To half-arse these parts of DD's party

I actually think food is just part of the rhythm of a party, if that makes sense. You do an activity (requires engagement, concentration) and you have food (purely social, kids have a chat and calm time). I can't explain it but a party without food sounds a bit one-note.

What about getting a bunch of party food boxes then bulk buying snacks/ juice boxes etc ? Would that work? And then could add the cake to it after cutting

also i think the slime and sweets is fine for a party bag!

Both! I actually find the 2-4 slot most annoying as you don't really know where you are at with meals that day but as a parent I know my children love a party buffet! I wouldn't make loads of sandwiches or bother with the healthy stuff as that never goes and is just for show, but I know mine love a party as it gives them chance to eat a load of stuff they don't normally get and to eat it in unlimited quantities without me telling them off 😂

I think you still need to do food. You could get some cheap pizzas, nuggets, crisps, make some cheese / ham sarnies etc so it doesn’t get too expensive.

I had a friend who told everyone to pack and bring their own lunchbox for their food. It just seemed a bit :/.

I wouldn’t worry about the party bags, or would just get a multipack of Haribo sweets and hand a pack out to each kid as they leave.

The fact its not mealtime doesn’t matter, you still need food. On weekends people often rush about dropping DC to activities so mealtimes aren’t set in stone

I agree this all sounds fine

Making clear its 2 - 4 and having some cake after.
Also hate party bag plastic tat...... maybe have a tray of dounuts or biscuits and a jug of squash and send the cake home wrapped in a pretty napkin alond with their tub of slime

I've never been to one that didn't serve food tbh

To keep costs down just buy a block of cheese, 2 white loaves of bread, cucumber, carrots, apples and squash.

I think sweets and slime in lieu of a party bag is a really good idea! But I'd provide food personally, I think kids expect it AND it gets them to sit down and calm down for 20 mins! We've done buffet food ourselves for kids parties and I was dreading it and thought it'd be hideously expensive but tbh I did it for about £30 or less with Aldi stuff; couple of pizzas pre-cooked and cut into loads of small slices, loaf of bread's worth of sandwiches, obligatory party rings and french fancies, big bowls of crisps, some breadsticks and token fruit and veg.

I imagine they will just be making a couple of sweets each.

Dropping the party bag is fine imo.

I would give them some sort of savoury food

Definitely fine! They get to take something home, it's perfect. I don't see why people need party bags anyway. You've already given them a party!

I do snack bags for a non meal party time - so get paper party bags and pop in a juice, crisps, wee chocolate, fruit snack and if I’m feeling ambitious a string cheese and piece of fruit. Super easy to prep beforehand and not expensive.

No slime allowed in my house! But I’ve never cared about a party bag and have almost always just done a sweet cone as the kids leave.

With 4 children I’ve lost count of the number of parties they’ve been too over the years and until very recently each and every one of them has come home having had something to eat and with a party bag full of tat, Like all the other parents I’ve gone along with providing the same.
Most of the parties have been at places were hot food is included in the package price, but those that have chosen to cater for themselves usually give a heads up as to what there will be to eat
About a month ago one of the parents was brave enough to buck the party bag trend, and another was brave enough in the Whatspp group to thank her which brought forth lots of other comments saying the same.
News obviously travels fast in my part of the world as since then 2 of my older children have been to parties and come home with nothing more than a piece of birthday cake

Agree with the poster suggesting to check timings. Both my children have done science parties and we did similar with the things they make being the party bag (the entertainer included them decorating a paper bag as part of the activities so it was quite obvious when they left they still had a bag to leave with).

I would however provide food. Kids expect it whatever time of day. I am sure the science party we did wasn't that long either (not even sure it was an hour and a half) so the risk is what do you do if the party finishes and you still have 45 mins to fill if parents drop and go expecting it to be 2 hours? (Assuming you are suggesting 2-4).

Is there a different option to slime? I don’t know any parents who want it in their house!
I would definitely do a snack table with bowls of crisps etc, it fills some time if they eat and I think most kids have some kind of snack mid afternoon.

I think the sweets and slime would be a good party bag, I might add a cupcake.
I would have some food, just cheap and easy. Perhaps some food in little brown sandwich bags so dc can eat it or take it home if they want. Or slices of pizza.

Do a bag with sweets and cake and slime, then as they're leaving, stand by the door with a bin bag held open for everyone to just bung it in there and then. Cut out the middle person 😀

Or cheaper still in asda. Seen large cakes under a tenner

I think both your suggestions are fine but re the food

1. you definitely need to make it clear there won’t be a meal, to avoid kids turning up hungry

2. check the entertainer is ok to provide entertainment for the whole party duration. Often they assume there will be a 30-45 min gap for food.

We didn't provide food at our most recent birthday party here, just tea and cake. We had snacks left out of the table as a free for all, crisps, biscuits, bars, etc but no other food.

You can make a sandwich box fairly cheap, ham sandwich, bag of crisp and a cookie- probably less that £2 a head.

Party bags are the vein of my life, bags of small bits I’m paranoid will choke the dog or child. The slime and sweets are a nice touch. Mine have mostly received a sweet cone instead of a party bag, fairly cheap £1-£2 a head. My children aren’t overly fussed.

In all honesty tho, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at not having food at a party. It’d be nice for them to eat the cake rather than being left to go soggy in a napkin.

Sounds like a great party! Have a fab time.

Also hunt around for different providers of the science party, I’ve seen some charging £300 for 1.5 hours of arty, but others only £200 which is far more reasonable for a party.

I think your idea for party bags is great. I’ve never been to a kids party that didn’t have food, no matter what the time. I wouldn’t care personally as DS doesn’t tend to eat much but other parents may feel differently.

Just write "come and make your own party bag" on the invitation, then add a slice of cake. Job done