barny

Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Jello Salad[sugar free], Cookies. They also make sugar free cakes to bake. They aren't as big as the sugar ones. Tea, Coffee.

NanaCsews2

If you go the chicken salad sandwiches/croissants, you may want to have an additional sandwich or entree. Not everyone likes mayo or salad dressing. Two sons and a husband who cannot stand the sight of it. So they are very picky when going to buffets or visiting for a meal. We have lots of experience in going places to eat and sometimes they end up with chips on their plate.
My personal favorite chicken salad on a croissant has grapes and walnuts.
We love to serve a huge pot of chunky chili, with shredded cheese, sour cream, and Frito's corn chips as toppings. I don't put bowls out, I do self-serve with styrofoam cups or coffee mugs.

MimiBug123

Soup/chili buffet in crock pots sounds wonderful, as well as easy. Several different kinds of breads, cheese, sour cream and crackers. Maybe pound cake for dessert, as well as sugar free jello for those who are watching their waistlines!

coopah

Wifesaver is a new term for me, Tothill!! I like it!! This Board is terrific. Now my brain has some definite ideas to focus on and the logistics can be worked out. These ladies love food, so portion control will be important, too. There were some great ideas about that and the idea of mugs for soup is good! Thanks, everyone. I'll get back to you after Mom and I figure it out. At least now there are some plans. Guess I need to go check recipes on the Board.

Caswews

Crockpot !! Lasagne, Italian meatballs, Mexican, German, Swedish, Soups, salads. LOL We always try to do it up differently every year when the family gets together (and I do mean family- usually depending on the side of the family-mine is up to 150 people, his side-75 people ..LOL). Another suggestion (if after googling or bing-ing recipes) is pizza, calzones, salad, bread sticks.

justme CA

We get together occasionally to make layettes for single mothers and work all day. At noon we break for lunch of baked potatoes done by the hostess and all sorts of toppings brought by the workers. It is marvelous with drinks and cookies before we either work in the afternoon or say good-bye.

hobo2000

JustmeCA you know what I like! I may have to go do this right now. What a perfect idea, and so much fun too!

Teacup

One of my favorites is a make-your-own taco salad bar. Big bowl of various lettuce/greens. Seasoned taco meat and, if you can, seasoned shredded chicken -- put it in crock pots. Shredded cheese. Fritos and/or tortilla chips. Diced tomatoes, onions and black olives. Black beans. Salsa. Low-fat sour cream. Several salad dressings...ranch, Western, Green Goddess, taco ranch...whatever strikes your fancy, be sure to include a low-fat choice. With that many options, almost everyone can create a salad they will like. This is a hit with men too. I'm planning to make this near Thanksgiving for a family get together, a nice change from the turkey leftovers.

Gerbie

I was also thinking of a chili or taco meal. Both are quick and easy, as well as filling, and not a great deal of clean up. I have a great quick, but extremely rich - lemon cake that I make, serves a large group, but needs to be kept in refg. until serving time. 1 deluxe Duncan Heinz lemon cake mix, 1 box of instant lemon pudding mix, 1 can Eagle Brand milk, 1 med to lg. carton Cool Whip. - Bake cake according to box directions, allow to cool for 5 min. then take a very small wooden spoon handle or something small like that, and poke holes all over the top of the cake., then pour the entire can of Eagle Brand milk all over the top of the cake, and make sure that it gets in the holes, I usually pour it slowly so it can soak in,. Next allow cake to cool completely until pan is cold to the touch. including bottom of the pan. Then mix lemon pudding according to pkg directions, and spread pudding over the top of the cake, then spread the Cool Whip (that has been thawed) all over the top of the pudding. Serve. NOTE I normally bake this cake in a glass pan or in a throwaway tin foil pan. You need at least a 9x13-15 pan for this cake. Everyone loves this cake and it is moist, but is rich, most only eat one piece.

Elisabrat

I vote two types of soup can be made in advance and served hot reheated. Say Roasted Butternut Squash soup and maybe simply chicken soup for those who want meat too.. and bread, butter and salad if need be maybe a mixed one two types of dressing easy and then low sugar type dessert? take canned pineapple put a small layer in a plastic drink cup small ones.. then a small layer of orange manderines slices then top with whipped cream. It looks like candy corn and this is fall (hence the squash soup). wait just checked your in florida..ok plan b

one hot pasta dish one cold pasta dish maybe pesto with chicken for the cold and red sauce for the hot? easy done make ahead and reheat.. bread/butter, same dessert. tada! memorable is the group not the meal.. we eat every day its how fun it is to share it that makes it. Put something special on the table like a pumpkin hollowed out and filled with flowers, easy to do memorable.. little pumpkins with name tags..
depending on the size of the group you have to figure diabetics, people on strict other diets, vegans, vegetarians, so meat food and non meat food, veggies to be safe and fruit cups with or without sugar. you can buy sugar free pineapple or pears canned. lite whip cream also

good luck keep it simple you will have so much more fun.. remember its the fun of the event not the food.. just keep it good and keep it simple everyone will like it then. bet they ate all the sandwichfood just fine last time.. people graze its just the way we are.