We do alot of lunches as Relay for Life fundraising events, and the employees really enjoy it. I am looking for more lunch ideas, because they are asking for more.
Here are the ones we've had so far, that work really well. We have a potato bar lunch, where employees sign up to bring either potatoes, or a potato topper, such as bacon, chili, broccoli cheese sauce, butter, etc. On the morning of the lunch, we put all the potatoes in a cooker to bake, and they are done by lunch time! We charge $5 a person for the lunch, and usually have a big turn out.
We also have a sloppy joe lunch, with a sign up sheet where you can sign up to bring a crock pots of sloppy joe meat, or chips, a desert, buns, a potato salad, etc. The employees love it! It gives them a chance to try out their new recipes, etc. Those who don't cook sign up to bring things like chips, ketchup, etc.
There are times we have meetings that bring in employees from other locations, and if I schedule the lunch around the same time, I get more of a turnout.
We do a chili lunch and a spaghetti lunch in our office every year. Of course, for the chili, we just need crockpots, but for the spaghetti, we just cook the noodles at home until they are not even quite al dente. Then around 9:30, we put them in a crockpot of water and by 11:30/noon, they are done.
We also have a pancake/waffle breakfast every year. We start it at 7:30 and go until 8:30. Several people bring up waffle makers and electric griddles. We just get the box mix and mix it at the office. We usually have sausage links that are pre-cooked and just warm them up in the microwave.
I love your idea of the potato bar - I think we might have to try that one!
different kinds of soups along with sandwiches, chips, desserts work well for some lunches we do. Also, sub sandwiches along with speciality salads are another good lunch and nice for warmer weather.
I thought about the spagetti -a few people could sign up to bring a crock pot of sauce. But I can't think of a way an employee could have the noodles made up and ready. We only have a microwave, and plug-ins for crock pots, etc. The way it works now, I usually take lunch about 10 min. earlier than everyone else, to set the refridgerator items out just before lunch begins, and the rest has to be ready in a crock pot, etc. So time is a factor.
Also, the only thing I can think of for breakfast is casseroles, or quiche, since everything has to be premade. But that would put most of the cooking on to a just few people, instead of spreading out the cost and work. Unless we had someone bring in bacon, someone eggs, etc. but don't know if it would stay warm bringing that in. There wouldn't be time to have a cooker up and running that early.
Also, lunches work better. It is easier to get people to stay at work for lunch, than to get them to come earlier to do a before work event. Getting the kids to school, earlier to day care, and all that.
My coworkers are true breakfast eaters, we have made from $180-$250. I usually cook the bacon and sausage the night before and we cook eggs and pancakes that morning. We are having our first potato day at the end of April. Lunches we have been lucky to raise $150. Banana Splits are a lot of fun and easy. We have a restaurant that donates the plastic boats and some toppings.
It would be great to do the above mentioned ideas of Tacos or Mexican food on May 5 (Cinco De Mayo). A few other great ideas are a good old fashion BBQ (near or on Memorial day), a breakfast, iced mochas or smoothies or spaghetti.
Joined: 2008-04-05