Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Village hall kids party - food options

29 replies

Arucanafeather · 20/02/2022 14:10

Throwing the very last village hall kids’ party we’re ever going to do for our youngest.

We have got an entertainer for the kids so that aspect is sorted. Going to set up tea & coffee making facilities in the kitchen along with biscuits for the adults to help themselves (missed some of the best moments of our older kids parties making drinks for the adults in the kitchen!). So just undecided what to do for the kids food. I’m going to have squash and water available throughout and have bought themed paper lunchboxes. So do I fill each of them with a bit of everything so all the kids will hopefully have a little something they like in their pack lunch or do I set up plates of individually wrapped items that the kids can pick and put into their own lunchboxes? Adults will be staying so it won’t turn into a free-for-all and I’ll put out plenty so if one could grabs 3 packs of their favourite snack it won’t matter. I thought I would do cheese, ham and ham sandwiches individually wrapped for the kids to choose… maybe in little paper bags as the school is very eco/anti plastic or do I just crack on and use the clingfilm I’ve already got in cupboards. Aaargh! I hate hosting all class kids parties…. Definitely the last one!

OP posts:
Beamur · 20/02/2022 14:14

Kids eat bugger all at parties
I'd just do cheese or ham, put the options in the boxes, have a few spares. Or just do a couple of platters if sandwiches and get an adult to walk round and offer them once the kids are seated.

Normandy144 · 20/02/2022 14:19

If you already have the boxes then prefill them with food. Don't do platters as it negates the point of the boxes which is speed and convenience in my opinion. I did a village hall party last month and filled each lunch box with: 3 triangle sandwiches (jam,ham and cheese), packet of crisps, 2-3 cocktail sausages, mini packet of cookies/choc fingers. Drinks were bottles of water or fruit shoots (less chance of spillages). Don't over think it, keep it simple. Good luck!

gogohm · 20/02/2022 14:20

I would do little cheese sandwiches (use ready sliced mild cheese), some cherry tomatoes and cucumber sticks, packet of crisps, some grapes and cupcake or similar in boxes (obviously non dairy option if there is need, check dietary restrictions.)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
milkysmum · 20/02/2022 14:29

If you want boxes, don't then do platters for them to fill them selves. Just pop a sandwich, packet of crisps and a piece of fruit maybe in the box. They hardly ever eat anything anyway so don't over think it.

HairyScaryMonster · 20/02/2022 14:56

Having done 3 on these recently: quarter ham quarter cheese in Ziploc bag in box (more if older or vaguely meal time), with crisps, frube, raisins and bag of mini biscuits. Carrot sticks or something if you're keen.

Babymamamama · 20/02/2022 14:59

Just box up each one. Much easier less mess and less waste. Sandwich just cheese with crusts cut off. Fruit winder maybe. Mini cheddars individual packet and tangerine or some grapes. And a box juice. Done!

AtleastitsnotMonday · 20/02/2022 15:09

How many children and how old?

TheChosenTwo · 20/02/2022 15:34

I’d be tempted to just do 3 choices of sandwiches on platters, cling over the top of them and then pre fill the boxes with the other bits. Someone can wander doing with the platters and offer the choices to the kids.

AdaColeman · 20/02/2022 15:44

You've already got the boxes, so pre filling them with a selection is the way to go.
I don't think that giving out the boxes for the children to fill themselves would work.

I'd keep the sandwich numbers low and use just one filling, possibly cream cheese, and use other more "party" type of food in the boxes.

cudbywestrangers · 20/02/2022 15:52

We've just done a similar party. We did platters of sandwiches (cheese/ ham/ jam, loads left so we clearly went overboard!) Then in each box we put a packet of crisps, chocolate biscuit (penguin type), frube yoghurt, piece of fruit and a drink. Worked well and very easy to tidy up after

Notjustabrunette · 20/02/2022 15:55

I would just do platters with ham and cheese sandwiches, cocktail sausages, sausages roll, cucumber and carrot sticks, packets of crips and party rings. Don’t bother with the boxes, just put plates out. Squash and water in jugs, lots of cups, more than one per child. Done.

NameChange30 · 20/02/2022 15:56

Have you asked about allergies? I would do ask everyone has said and pre-fill the lunch boxes, and if there are any children with allergies, use a different colour lunch box or a very clear label showing which is theirs.

