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Children’s party food

33 replies

StepMug · 06/02/2019 12:10

DSD 6th Birthday Party is going to be a full class party with a disco and some games.

For food, I’m a bit lost so I’m wondering:

Would you fill individual lunchboxes, and if so, what with?

Or go for the traditional free-for-all buffet?

I’m leaning more towards the lunchboxes but I don’t want it to be like a school day lunchbox IYSWIM? I’m worried it’ll be too samey!

OP posts:
moreismore · 06/02/2019 12:13

Thinking back to school there was incredible excitement in a school trip paper bag with a sandwich, crisps and piece of fruit so I wouldn’t worry too much! There is novelty in the simplest things at that age Smile

thatsmyspace · 06/02/2019 12:13

I'd just go for a buffet far more easier

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 06/02/2019 12:19

Buffet all the way.

InDubiousBattle · 06/02/2019 12:21

Buffet.
Jam/ham/cheese sandwiches
Cheese and tomato pizza
Mini sausages or sausage rolls
Crisps
Party rings and other biscuits
Cake

FlyingMonkeys · 06/02/2019 12:21

Buffet but pizza parties seem very popular too now.

BiggerBoat1 · 06/02/2019 12:24

buffet is so much easier. I wouldn't bother with too many sandwiches. Its all the crisps and party rings.

Theunreasonableone · 06/02/2019 12:32

My DDs have been to some parties with 'packed lunch' type food and it hasn't been that popular. There seems to be much more excitement around a buffet and allowing the kids to eat what they want.

Disfordarkchocolate · 06/02/2019 12:34

Party boxes make a lot of waste for something used for such a short time. Buffet and make sure that the children can pick lots of different options. Have fun!!!

MeetOnTheledge · 06/02/2019 12:36

Buffet definitely, far more sociable than them all sitting hidden behind lunchboxes.

concernedforthefuture · 06/02/2019 12:53

I've always favoured the lunchbox idea. A couple of small and simple sandwiches - one cheese one ham, cut with a shaped cookie cutter to make them more appealing, carton of juice, Frube yogurt, some carrot/cucumber sticks wrapped in foil, bag of crisps (same flavour in each box, Quavers / Pombears tend to be well-liked!), Bear Yo-Yo fruit roll or similar. Then a slice of birthday cake.

StepMug · 06/02/2019 13:02

Okay. So the buffet seems to be preferred!

Second question then;

Buffet up the middle of a table and kids sat on chairs at same table?

Or

Specific food table and then separate seating table or sit on floor?

We had a birthday party last month for my other DSD and it was, frankly, a disaster so I’m worried about it going the same way! Blush

OP posts:
Cwtches123 · 06/02/2019 13:02

Buffet without a doubt. Easiest way to keep everyone happy.

Both of mine would have hated being given a lunch box and a lot would have been wasted.

Cwtches123 · 06/02/2019 13:04

Food on the table and sit around it otherwise you will have kids running around with plates of food!

BiddyPop · 06/02/2019 13:05

I had a last minute "throw it together" party at that age (Local cookery centre left me down on "Pizza and Cupcake making" party literally at 5pm on Friday for a Saturday morning event).

I bought pizza bases and sauce and grated cheese and various toppings (put out in bowls) and got them to make their own pizzas. Then I baked these (and cleared and reset the table) while they played a few games outdoors.

Sandwiches - if you have large cutters, make ham sambos with stars shapes and jam ones with gingerbread men shapes (or whatever shapes you have) - they enjoy the novelty and not having crusts.

One packet of chicken goujons thrown in the oven with the pizzas, and split between the 2 ends of the table.

Couple of bowls of crisps laid along the table.

Couple of bowls of cherry tomatoes and some red pepper sticks (I was surprised just how popular those latter 2 were!!).

I ended up clearing the table off (again) and laying out 3 cupcakes each, a few bowls of different coloured butter cream icing, some sprinkles and chocolate buttons etc, and letting them decorate their cupcakes to bring home (no time to let them bake these - which had been the plan for the cookery school). Some ate theirs, some brought them home (have paper plates and a 2nd one to cover the top, or else some paper/sandwich bags).

