Box meal or platter - 6 yr old party - no waste and no over catering

[bacon]

I've been to numerous parties where food has been over catered and children seem to pile on food that is just wasted - the more food on show the more piles they make. I am considering a box style (which is what you get the the local leisure centre). Has anyone done this to success.

I am a very capable cook and want to provide some good food of high quality. I absolutely hate seeing platers and platers of sarnies wasted. Its got to be more cost effective to cater for what will be eaten and enjoyed.

Lets face it surely 2 small triangles must be enough, home made sausage roll One cupcake and what else? I was thinking of doing a small kebab fruit stick with chocolate dribbled on it (a mix of white and dark to look appealing).

Luckily my children love olives feta, breadsticks, grapes, cruites, dips etc but is this a waste of time?

Is a box meal better? Have you done this and filled the box up with nice foods.

If not, If I do the platters can I have suggestions. I've seen cold pizza but not many children eating it, cheese sanies - something best left I think. Is there a way of presenting it properly so that its more appealing and will get eaten?

I love jelly and icecream but again is it eaten? The time they eaten the above can they be bothered to sit still?

30 children = 15 rounds of sarnies???

I plan to do a lot now and freeze. I am really drawn in on the box meal.

Experiences appreciated.

[ASuitableGirl]

To be honest children don't tend to eat much at parties (apart from one child who will be sitting there about 20 minutes after the rest have finished). I don't think it's much to do with how nice the food is, or looks but just the fact of being at a party.

At DD's party I made enough sandwiches for two small squares each (ie half a round) and amazingly had to make a few more. There were two pizzas in total (10 children) and various other carrot/cucumber/crisp/small sausage type things. And some party ring biscuits and other similar things.

[littleducks]

At dd's 5th party nobody really ate sandwiches. Crisps went down well though.

They all loved the fruit kebabs and I didn't even put chocolate on them!

[Geordieminx]

I think boxes are a great idea, esp for little ones. Have just ordered some for ds's Halloween party (he's 4.5)

I won't even worry too much about the "homemade" stuff either. I feel your pain,as I love making cakes and such like, but for a party I find that most kids are happy with a sandwich, a packet of quavers, a drink, some raisins and a mini roll or bought fairy cake... Infuriating as it is

[MowlemB]

I've done it for children and found it really cut down on the waste. When I did it, I included an option list on the invite and then labelled the boxes. Each child chose their own sandwich and drink and then I added a small packet of Tesco own Crisps (much smaller than branded packets), cucumber and carrots cut up into strips and tied and then a cheese stick and a sausage roll. For pudding, I just bought ice lollies and children chose one each. Worked very well :-)

[LadyMontdore]

I did potato wedges, pizza and salad for dd, went down well. I put those on the table and then put the cakes and bics out on a separate table when the savories were nearly done. Jelly was a bit of a waste of time. Was a lunch time party though, 11 - 1, worked well and was nice having it all over and cleared up by 2!

[DaveGhoulsgirl]

Boxed food all the way here!!.........made my mistake with DDs first official party, huge amounts of "platter" style food left over.
Order boxes on ebay or amazon....include sandwich, crisps, drink and either cut up veg sticks or grapes.
We tend to do birthday cake as pudding and maybe put a chocolate biscuit in the box
Worked really well last time (although I would do up a couple of extra boxes in case of "stragglers" turning up!!

[mousyfledermaus]

I think the trick is to put only a small amount on the platter (like one sandwich each) and refill when needed.

[sweetiesue]

Boxed or bagged every time. For ds (6) party I did the following in a brown paper carrier bag (local chippy gave me them free of charge) - sports bottle of water, finger roll with ham, babybel cheese, pkt of mini chedders and a homemade bun/cupcake with icing and sprinkles. Virtually no wastage and plenty of smiles. Just needed a pen to write names on water bottles when they wanted to start running about again.

[Geordieminx]

I just got 10 Halloween boxes off eBay for less than £5. Sorted