Do I have to feed them? If so, what?

[birthdayfood]

I’m taking DD and 8 of her pals out at the weekend for her 11th birthday, to a bowling/ go karting type place (they’re doing 3 different activities). It’s from 1.30 - 3.30ish.

They don’t do food at the venue, though I’m guessing I’ll have to buy them all (££) drinks. Too cheeky to take drinks with me do we think? It’s a huge place, with loads to do, big arcade etc with a bar. Not sure they’d notice or care & I have spent £200 on the activities so might be ok to bring a multipack of capri suns or sometning? Especially as the drinks are served in glasses & will be tricky for the kids to carry them around whilst playing eg mini golf etc.

Then I was just thinking of bringing some crisps & sweets to have on the table whilst they’re taking turns bowling (can’t really eat during the other 2 activities).

But chatGPT reckons no, I have to feed them something proper 😩 do you agree? I don’t want to annoy the venue by bringing anything messy & I haven’t got a huge budget this close to payday - suppose I could make them a sandwich each or bring a pack of mini sausage rolls?

Would very much appreciate some guidance, in the past she’s either had a big party at a hall or whatever where obviously there would be a buffet , or just a few kids where they all fit in the car & we’ll stop at maccies. No idea what to do with this lot!

Does the venue allow you to bring food / drink in? I’d take them for pizza afterwards

I’d probably ask the parents to ensure they bring their water bottles with them as they are going to be active. If you think it will be OK to bring food in, I reckon some sausage rolls etc would be fine at that time of day.

But chatGPT reckons no, I have to feed them something proper

Why are you asking ChatGPT this?!

This kind of party would normally be followed by pizza ime, but you don't have to. They're not with you over a meal time so it's fine not to feed them if that's just too much financially/logistically.

I think bringing some crisps/sausage rolls/picky bits for the table is fine (if you'll get away with it at the venue).

I think it's fine not to feed them. Maybe tell the parents in advance so they aren't expecting food?

I agree that usually it's bowling and a pizza or something, but it isn't compulsory

I wouldn’t bring crisps and snacks-the bowling venue probably wouldn’t thank you for that. Either ask parents to bring water bottles, bring some water bottles or ask the venue for a jug of tap water. I probably would take them for burgers or something afterwards.

Insane thing to ask Chatgpt

I’d say from 1:30-3:30 a proper meal is not essential, and snack food is fine, as long as parents know and can do lunch beforehand.

Get parents to pack water bottles and have homemade sandwiches and soreen bars or something - if kids are hungry - your are good to go if not, you can eat yourselves

I'd ask the venue what their policy is - can you imagine the embarrassment if staff tell them off!

If it's fine to take food in, just take some decent snacks, but more than just crisps - maybe sandwiches, crisps and some cake?

Absolute minimum is birthday cake and drinks. I agree with PP, the norm is an activity plus pizza/mcdonalds for this kind of party.

It’s because there are no food places nearby & they can’t all fit in my car otherwise I’d take them somewhere. Suppose it was a bit pointless asking chatGPT thinking about it lol. In my defence, I’m ND, have nobody to discuss this stuff IRL & just don’t really know what the norm is. The venue website says welcome to bring your own cake so guessing other stuff is fine too, I’ll check though.

Honestly I wouldn’t worry about food. They probably will be too excited to eat anyway. I’d say bring some sweets and some squash - you could
make up a couple of big 2 litre bottles and some paper cups . You’ve spent enough OP- save your money now. You will bring the cake too? That’s loads it’s only 2 hours . People seem to to need to eat all day long - I’m used to eating at meal times and not snacking all day. They will be busy anyway . Might get thirsty that’s all I’d cater for honestly don’t being crisps - too salty and makes tbem
more
thirsty!!

I’d normally do McDonald’s or similar after but have just seen your post about there being nothing nearby. I think in that case I’d treat them to a drink at the venue and take some Chocolate bars in my bag - or you could take a birthday cake & serve that

I would advise the kids/parents to eat lunch beforehand and then serve cake midway/at the end.

