How much meat do I need for a barbecue? What is the guideline based on the number of people?

For men

For men, 300g of meat per person is enough. Many men look forward to eating meat at a barbecue, but they also value deepening their relationships with other participants over drinks. Depending on the occasion, you may be more satisfied if you prepare a moderate amount of meat and a generous amount of alcohol.

For women

For women, aim for 200g of meat per person. While men tend to snack on meat while enjoying alcohol, many women prefer to enjoy side dishes along with their meat. It might be a good idea to enjoy small portions of high-quality meat, as well as a variety of side dishes and desserts, so you can enjoy a variety of options.

For children

The amount of food a child eats varies depending on their age. Some children may eat as much as adults, or even more. However, if you base your child's intake on a child who can eat a lot, there is a high chance that they will end up with too much food.
For children in the lower grades of elementary school or younger, the recommended amount of meat per person is about half the amount of an adult portion, and for children in kindergarten or younger, the recommended amount of meat is about the same as an adult portion.

─ Weight example by number of people ─

For 4 people (2 men, 2 women)

Men's guideline: 300g/person x 2 people, Women's guideline: 200g/person x 2 people = 1,000g

For 6 people (3 men, 3 women)

Men's guideline: 300g/person x 3 people, Women's guideline: 200g/person x 3 people = 1,500g

For 8 people (4 men, 4 women)

Men's guideline: 300g/person x 4 people, Women's guideline: 200g/person x 4 people = 2,000g

In the case of 10 people (5 men and 5 women)

Men's guideline: 300g/person x 5 people, Women's guideline: 200g/person x 5 people = 2,500g

Grilled vegetables...100-150g per person (approximate)

Apparently, some people don't order vegetables at yakiniku restaurants, so there isn't much need for vegetables at a barbecue. However, eating only meat can be boring, and it's certainly not very healthy.

From a nutritional standpoint, it is recommended that one-third of the amount of meat you eat be vegetables, and based on that, it would be a good idea to provide about 100 to 150g of vegetables per person.

Specifically, 1/8 of an onion, 2 slices of eggplant, 1 slice of pumpkin, 1/8 of a pepper, 1/2 an asparagus spear, and 1/2 an king oyster mushroom make up approximately 150g of edible portion.

Frozen edamame can also be used as ice packs, so you can prepare one bag (200-300g) for every 10 people.

A la carte dish...half the amount for the number of people (approximate)

Many people look forward to posting pictures of their fun outdoor barbecues on social media, and as the organizers, you'll want to come up with a menu that will please everyone.

When it comes to cooking, not only taste but also appearance is important! Why not try using a skillet or Dutch oven for photos? Dishes like ajillo, steamed fish (acquapazza), and pot-au-feu are popular with women and look vibrant too!

However, depending on the amount of other meats, not everyone will be able to eat a full portion of side dishes. Think of the side dishes as something to snack on, and prepare only half the amount for the number of people.

Staple food: 100-300g per person (approximate)

If there are many children around or if the barbecue is held during lunchtime, it is more common to wait for the meat while having a main dish in hand rather than enjoying meat with alcohol.

For this reason, it's a good idea to prepare convenience store-sized onigiri (rice content: about 120g) for each adult and two for each child. Also, since onigiri spoil quickly if left outside, it's best to distribute them when you start grilling the meat.

Yakisoba and yakisoba are also popular at barbecues. However, cooking using a hot plate is often done over the embers left over from grilling the meat, and by that time the participants' stomachs may be full. Therefore, depending on the amount of other main dishes, about 1/4 of the amount of yakisoba for the number of people should be enough.

If you don't have access to a griddle, how about a sliced ​​bread hot dog? It's super easy to make! Lightly grill both sides of thinly sliced ​​bread on a grill, then fill it with sausages or frankfurters, grilled vegetables, and lettuce, and serve with ketchup and mustard. This "sliced ​​bread hot dog" is common in Australia and is often made at barbecues.

It's easy to make, and it's fun to customize it to your liking by adding leftover grilled vegetables or other ingredients.

Dessert...50-100g per person (approximate)

Dessert is so popular that there is a saying that dessert after a meal is a separate stomach. Recently, there are many men who love sweets, and dessert is important for both men and women.

A classic dessert at a barbecue is roasted marshmallows, but the dessert we recommend here is roasted apples and roasted bananas.

For baked apples, cut them into bite-sized pieces, sprinkle them with lemon juice, place them on foil, and bake slowly with butter, cinnamon, and sugar. For baked bananas, wrap them in foil with the skin on and bake. Both will give off a sweet aroma as they cook, and will be cooked in about 10 to 20 minutes.

Fresh fruit is also a popular dessert at barbecues, as it leaves the palate feeling refreshed. Cutting it at the barbecue venue can be a hassle, so cut it into bite-sized pieces beforehand and bring it chilled in an insulated bag with ice packs. It would be enough to prepare two apples, cut into eighths, enough for each person to eat, one banana for about four people, and other fruits such as oranges, pineapples, strawberries, or seasonal fruits, each with one slice per person.