Birthday lunch shopping list

Planning a birthday lunch is mostly about buying the right quantities and having serving equipment ready before guests arrive. Use your confirmed guest count to plan bread, soup, salads, sandwich fillings, drinks, coffee, tea and cake. Allow one dinner plate and one dessert plate per guest, plus a small buffer for breakages or unexpected additions. Check the fridge, tables, coolers and serving dishes before shopping so you do not discover missing essentials on the morning of the lunch.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Dining tablesqty 4
Chairsqty 22
Buffet table
Tableclothsqty 5

Tableware

Dinner Platesqty 24
Dessert platesqty 24
Knivesqty 24
Forksqty 24
Spoonsqty 24
Drinking glassesqty 30
Coffee Cupsqty 24
Serving plattersqty 8

Kitchen

Serving utensilsqty 8
Cutting Boardsqty 3
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Serving Traysqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 2
Thermosesqty 3
Kettlesqty 2

Decorations

Balloonqty 30
Vasesqty 3

Cleaning

Trash binsqty 3
Cleaning bucketsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Whole wheat bread - 8 loaves
- White bread - 6 loaves
- Bake-off rolls - 30 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 500 grams
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Mild Cheese - 1.5 kilograms
- Cooked Ham - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast - 800 grams
- Hummus - 600 grams
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Boiled eggs - 20 pieces
- Tomato soup - 5 liters
- Quiche - 4 pieces
- Arugula - 4 bags
- Cucumbers - 4 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 1 kilogram
- Carrots - 1 kilogram
- Corn - 4 cans
- Olives - 2 jars
- Feta - 500 grams
- Pasta salad - 2 kilograms
- Salad dressing - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Bananas - 2 kilograms
- Birthday cake - 2 cakes
- Whipped cream - 4 cans
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Apple juice - 4 liters
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Still water - 6 bottles
- Lemonade - 4 liters
- Ice cubes - 4 kilograms
- Paper napkins - 3 packs
- Kitchen paper - 3 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 1 roll
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 1 pack
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 pack

Tips

Plan food for the confirmed guest count plus 10% if several people have not replied. Collect allergies and dietary requirements before ordering the cake or buying sandwich fillings.
For drinks, allow roughly 2 to 3 drinks per person during the first hour, then 1 drink per person for each additional hour. Chill drinks several hours ahead and use cool boxes if the fridge is full.
Count tableware by course: one dinner plate, dessert plate, knife, fork and drinking glass per guest. Add at least 2 or 3 spare place settings, especially when children or buffet-style eating are involved.
Buy or prepare the cake early enough for the bakery or supplier’s lead time, and keep dessert plates, teaspoons and coffee cups separate from the lunch service so they are easy to reach after the buffet.
Do not leave serving equipment until the shopping day. Check that you have enough serving bowls, serving cutlery, trays, chopping boards and kitchen knives before preparing the soup, salads and bread.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a birthday lunch?: Plan the main lunch for every confirmed guest, then add about 10% for generous portions and late additions. For a buffet with soup, salads, bread and fillings, offer at least 2 substantial options plus enough bread for 2 to 3 slices per person.
How many drinks should I buy for a birthday lunch?: Allow 2 to 3 drinks per person for the first hour and about 1 drink per person for every additional hour. Include water as well as other drinks, and chill the first batch at least 3 to 4 hours before guests arrive.
How many plates and glasses do I need for a birthday lunch?: Provide one dinner plate, one dessert plate and one drinking glass per guest, plus 2 or 3 spare sets. If you are serving coffee or tea, count one cup per guest and keep 2 extra cups available.
When should I buy the birthday lunch groceries?: Buy shelf-stable groceries, drinks and disposable supplies 2 to 3 days ahead. Buy fresh bread, salads and other short-life ingredients the day before, and check the fridge and serving equipment on the same day.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.