If your 6-10yr old child was invited to a 1pm-3pm party would you give them lunch first?

[HollyTheHedgehog]

Would you?

but in the gazillions

The food wasnt horrfically bad, ham sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, sausage rolls (not home made, ) little sausages, actually the more I write the more I realise how shite it was.

But thats the point of parties, no?

When my kids come back from parties I think "They've eaten a load of crap but at least I dont need to coom tea."

Am I the only one?

*cook

Sounds like normal party food, it is just the timing, I don't think either of my DCs have ever been to a party where the food was at the beginning. DS wouldn't eat any of those things, so he definitely has to be fed beforehand, the only time I don't feed him first if it's one of those activity plus meal at a venue parties where you choose your meal beforehand (even then there is often nothing he will eat on the menu).

Parties are meant to have shit food. It's the only way to do it. I would judge a healthy party buffet far more than an unhealthy one. The idea is you pump 'em full of sugar, e numbers and fizz and send them on their merry way .

I had my sons party at home last week and gave them hot dogs and chips, jelly an ice cream, made some cupcakes and gave them party rings and also had out one bowl of cherry toms and cukes (which did actually get eaten).

p.s. it's the timing rather than the food that I think was the issue

Oh and as regards the not needing to feed them, I would certainly agree with that for DD (who has normal eating habits and would eat all of what you mentioned) but I would assume she wouldn't need much dinner that evening, just a snack, rather than no lunch.

Yes I would have fed them first- at least a snack because its very unusual for the food to be served at the beginning of a party. I would assume if would be served between 2pm& 3pm

Children eating depends how its done. If a buffet everyone just dig in, not really going to eat, rather play.. Get them all sat round the table, little plates with food on all over the table, and they help themselves/ask for help, more chance of them eating, even though still buffet style.

Would I feed before. Depends on what invite and parent said in run up to party. Time. What we were doing before and after. More importantly if dc was hungry beforehand. Wouldn't send dc who is hungry because they would act like I was starving them. Sometimes I just make them eat, because I know what they are like.

plus side is that you don't have to cook tomorrow, you can all have 'party food' for sunday lunch and supper! win win

I would never ever feed my kids before a party starting at 1 pm. If I were you I would have also believed that nobody would have fed their kids in advance. But my opininon does not count because I am Spanish

I would have assumed food at the end of the party, and given DS a light lunch.

I'd give them a snack before they went to the party.

I would tend to give a snack before, just in case, BUT what time would indicate that lunch would be served as the party food?

Dd2's party needs to be around lunchtime as need to be somewhere for 4. Just 5 invitees, so happy to warn parents before, but wondering when the best time would be. Thought maybe 11:30 - 2 (mania, bit of craft, lunch, games). I'm confident have loads to fill the time, and if not will send them off to play upstairs/ put disco ball + music on at end. What time would indicate to you that you need not feed your child (unless fussy)?

Yes, because food will be at the end,. I'd give them light lunch at about 12:00. They never eat much at a party anyway.

My DS went to a party a while back.
It was at the house, I gave everyone dinner before I dropped him off except DS because I said "You'll be having party food".

How fecking wrong was I ?
He got there at the time he was told. I picked him up, and he'd had nothing apart from a small piece of cake.
There was no foiod for him. The party was already in process with relatives and they'd eaten everything.

And I'm not precious about party food- crisps, pop, jelly, ice-cream. Any of that he'd had wolfed down.
I was narked to say the least. If you invite someone to a party , you give them food ! (This was an evening ).
I've never invited a child to my house without offering them a meal or at least a snack and a drink.

And YY, have the food near the end, not before some of the guests have arrived

For a party between 1pm and 3pm, I'd assume you were providing party food about 2pm ish, so I'd give them a sandwich or something like that about 11.30 just to keep them going until then.
My two eat like horses and have hollow feet so there'd be no way they'd last out until 2pm as they charge around all the time so they'd eat that and still clear the party table of food eat at the party too