NameChange30 · 20/02/2022 15:57

PS as the parent of children with allergies, I would love it if there were separate lunchboxes rather than platters, as I find it quite stressful at parties trying to stop my kids helping themselves to food they can't have. Probably only an issue when they're young though, as older kids with allergies will have been taught to check first.

Theworldisfullofgs · 20/02/2022 15:58

When ours were little we had an entertainer. The best advice we ever goy was ftom him. Just do sausages in rolls (or vegan sausage) and jelly and ice cream. No more as it doesn't get eaten. He was absolutely right.

BigPurpleEgg · 20/02/2022 16:02

Just make sure you check dietary requirements/ allergies. My kids are veggie and whole class parties are always a nightmare - I always mention it and at least 50% of the time they're given meat.

Original poster
Arucanafeather · 20/02/2022 16:05

Thanks for all the advice. I know no one has allergies. I’m so glad I posted. Great to hear what has worked for others. I will definitely using the boxes as the birthday girl has seen them and loves them! I think I’ll copy what @Normandy144 did.

OP posts:
MsSquiz · 20/02/2022 16:09

For DD's 2nd birthday, we had the little lunch boxes and filled them with:
Sandwiches - cut into thirds (1 ham, 1 cheese, 1 jam)
Crisps - pom bears it quavers
Biscuits - a pack of 4 mini jammie dodgers

And they had squash or water available with cupcakes given out as they left.

For older kids I'd maybe do mini pizzas and small bags of haribo?

Marcipex · 20/02/2022 16:12

Most popular is pizza. The large thin margarita type. The adults happily finished it all!
Veggie sausage rolls, wotsits, hula hoops, mini brownies, party rings.
These all sweep up.
Jelly etc is too messy. Ice pops are good for a cooling break.

Icantremembermyusername · 20/02/2022 16:17

If doing sandwiches, use the bread which doesn't have crusts. Thinks it's Warburton? The cheese / ham fits perfectly!

babyunicorn · 20/02/2022 16:21

We just did a village hall party for my eldest (class of 4/5 year olds) we kept it simple, cheese, ham and jam sandwiches, crisps, pizza, cocktail sausages, sausage rolls, party rings, chocolate fingers and jelly for pud
They were much more interested in the bounce y castle 😆 and sent them home with cake

Mischance · 20/02/2022 16:21

One time I sent out a mini-menu with either/or choices on the invitations: e,g, ham/cheese sandwich etc. Then made up little bags with the child's name on - they enjoyed finding their names and fetching their own bags.

Very small sandwiches, just two quarters, each so they did not feel overwhelmed.

ParkheadParadise · 20/02/2022 16:22

Dd had a whole class party in December. I had Pizza, Sausage rolls, Chicken Nuggets.
Sandwiches, Cupcakes, Crisps.
My 3 sisters and my nieces helped I had brought wine for us. One of my sisters asked a mum dropping a child off if she wanted a glass🍷next thing all the mums were staying. I ended up having Orange Juice 😂
Dd will NOT be having any more whole class parties😂😂

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 20/02/2022 16:27

Ooh nice idea @Mischance. I’d steal it if my son wasn’t now 19! Do you find it improves the number of rsvps? We always put platters out as I think it’s nice for them to choose but your option is the best of both worlds!

ffscovid · 20/02/2022 20:22

For our 5 year old's party, we pre-filled the boxes:

White bread sandwiches with crusts cut off (Grin) - one small ham and one small cheese per child (also popular is Dairylea or jam). I used a cookie cutter to cut them out in a shape to make them interesting (star I think).

Packet of crisps (same flavour for every child - plain Pom Bears seem to be well received).

A few carrot sticks wrapped in cling film.

Some sort of sweet thing (again, same for every child. A mini roll or packet of Iced Gems / mini cookies etc.).

A Frube-type yogurt tube.

A carton of apple juice.

After this, I did an ice cream station. I gave everyone a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a little paper shallow cup thing and set out a table with sauces / sprinkles / mini marshmallows / popping candy / squirty cream etc. to decorate. It was a real hit.

CrabbyCat · 20/02/2022 20:28

When I've been to parties where they've prefilled boxes, we've had to prefill in sandwich choices as @mischance says. Having just had a party, making a mix will be hit and miss - there were quite a few kids who wouldn't eat the wrong kind of sandwiches. Prefilling the crisps, squash and chocolate would be fine.