Just snacks at kids party

[JuniorMint14]

First time organising a kids birthday party and in a quandary re food. The venue we have booked have expensive options for hot and cold lunch boxes and don't allow outside catering except for snack items like crisps. (I didn't realise this at the time of booking - you live and learn!)

The party is 10-12, I'm wondering if I can get away with just a selection of packet snacks like crisps, biscuits, packs of raisins and some juice? I'd make sure there was plenty so each child could have 2-3 things. I would personally not mind that as it finishes before proper lunch time but don't want to look tight if something more substantial is expected! Thoughts?

I think this is fine!

I think this is fine if it’s not a meal time and allows the children plenty of time to get or somewhere else for lunch. I would make sure everyone is aware it would be snacks only after to allow them to plan in advance.

I think the kids would be disappointed with those food choices. Also you need the sit down meal to kill a good chunk of time, otherwise it feels like a looooong party.

Of course you'll look tight, because you're being tight.

Put your hand in your pocket and let it be a lesson for next time.

Fine. Maybe say snacks provided so no one comes expecting lunch food .

Nope you gotta do food! And do the cake there too - hated it when I got a squished cake on a napkin and crumbs all over the car!

What sort of activity is it, how long are they doing it for and then how long is allocated for food?

If they get one hour on trampolines and then one hour with just a bag of crisps and a fruit shoot the time is going to drag…

If you plan not to use the venue again I would brazen it out and provide each child a ‘snack bag’ but make it fully loaded with crisps, mini bags of biscuits, raisin box, cheese strings, sausage/cheese rolls, etc etc. Basically what you would have given them anyway but without a sandwich and therefore technically it’s just snacks 😉

What age is the birthday child ? Been to a lot of kids parties over the years and the food waste is enormous.

How old are the children? I would make sure to the parents that you won't provide food so they don't think they can save on lunch.

I personally wouldn't mind as DD never was keen on the food provided at parties but I found that parents do expect food, I nearly once got blamed that one girl did miss dinner when i didn't provide food apart from snacks and cake at a 2.30-4.30pm party.

It wouldn't have bothered me when my children were that age, it's not over a mealtime and having a meal at 11/11.30 would have had knock on effects for eating later in the day

But then I don't think people need to spend money they don't have when its not necessary for what others will think

What activity, what are the proposed timings and how old are the kids? If it’s 5YOs, an hour of soft play and then 30 minutes for food you’re really going to struggle to eekk that out with some pom bears, a box of raisins and a juice carton, and the parents will be very much expecting you to give them an early lunch. If it’s preteens going bowling or something more like that then drinks and snacks are fine.

Depending on the venue/activity you might only have 75 or 90 mins in the activity and then 45 or 30 mins for food - that is alot of time to kill if you are just handing out snacks. Make sure you check this with the venue otherwise you could end up with 20 kids sat around a party table expecting to be served proper food

Totally depends on time and activity. For some things 2 hours would be way too long without a proper food break.

My kids have been to plenty of parties that just do cake and a drink. But it’s almost always a football party that only lasts an hour and is in the middle of the day rather than over a meal time.

We've been to kids parties with just snacks and tbh the kids were starving at the end, even if it's not a normal meal time. They are much more active at a party so they get hungry whatever time it is! And I just see it as part of entertaining to provide decent food, it's part of the fun of a party for kids and I've always provided pizza or sandwiches and it all gets eaten.

I went to a kids party today, 10-12. I thought they were tight just doing snacks. They had fruit and packets of biscuits. It's lunchtime!

I would expect more than snacks if the time is 10-12. A lot of kids will be quite hungry.

It’s kind of expected at most venues that I can think of locally to me that you buy their food or go without. It’s how they make a lot of their money.
Of course that’s not your responsibility but I think it’s cheap to do a party for kids and not offer a meal. Crisps and biscuits aren’t a meal.

Can you run the party so it has a break in the middle? So say soft play for 45minutes - snacks and drinks for 20 minutes, soft play for another 40 minutes, then 15 minutes at the end for singing happy birthday and cake cutting?

I think food is a given at parties, sorry.

Some more details - it's a 4th birthday party, the venue is a hall in a sports centre and the entertainment is being provided by the dance teacher my daughter has classes with. She's fab and does lots of parties locally. She's doing dance based activities for the first 30-40 minutes, break for food and then she'll do some party games with them for the remainder.

I think the reason for no sandwiches being allowed is they have a cafe onsite. It just never occurred to me at booking. Of course there will also be cake!

I think you need to do food. Can you not put a sandwich in the snack bag?

Erm, what’s the party? Lots of places say no food and everyone takes food (and cake). I don’t see why you can’t give them sandwiches and snacks. I’d go and do a recce.

So many entitled people!

10-12 is pre lunch, the kids can have lunch after. Snacks & drinks are fine. Better still if you can do a birthday cake.

Don't feel pressured into paying for expensive lunches for them all. If the parents are that bothered they can buy them lunch there when they pick them up.

i always considered 'party food' as an extra to the day & still made the kids proper meals, & they just ate as much or as little of it as they wanted.

Hope your DC has a great time!!

EDIT. after your update. GREAT you can do a cake! Maybe do things like sausage rolls & savoury mini muffins. Much more plausible to the centre as 'snacks' than sandwiches!!

It’s 2 hours. A snack is fine.

I definitely can't bring my own sandwiches. It's been made very clear by the venue. Only option is snacks or I order their food. Just trying to be mindful of costs and food waste but I may end up just going for the venue food options in the end. The entertainer is expensive because I have a baby as well and wanted to make sure that part would run smoothly in case I was caught up feeding or changing! So I've prioritised that costs wise.