if there are going to be a lot of kids... I'd nix it and do macaroni salad... because either baked beans or chili can get MESSY, and red doesn't come out that easy))

Bringing my total up to about $60... which, feeding 40 people, is an out and out steal at $1.50 per person

HINT: Hotdogs and brats freeze. Really, really well. If you just open 30 brats and 30 hotdogs to start, and then open as needed, the unopened ones will freeze and you can defrost and use all year long.

Depends on a number of things...how many kids..how many adults...since it's the 1st birthday - it's more for you and hubby than anyone else!! :)

One kid would most likely only eat one hot dog..an adult may eat 2...Do you know a lot of adults that eat brats? Can you get the good kaiser rolls for them instead of plain hot dog buns? Not trying to make this more complicated but "thinking out loud"...

Fillers like potato salad and pasta salad help out a lot in parties. I would go to Costco to buy the items in bulk and also save money.

It's been months since I bought hot dogs at Costco - but a package of 36 was $9.99 I think - don't quote me on that!! LOL!!! And the buns there were $4.99 - I THINK - this was for our block party in May...

No, I don't think it's over buying...it's either gonna be just enough or a few shy...I don't know the crowd so it's VERY hard to make a judgment call like that!! When I have a party - I plan to feed an army so I always over do it.

GOOD LUCK!

I don't think so. One hotdog doesn't fill me up at my teen can eat 4! Just get that and relax! Enjoy the party!

The kids will eat hotdogs only. The adults will mainly eat brats 1st and then go back for hotdogs. Figure 2 hotdogs per person - so 80. If you buy the cheap ones 98c or the big packages, that should be less then $15 for dogs and $10 for generic buns. The brats, I would only make 1 per adult because they are so much more expensive. Brats are usually $4 for 6 of them. So, if you have 20 adults, that's $15 for 20 brats and $2 for buns.

Adults generally eat 2 at gatherings, Kids eat and dont finish and the grab again and again. When left to eat on there own. NOW be sure that the 40 people would enjoy Hotdogs. Not everyone likes them, some may not eat meat, some may not want Pork. I know with out diets (husband is vegetarian) and for personal reasons dont eat anything that may contain pork. So we probably would have eaten before hand or eat only the other food if it fit our criteria. We would never say anything but it would have been disappointing. We understand people can not cater to everyone. Maybe buy 20 regular hotdogs and 10 to 20 Turkey hotdogs. Brat amount I would throw in at least one more extra package. Just cause people like to eat at parties. If you have left overs you can find great recipes for spaghetti and other dishes to use that meat up in the next few days.

You might want to consider hot dogs and hamburgers. I know me personally I won't eat hot dogs or brauts because of the nitrates. These are serious chemicals known to cause cancer. Also your child should probably not be eating hot dogs either. As far as cost if you have a bjs or Costco that would probably be the best place to get the food. I would plan for 1.5 meat items per adult and 1 per child.

How many adults? Adults will eat brats, kids hotdogs. Well unless they are my kids, mine can eat two brats at dinner.
If you have enough brats for each adult and then half as many more you should be fine. That way if kids want one they can have one.
Then have lots of hot dogs. Adults will eat those after the brats are gone.
Serve lots of other stuff too, like potato salad, chips.

MMMMM When is the party?? I'll start driving. lol

I don't know about the kids who are coming but I'm with Margie M., my kids can eat 3 hot dogs or 2 brats at a sitting. So with that in mind I would probably get just hot dogs, or go buy some burger in bulk and make burgers and hot dogs. Brats are expensive and you don't want to run out or have people who don't get any if they wanted some.

I would plan on 2 dogs per person, and have the option of a brat per adult as well. My 4-year old can put away 2 dogs easily, and my almost 2-year old will eat 1 1/2 no problem. If you're concerned about nitrates, they do have nitrate-free hot dogs now (Oscar Mayer Selects is a readily available brand to look for).

I don't think that's overbuying at all. In fact, I'd estimate two "dogs" per person. I know what you mean about budgets. If it were me trying to handle at a reasonable cost, I'd do hotdogs/brats and buns from Costco, a few big bags of chips, and some store-brand cans of pop thrown in a cooler with ice. Just my two cents. Good luck!

I would just do 80 hotdogs and then I might recruit a good friend or family member to bring a big pot of chili that will stretch the dogs and give an alternative to people who don't do hot dogs. Have someone else bring some fritos and then have several toppings available and then you will have plenty without having to make lots of sides. If you recruit a couple of family members to bring things, they will probably be more than happy to help. Especially, if you know someone who makes a great chili, they will be happy to show off their cooking skills and you will stay in budget and have enough to feed everyone.

We have been doing bbq's for our church group for years and we usually provide one hot dog/hamburger per person then add half to it. Some people will eat one, some two. Most kids will eat one. Sams has great prices on hotdogs too. You could do one hotdog per person and then add the brats by half. That should be plenty especially if you are going to have other sides, like chips, potato salad, pasta salad, bbq beans...etcs. Hope this helps. We've never run out of food, plates maybe, but never food. Good luck and God Bless.