Feeding Adults at Birthday parties

[HairsprayBabe]

DD is 4 in a few weeks, having a church hall party with a bouncy castle.
Party is 11:30-1:30
Kids are having lunchboxes with pre chosen rolls (plus other things) looking at the numbers it is approximately 25 children, including my own.

We are planning on feeding the grownups too as it is bang on lunchtime.

How do I work out how many to cater for? Do I assume one adult per child or more? We have adult family coming too.

Menu is not going to be extravagant for grown-ups, some sandwich/wrap platters, crisps, biscuits and hot drinks (cake will be available for everyone!)

Don't bother. There will be plenty left over of the main party food that hungry adults can have if they want to.

Most won't expect to eat and you'll just be creating extra waste. As long as you have tea and coffee and a couple of packets of biscuits you're sorted.

I would do 1 adult per child.

I wouldn't bother other than some bowls of crisps or something.
50% of the food for the kids won't get eaten - if parents are hungry they'll finish their childs food.
Provide drinks though.

Don't bother, parents don't expect to be fed at kids parties, and they're more than capable of lasting until after the party and eating when they get home

@DappledThings people are expecting it - especially the adult friends and family i have invited. Round here catering for parents is normal and food rarely gets left.

The children are having individual lunchboxes with one roll, a raisin box, pom bears and a pack of party rings there isn't going to be loads left because I know kids barely eat at parties!

Naaaah. Come on, nobody expects to be fed at kids parties.

I still wouldn't bother...

Me either. That's a highly unusual situation you are in where adults are always fed at children's parties. You're just creating extra work for yourself for no reason.

@YouWillNeverGuessMyUsername I have never been to a child's party that didn't cater for the adults too. Why would I make myself look rude when it is the norm round here.

I didn't ask if I should cater for the adults. I asked what number should I expect.

My child would eat the whole box except the raisins, and I would be absolutely fucking ravenous if I had to sit through a 2-hour party over my lunchtime without being fed. I reckon just work out how many adults you think there will be and cater for half that number. So not a full lunch for everyone, but enough so that those who want to can have something to eat. If it was a soft play with a cafe where hungry parents could get their own, that's one thing, but in a church hall with no other sources of food, I'd be very grateful. When I did a church hall party for a 3rd birthday I had tea, coffee, and loads of fresh mini pastries hidden in the kitchen for the adults and they all got eaten.

Will the kids be getting a sandwich?.
Id put put a tiny buffet for the parents.. just like you first mentioned..
Sandwiches/ sausage rolls/ quiche.. few veg sticks. Tea n coffee. Couple plates of biscuits.. or chocolate rolls same as kids.

Ok.... probably one adult per kid plus extra for a few random siblings.

When we did DS' 5th party in a hall with bouncy castle etc we catered it from Costco so in addition to the children's food, I just got a couple of platters of more grown up sandwiches/wraps, some nicer crisps put the fruit platter between the two sections and did a big platter of their mini pastries we had an urn for tea and coffee too. There was also all the usual kids' sandwiches, crudités, cheese puffs etc and some plates of the big chewy cookies which the adults also enjoyed. Lots of comments and thanks from parents not expecting to be fed. The other parties we have done have not been around lunchtime and have been activities where the children are provided a meal, climbing, bowling etc so I haven't catered for adults at those.

@15February1960 yes, as I said they are getting a pre-chosen roll ham, cheese, hummus or jam.

You'd be better off asking one of those other parents then. No idea what the norm is for numbere of parents attending in your area as it seems like a very different expectation of a child's party anyway.

Round here you can assume roughly 1 adult per child but only about 5% of them would expect to be fed.

@TheCurious0range yes I'm doing a Costco run for it, I was thinking maybe 3 platters plus crisps and some biscuits if they have the pastry packs I might get one of them too.

Around my way there's food for adults if the party falls after midday; there's always Prosecco / beers / cans or cocktails!

@Notmycircusnotmyotter church hall isn't licenced unfortunately! haha

That sounds fine to me

@HairsprayBabe
im not suggesting you sell it 😂

I think if it was me I’d probably plan for one adult per child plus an extra 50% on top, so 38-ish adults? It won’t make a massive difference to the cost but I’m a over-feeder in general so would always rather have some left over than everything goes and then I worry that I didn’t make enough 🙈

i have attended 30+ 4 and 5 year old birthday parties

only 2-3 have catered for adults

some crisps on the table, maybe nibbles would be good

Doesn't matter unless you are planning to charge.

Unless it's a Methodist one like our nearest and they expressly forbid providing alcohol in their contract with you.

How many children are coming that are not yours? Let's just it's 23 children, each child would come with at least 1 adult, however from your post it won't be unusual for both parents to come or another family member to come. So I would estimate around 35 adults to cater for.

All the parties I've been have had large platters of sausage rolls, Scotch eggs, cocktail sausages etc. that might be easier instead of making up sandwiches. I would for 1.5 of each item and bowls of crisps.

I’m sure grown adults can last until 2pm to have something to eat when they get home it’s not as if it’s all day jeez !