Take a tray bake birthday cake then and the can eat that!

agree just make it clear there isn’t food and suggest they bring water bottles as it’s easier than trying to carry a drink and play games. But if the don’t have a drink you could get them one for the table when bowling

Why would an AI know how much or what type of food you're 'meant' to serve at a party. And what does it mean by something 'proper'? You do realise it's not a person and has never tasted food?

In a similar situation what I did was:

• buy a multipack of water with sports caps (better if fall over) ideally 500ml for several hours and stick a label on with each child’s name
• serve cake - make sure to take a knife, disposable plates, hand sanitiser, a bag to our all the rubbish in. Cupcakes can be good. You ideally want a finer type of cake you can pick up with hands and bite into rather than needing a spoon or fork.
• make clear to parents that “please could the girls have lunch before arrival - due to the timing and the jam packed agenda we will just be serving birthday cake”

Do they do big jugs of drinks? This is what our local bowling place tends to offer for parties.

If not, one drink each from the bar and ask for a big jug of water at the same time. Personally I would not bring own drinks as there's usually a policy against it, but neither would I judge you for trying.

Bring a couple of big bags of crisps and serve them nice generous pieces of cake. That'll be ample.

I’m actually happy to buy drinks, I’ve budgeted for it as I did think it was a bit cheeky not to but as I was writing this I realised what a nightmare it’ll be carrying them all round each hole of mini golf as they’re just in glasses! Would be much easier if it was something with a lid on. Just seen another part of their website says no food & drink unless bought on the premises (and apparently
they sell ‘snacks’ though I’ve never seen them - guessing just nuts/ crisps), although elsewhere it says cake & decorations are fine. Cake feels much messier to me! I guess they want to make money but would be much easier if they sold food & bottled drinks in that case 😩 financially it’s fine I could dip into my savings if needed, but still not sure logistically. Plus a couple of them have just told their kids to say yes to my kid rather than RSVPing as per the invite so I don’t actually have 2 of their phone numbers to say eat lunch first which I don’t love 🫣 will get their numbers when they drop off if they’re not staying but tricky to say give them lunch in advance. I would give mine lunch if they were doing sometning like this at 1.30 (eg not a proper party) but 🤷🏽‍♀️ it’s my DDs favourite place ever but I am definitely regret agreeing to it now lol. I guess I’ll just buy drinks & crisps from the venue & take a couple of different (substantial but not crumbly?) cakes maybe if that’s all I’m allowed to bring? And maybe let them all play mini golf whilst I sit with the drinks , and nominate someone else to write down the scores? Am I overthinking 😅 I want it to be good!!!

Could you incorporate it into the party bags? Eg have a capri sun, packet of crisps and a graze flapjack in as well as some standard junk and then you can give out as they arrive, they can munch and then your all set!

Sorry, there was paragraphs in there when I wrote it!

Just wait til you get to the bowling to get drinks? Makes more sense to buy them when you’re getting food rather than carrying them about

Get your dd to tell the two girls you don't have numbers for that the venue only sells snacks and drinks so they’ll needs to have lunch first and then you text the parents of the rest

You are really overthinking this.

Nobody is going to object to kids drinking from their own water bottles and birthday cakes are expressly allowed. Turn up with a buffet of food and cans of coke yes that’s an issue.

If you don’t have contacts I would get your daughter to tell her friends directly to make sure they eat before they come.

Yes this would be ideal! Realistically there are hundreds of kids in there in different bits & the staff don’t really mill around, I really can’t see them caring especially when they don’t serve their own food. I’d happily pay a corkage fee if I could 😂

didn’t know if party bags were really a thing at this age but I can do one for sure.

What else would I put in it do we think? Mix of boys & girls, so fidgets? Could put a face mask or lipgloss or whatever for the girls too, dunno what else for boys at this age.

No need to be have a go - the OP explained why they asked AI.

We’re doing bowling first , it’s all booked in a specific order but I guess I can say try and drink it all before golf 😅 yes annoyingly I am an overthinker, apologies!!