Soft boiled eggs for toddler b'day party

[TabithaTwitchet]

DD is having a birthday party this month (she will be 3), we will be inviting about 7 other children aged around 2-3.

I asked DD what she wanted to have to eat at her party and she said "Egg and soldiers" which is her favourite food - should have guessed she would request it .

I was thinking of having a range of DD's favourites to dip into soft boiled eggs - DD likes toast fingers, marmite toast fingers, roasted carrots, green beans, maybe mini sausages.

I was a bit worried that the other parents (who I don't know very well, we have just moved to the area) would think this was a strange thing to serve at a party.
I mentioned it to a friend, and she said that:
(a) there is no way a toddler would cope with eating a boiled egg on there own without loads of mess.

and (b) nobody gives soft eggs to toddlers because it is dangerous for them - think she meant risk of salmonella.

I had thought of (a) - I usually give DD an oozy, squidgy egg rather than a runny one to minimise mess, and she is perfectly capable of eating the whole thing - dipping first, then scooping the rest out of the shell with a spoon. But perhaps the other children might struggle if they are not used to it.

I was totally wrongfooted by (b), this has never, ever occurred to me.

So am I being unreasonable to consider serving DD's request - should I just do sandwiches and crisps instead?

I'd do loads of other stuff too, cheese and ham sandwiches etc

then just say it was what she wanted

yes they'll think you're a bit odd if you don't explain!!

It is a bizarre thing to have. ANd is incredibly messy. Or is that just my 3?!!

I give my 2 year old dippy eggs. t other 2 only like the yolk or the white so its too much faff!

don't ever serve soft boiled eggs to anyone, anwhere at any party for whatever reason.

It just aint right

could you make egg toasties (ie toast with egg in) and call them fat soldiers or something like that?

I would make her egg and soldiers that morning for her 'special birthday' breakfast and then serve easier finger food at the party. Many 2/3 year olds won't be able to manage a boiled runny egg and unless it's runny you can't dip anyway!

I would special Eggy Breakfast (with chicken deco or something to make it special).

You are going to be left with a dozen half-eaten, once-dipped eggs.

The salmonella would never have occured to me.

I'd do it, but do plenty of other stuff as well, and just say to the other parents that's what she asked for.

Can she have an eggy breakfast instead?

I would serve other things too.

I think it's fine - but other parents wouldn't. Because they worry too much. (generalisation ahoy)

DD loves cucumber and egg.

some kids might be allergic (my son is) but so long as you check with parents before you dole out the eggs, would be fine I'd think (unless they are very allergic, in which case it's a big no-no). Bet you that once they see the crisps, they won't want eggs tho!

It is unusual, so I would do it with other food too, or even not make the eggs until you have asked each toddler if they want one, and only make it for the children who want one, while supplying all the other food for them to eat. I'd imagine they'd all like toasted cheese soldiers and the veg and plain soldiers etc.

I wouldn'rt worry about the risk of selmonella. As long as the whites are cooked.

Explain to the parents, but supply other food too.

Is it just my DD who thinks softboiled eggs are disgusting?

And eggs are quite a common allergen, you'd have to provide alternatives.

Give her the eggs for brekkie and the other stuff you mentioned plus sandwiches/bread sticks for the party.

It will be messy, doyou have enough egg cups, a PITA as you will have to get the eggs on and serve rather than having everything ready in advance.

Bless her though!

I've got a recipe book for children and there's one thing in it I want to make, which is a humpty dumpty wall, and could be suitable for a party, although a bit of faff if there's quite a lot of kids.

Basically, you butter strips of white and brown bread, pile them up alternating them to make a kind of wall, on which you then balance a boiled egg with the bottom cut off to make it more stable. Then with small slices in the egg you can insert carrot, pepper, etc, for eyes and a mouth.

Just do the eggs for breakfast and party tea for the party. Soft boiled eggs and soldiers, whilst yummy, are pretty impractical and inappropriate for a kids party. You'll have half the kids not liking them, only liking them the way their Mum does them (a bit harder/softer etc.), and the other half barely knowing what to do with them. Messy, and a PITA IMO.

FWIW, I was never asked what I wanted for party tea at that age, it's just exciting waiting to see what's on the table.

D

I would imagine cooking lots of boiled eggs would be a pita timing wise. I'd probably avoid it for my own selfish, lazy reasons.

Elemental - sounds very Annabel Karmel. Lovely but a terrible faff.

Tabitha - Breakfast idea is good, but if DD is set on having them for party tea, do offer other things and explain to parents. Otherwise it would seem an odd thing to have.

And soft boiled eggs are disgusting IMO

Ooh, lots of replies.

So general consensus seems to be nobody worried about salmonella, but most think it is a bit weird/ messy for a party.
I laughed at the idea of all the eggs sitting uneaten after having been dipped once, that is probably v true!

I like the breakfast idea, although I had planned a special breakfast of croissants and hot chocolate before DH goes off to work (he hates boiled eggs).

I think the most popular idea is the best - to offer lots of other stuff, then explain that DD requested them and ask specifically if anyone would like a boiled egg once they are all sitting down and eating other stuff. Might well do that.

Or else try and persuade Dd that what she really really wants to have is ham sandwiches and cucumber sticks instead

If you ask a nearly 3 year old a question like this, you'll get an answer like that.

Don't bother asking. It's a party. She'll have lots of distractions and food won't be high on the list.

I don't see the problem wrt salmonella tbh, I've read you shouldn't give it to babies but never saw anything about not giving it to toddlers.

Provide lots of other food as lots of kids wouldn't like eggs I think.

Wouldn't they go cold and weird? I've never eaten a soft-boiled egg cold, I can't imagine it would be very nice! Or would the yolk harden up as it cooled anyway?

You could give her the equivalent of egg and soldiers in egg sandwich form - I know it's not the same but still.

I'd find the former an oddity at a party, definitely.

Id come to that party in fact Im sat here thinking hmmm boiled eggs with soliders for dinner not pasta bake... yum

My DD would love it. It's a lot healthier than the usual party stuff that you get - sausage rolls etc. I did read in a magazine recently that you shouldn't give soft-boiled eggs to under 5's because of the salmonella risk??!! A tad overcautious I think! I've given DD them since she was 1 and she'd be mortified if I told her she can't have them for 2 years now!
So, in sum, I don't think it's weird but I would do some stuff for people who don't like/want eggs. It may just be your DD that wants an egg and why not -it's her birthday!

Yes I'd be bloody worried about salmonella.

Even worse than a freshly boiled soft egg is one held for a few hours at room temperature, so if you must serve this bizarre and risky party food, boil the eggs immediately before serving.

I'd spend the entire party dying inside, worrying about how to prevent my children from eating the things without offending you.

Food Standards Agency

Just...don't. Give her eggy soldiers for breakfast. You don't have to do everything they want, you know.