Set up the proportion $\frac{12 \text { meals }}{18 \text { people }}=\frac{x \text { meals }}{12 \text { people }}$. Solving for $x$ gives us $x=8$. 
Twelve friends met for dinner at Oscar\textquotesingle s Overstuffed Oyster House, and each ordered one meal. The portions were so large, there was enough food for $18$ people. If they shared, how many meals should they have ordered to have just enough food for the $12$ of them? (2004 AMC 8 Problems, Question \#3) 
Options:
  $$8$$ 
  $$9$$ 
  $$10$$ 
  $$15$$ 
  $$18$$ 