Budgeting for Food - School Sports Trip

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networkn

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#314923 29-May-2024 21:56

I am building out some costs for taking 5 teenagers to Lower Hutt to compete in a competition over 3 days.

We will need an evening Meal Thursday, 3 meals and likely some snacks etc for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Anyone done this before and able to give me a rough idea on how they costed it?

I am thinking Cereal and Milk from a SuperMarket should cover breakfast, $20 for Lunch and $30 for dinner per head? Maybe ~$70 Per head per day?

We won't have kitchen facilities.

CokemonZ

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#3242544 30-May-2024 07:58

I have done this.

It depends on how meals are to be treated. If it is give them some money and send them on their way, you are about right.

If you are going to a restaurant there are many you can call and prebook a banquet style meal for the number of people. As you are not drinking alcohol you can often ask them to include soda as part of a flat rate.

This can help lower costs, and help with budgeting as they are often fixed cost.

Indian, Thai and Cihnese often pretty good for this sort of thing. Some Italian places too.

Edit: and as teenagers so many snacks. Fruit, Scroggin, muesli bars etc. They eat continuously - especially when away from home and a little over stimulated.

nztim

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#3242550 30-May-2024 08:55

You can keep lunch cheap by ham or chicken with lettuce sandwiches and possibly get it to $30 head per day for breakfast/lunch/snacks then say $25-$35 for kid's dinners and so say $65

Then adults will most likely want a more substantial dinner so more like $40-$50 per day + probably throw in a few flat whites too (p.s. recommend cuffs cafe in LH)

Adults can eat cereal and sandwiches too haha :)

what gets expensive is when they don't want lunch time sandwiches and expect a maccas drive thru :)

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wellygary

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#3242553 30-May-2024 08:56

That number sounds reasonable,

Although a lot will come down on what they are doing for 3 days?

if its a sports competition, the snack demands might be high than 3 days of a debating competition...

EDIT: D'oh just read the thread title, "Sports trip" ... I'll wander off and stop being dim now,

Eva888

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#3242561 30-May-2024 09:11

Supermarkets like PacnSave do a lunch and dinner time fry up of chicken and chips and other fried food that kids enjoy. Much cheaper than KFC.

maoriboy

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#3242657 30-May-2024 11:02

School sports trips may require a more substantial breakfast than cereals. Baked beans on toast, hash browns, bacon etc always go down a treat and can be bought in bulk and fairly cheap. If they are playing multiple games through the days, lots of snacks are needed. Muesli bars, oranges, bananas, Up and Go's along with the usual sandwiches. Dinners can be as simple as a roast chicken, buns, coleslaw from Pak n Save. Lots of options to feed hungry teens.

martyyn

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#3242669 30-May-2024 11:42

Done this many times coaching kids football.

The lack of cooking facilities is really going to limit your options are you sure you can't change that ?

The rest depends on how serious you are. Is it a serious competition or are you coming away for a bit of fun ? Is it physical or laid back ?

If it's serious and it's a physical activity I'd suggest the following:

Breakfast. Stay away from cereal and milk for breakfast. They are full of sugar and have zero protein to help recovery or carbs for fuel. You really want to be eating oats, bananas, apples, pears, maybe something like maple syrup to drizzle on. Put fuel in the body right at the start. Smoothies are good for that and you can spoon in protein powder and frozen fruit. Boiled eggs are easy and can be eaten during the day if not eaten at breakfast.

Food for during the day really depends on timings between the exercise. You really just want to be topping up the breakfast. Breads will sit heavy in stomachs but one or two rolls through the day with ham and coleslaw from P&S are a good cheap option if you have time between activities. Bananas are easy, dried fruit and nuts in small quantities are great. Muesli bars again are full of sugar.

For flavour peanut butter can be added to all sorts of things and oranges are invaluable.

Stick to water, Powerade, Gatorade, any "sports" drink really is just sugar and unnecessary. I would look at something with electrolytes and salts at the end of the day though if it's high intensity.

Evening meals should be protein, protein, protein. Roast chicken is easy accessible but will likely have sat in the supermarket all day. Can you get a portable BBQ to cook a few steaks ? Meat leftovers are great for the rolls the next day too. Stay away from the takeaways and buffet bars, they are generally all fat.

Costs are hard. To be honest I never costed the food on a trip as the fuel to perform was the most important part for me. You're already going away with a bunch of teenagers to a sports event which will be a decent expense. I've seen far too many parents saving money on the things their kids need whilst they are out drinking all night.

cddt

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#3242691 30-May-2024 12:26

martyyn:

Stay away from cereal and milk for breakfast.

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martyyn

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#3242703 30-May-2024 13:26

If I had to choose a cereal it would likely be the only one I'd consider. Just add banana, apple and/or pear and not half a teaspoon of sugar :)

Handle9

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#3242726 30-May-2024 14:52

If you don’t have access to cooking facilities overnight oats are a good alternative to cereal. Add a scoop or two of protein powder and fruit and you’ve got a decent mix of macros.