Catering for a kids' 10am - Noon birthday party

[MaggieFS]

Looking for ideas. Plan A was the standard sandwiches, party rings, juice, chocolate bar, but as it's finishing at lunchtime, I'm not sure if I should do something differently? It's a summer party and will be outdoors. The children are Reception age.

I was just pondering about doing some sort of 'elevenses' so they can play again afterwards, rather than and early lunch at 11.30 and then they all have to leave. But I'm not sure what and if that would be odd and I should just stick with the tried and tested formula so they all know what to expect.

Play, food at the end. They are tired and hungry and its much easier to get them to leave happily after they have been sitting down to eat. I went to one last weekend which was a 9:30 start and finished with chips and pizza! It was great!

That is a tricky time, I'd always try and bridge a mealtime. 11-1, or 4-6.

I think they will be fairly hungry as probably won't have eaten since breakfast and will be excited, have been running around etc. so an early lunch would go down well. Traditional party food is always a crowd pleaser.
I think if you just served a lighter snack, they would expect more (children not parents!).

What about ice creams?

I would do lunch at 11:30, kids will be starving. Or just do them a lunch box each that they can take away with them? Box with sandwich, crisps and slice of cake?

We had a 4th birthday that was 10 til 12, and I also felt it was too early for lunch, so we added 30 minutes to the beginning of the party and offered breakfast for those that wanted it or turn up at 10. We served cereal, toast, croissants and fresh pancakes with fruit. Cake was then done about 11 and everyone happy to leave by 12. Some children declared it the best birthday party food ever 🤣

I’d do standard lunch time food at 11.30.

I went to a morning party today and they only provided snacks - the chn would happily have eaten lunch at that time though.

Make sure you have some cups & jugs of water as they all got very thirsty early on and the host had only provided 1 carton of juice each which went very quickly.

I've done breakfast / brunch before at a 9.45 start party. Crossiants, pain au chocolate, yoghurts, fruit platters. It went down well and was really easy.

I personally wouldnt do brunch at the beginning as most kids will have been up a couple of hours already...

I'd do early lunch at 11.30 as its close enough to being lunch time and its a nice way to finish the party. When they arrive they'll want to zoom around anyway.

Just had my sons 3rd birthday party and we did a breakfast picnic - croissants, brioche buns, fruit etc. It went down a treat! Got some personalised biscuits made as well 😊

Thank you for the replies! It sounds like 11.30 is the way to got for lunch.

And yes, I'm thinking lunch boxes will be the most straightforward. Points also noted re. Water.

Thanks!

I think lunch for the last half hour is the right call. I’d do the happy birthday song at 11:30, then you can cut the cake while they’re eating, then after they’ve eaten it’s party bags and goodbye.

Make sure they drink. And a bit of fruit would also go well along with easy finger food.

However, can you keep all the food cold? That needs to come first! Do a recce of your fridge space before committing yourself to anything.

But, to second and third pp’s, Greet, play, DRINK, eat, sing happy birthday, cake, wind up, go home. Kids who have had a good drink of water are happier kids.

No fridge! Hiring an outdoor venue which has dictated the timings.

But I will be able to have everything in the fridge at home before we leave. And there will be a LOT of water in addition to a juice carton each.

What nibbles would grown ups like at that time of day?