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 can’t believe the amount of responses telling you you need to buy lunch. The party finishes at 12, they can have lunch afterwards. Stop at 11 for snacks, that’s not lunch time and it will be fine. We’ve always done 10-12 or 2-4 and never provided lunch or dinner. Just snacks like popcorn, watermelon, crisps, cake, berries etc. Kids have always enjoyed it and it’s been the same for parties we’ve attended. The only time lunch has been done is when the party is very clearly over a meal time like 11-1 or 3-5. People will often do food then. Particularly for 3-5 and over lunchtime obviously because lots of kids would eat dinner during those times.

The sandwich boxes usually served are prettymuch inedible. Kids eat the crisps, the sweets, and either open the sandwich, take one bite and leave the rest, or don’t open it at all. The last birthday party with sandwiches i’ve been to had pretty much all the sandwich trays untouched, parents were the only ones eating them because they felt guilty.
Its an enormous waste of food and money. Might as well not bother, especially at 11 in the morning!
Fruit, veg, crisps, biscuits, cake is plenty, especially with the party ending at 11:45

Absolutely fine

I think it’s fine as long as you tell people. I’ve only been to one party like you describe and I wished they had explicitly said on the invite snacks only because then I would have ensured my kids were full going. Mine were hungry because every other party 10-12 provide lunch so they just ate way more crisps/cake/sweets than would be typical as they were the only offering and then we had hyped up on sugar and feeling unwell kids. I would be fine if I knew in advance though - and your snacks sound great!

Fruit, brioche & croissants would keep them going until lunchtime as they will likely be eating at around 11am?

I don’t think that would quite qualify as a snack! That’s a meal in all but name!

We went to a 10 til 12 party and snacks were served half way through. Was definitely just snacks, was about 11 so I wouldn't have expected anything else. Our lunch time has always been 1pm.