4th Birthday Party Food

[nicoleannette]

Am planning a birthday party for my daughter's 4th. Got entertainment sorted etc. What would you recommend for food? Set up table and have a buffet style selection? Or individual boxes for kids? Food on a kiddie table and let them go for it?? Clearly not a party connoisseur here.... thanks

I wouldn't do a buffet style. Either sit down at the table, or give them individual boxes. There will be food everywhere if they can keep going back to the table and taking handfuls back to somewhere else!

Individual boxes work well if you're able to ask what sandwich they'd like before hand. Go for standard cheese, ham or jam and then crisps, apple slices (morrisons do the little bags) and a wrapped biscuit. Simple.

Kids sat at a table with food in the middle. Food is generally ham/jam/cheese sandwiches, cold pizza, sausage/cheese rolls, crisps, cucumber/carrot sticks. Then biscuits and buns.

I know a lot of people on here like individual boxes but personally I prefer food in the middle of the table. Not too many options keep it simple. Less sandwiches than you think, keep fillings simple cheese, ham, jam or marmite. Don’t bother with salad in the sandwiches if children don’t like that particular veg they just won’t bother with the sandwiches. Do a plate of cucumber, carrot and pepper sticks instead. Fingers of pizza tend to go well, much nicer if served warm. Mini sausages also popular but include a veggie alternative, quorn nuggets are pretty safe. Obligatory skips and Wotsits. Put savoury out first and then follow up with sweet. Don’t bother with cupcakes, kids lick off the icing and leave the rest, ice lollies go down well as do party rings and chocolate fingers and bite size chocolate crispie cakes.

This comes from years of a Saturday job as party host at a soft play centre whilst at uni. My biggest tip, NEVER CHERRYADE. Almost always results in hyperactive, vomiting child!

Amazing, thanks all