Less messy desserty things would be bowls of berries and chopped fruit, already decorated buns or brownies or slices of cake, maybe a few jellies.

Basically, all finger foods (no need for cutlery).

Jugs of squash or plain water are absolutely fine.

PLastic/paper tablecloths, paper napkins, paper plates and paper cups are all your friends for this. Themed is nice, but even just matching or contrasting colours is fine. Get enough to be able to replace a few, and I tend to even use paper plates/bowls for serving things in the middle.

If you HAVE them or would be likely to make lots of use of them, buying plastic plates and bowls and glasses (either small DC types, or camping/outdoor use types) would be somewhat better for the environment, but try to get types that can go in the dishwasher (if you have one) and you may need to wash up as you are going along if you don't have spares.

Have a bin bag in your hand to clear the table and scoop everything into it. (Or all wasted food, napkins and tablecloth - throwing the reusable plates etc into the (emptied in advance) dishwasher). One of the emptiest squash jugs becomes the "bin" to empty the dregs from glasses into before either black bag or dishwasher for those, and the jug is then easy to tip down the sink.

Wave all guests goodbye. Hit "on" switch on dishwasher. Pour cold glass of wine and let party DC open their presents while you get to relax.

BiddyPop · 06/02/2019 13:06

Food on the same table they will sit at - preferably have most already on the table when you call them in, maybe adding any hot food once they are sitting and you walk around pouring the drinks (don't put the jugs on the table as they WILL get spilled!).

Oogle · 06/02/2019 13:13

Buffet all the way!

Cheese sandwiches
Ham sandwiches
Cucumber sandwiches (massive hit)
Crudites - carrot sticks, cucumber, pepper
Sausage rolls
Cocktail sausages
Crisps - wotsits, pom bears, skips
Cadburys fingers
Party rings

Hollowvictory · 06/02/2019 13:14

Lunchbox is must less waste.

Zacksnan · 06/02/2019 13:17

Buffet at the table or your carpets will never be the same.

MeetOnTheledge · 06/02/2019 14:06

Buffet on the table they are eating at, we bought a load of cheap plastic plates, cups and platters which lasted us for several years worth of parties and were then donated to after school club. Individual lunchboxes with juice cartons, crisps, yogurts etc make a huge amount of packaging waste.

00100001 · 06/02/2019 14:22

"Lunchbox is must less waste." - nit really, as kids won't always eat what's in the boxes.

Daisiesinavase · 06/02/2019 14:25

Separate buffet table :)

Gherkinbee · 06/02/2019 14:36

I'm doing lunch boxes at the weekend for my 6yo and 3yo. Mainly because I've been at parties recently where the adorable feral children take about 15 sausages each, then didn't eat them, and there were very few left for others. I am fairly sure a lot of the food will go to landfill but in the boxes I'm doing a cucumber stick, cheese stick, box of raisins, 3 cocktail sausages, 3 chicken poppers and then a separate snack bag with a strawberry, some blueberries and 3 cubes of melon. I'll also have on the table from when they get there about half a tonne of crisps and pom bears, as well as sweets and rice crispy bun type things. And diluting orange already poured out. My two love lunch boxes and seeing what's inside- it's the novelty of it and it's their party. Was at a party couple of weekends ago with loads of sandwiches, very few takers so I decided not to bother 🙂

MsChookandtheelvesofFahFah · 06/02/2019 17:30

Named lunchboxes with finger roll, cut in half, one half cheese, one half ham, sausage rolls, sausages, cherry tomatoes, grapes. We used to ask McDs for 30 fries boxes and then fill them with a mixture of wotsits, skips and pom bears and put those in. Towards the end plates in the middle with party rings and choc fingers. Eat or save in box for later. Box doubles as a party bag and just bung in a piece of wrapped birthday cake. They then take their leftovers and everything else home in the box.

Gherkinbee · 06/02/2019 17:34

And now after reading this thread I have done a complete turn and am considering lovely little cucumber sandwiches...

Hollowvictory · 06/02/2019 19:12

Cucumber sandwiches will not get eaten

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