No Missed Steaks

About No Missed Steaks

Taking the guesswork out of party planning with data-driven calculations

Why I Built This

We've all been there. You're hosting a party, excited to celebrate with friends and family, but that nagging question keeps you up at night: "How much food do I actually need?"

I learned this the hard way when I hosted a backyard BBQ for 30 people. I bought enough burgers for an army, but ran out of drinks by hour two. Another time, I had leftover birthday cake for weeks. The internet was full of conflicting advice, complicated formulas, and generic rules of thumb that never quite fit my specific party.

That's why I built No Missed Steaks. A simple, science-backed calculator that does the math for you—so you can focus on what matters: enjoying your party and making memories with the people you love.

How the Calculator Works

Simple 3-Step Process

  1. Choose your party type - BBQ, dinner party, cocktail party, or birthday celebration
  2. Enter your details - Guest count, duration, and time of day
  3. Get your shopping list - Organized by category with exact quantities

What Makes It Accurate

  • Party-specific patterns - A BBQ has different eating and drinking patterns than a cocktail party
  • Duration matters - Beverage consumption increases more than food over time
  • Time of day effects - Evening events have higher alcohol consumption than morning brunches
  • Smart rounding - Results rounded to real purchase units like six-packs and half-pound increments

Where the Numbers Come From

Base Servings Per Person

Our starting point is industry-standard serving sizes from professional catering guides and USDA nutritional data. These are the same portions caterers use when planning events.

Party Type Multipliers

Different party types have different consumption patterns:

  • BBQ/Cookout: 1.25x food multiplier - People eat more at outdoor events with grilled food
  • Cocktail Party: 0.75x food multiplier - Focus on drinks and light appetizers rather than full meals
  • Dinner Party: 1.3x alcohol multiplier - Wine pairings and multi-course dining increase alcohol consumption
  • Child Birthday: 0.8x food multiplier - Smaller portions for younger guests

Duration Adjustments

Here's where it gets interesting - food and beverages scale differently over time:

  • Food: Increases gradually (people don't eat proportionally more at longer events)
  • Beverages: Increase significantly (guests continue sipping throughout the event)

Example: A 4-hour party doesn't need 4x the food of a 1-hour event, but it does need substantially more drinks.

Time of Day Multipliers

When your event occurs affects what and how much people consume:

  • Morning: 0.7x food, 0.3x alcohol - Light brunch portions, minimal alcohol (think mimosas)
  • Evening: 1.0x food, 1.2x alcohol - Full dinner portions with peak drinking
  • Late Night: 0.8x food, 1.3x alcohol - Light snacks, higher alcohol consumption

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate are these calculations?

Our calculations are based on industry-standard serving sizes from professional catering guides and adjusted using real-world party data. That said, every crowd is different! Consider these results as guidelines and adjust based on your specific knowledge of your guests. Know they're big eaters? Round up. Have vegetarian guests? Adjust protein quantities accordingly.

We recommend having 10-15% extra on hand for unexpected guests or hearty appetites.

Can I customize or adjust the results?

Currently, the calculator provides baseline quantities for each party type. We recommend using these as your starting point and adjusting based on:

  • Your guests' preferences and dietary restrictions
  • Whether you're serving a full meal or lighter fare
  • Any special dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free)

Pro tip: Print or screenshot your shopping list and make notes directly on it!

What about dietary restrictions and preferences?

Our calculator provides quantity guidelines that work for most standard parties. For specific dietary needs:

  • Substitute vegetarian proteins for meat in the protein category
  • Adjust beverage quantities if you're hosting a dry event
  • Account for allergens by choosing alternative items in each category

The quantities will remain accurate—just swap the specific items to match your menu!

Remember: These calculations are guidelines designed to help you plan. Actual consumption varies based on your specific guests, menu choices, and event circumstances. Always use your best judgment and consider having a bit extra on hand.