To serve only jam sandwiches for a party?

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Obviously other party food but some halal/kosher/vegetarian/vegan etc required is just doing strawberry jam acceptable or will I be the talk of school for nothing more?

My kids eat all the foods mentioned.

At a party they eat crisps and biscuits. They seem to particularly like several types of biscuits if you want to win over the kids!

Op, don't worry, just go as cheap as is possible. Value all the way. It just needs to be a little bit of fun food, not a proper meal.

I always do cheese, jam and ham. Most parties DD (age 6) has been to over the last 2 years have offered the same.

Just because some guests won't eat ham doesn't mean it can't be served at all, as long as there is an alternative.

Cheese isn't suitable for the vegans. And actually some cheese isn't suitable for vegetarians depending on the rennet.

I'd hit all the dietary requirements in one and do hummus and cucumber plus some jam too.

I've got children varying in ages between 1 & 8 (so have been to a lot of kids parties) not once have I come across a hummus sandwich

Yy Worra, some lovely competitive parenting going on. I think that some people also have a LOT more cash and free time than others.

I think a lot of MN posters are pretty food obsessed to be fair. It's amazing how long some wedding or party buffet threads can get, or the "My MIL is starving me because she's only served 4 roast potatoes and 2 slices of meat with Sunday lunch" threads.

This is just a bit of food at a kid's party. I'm sure they won't be anywhere near as fussed as some of the adults appear to be on here.

Apparently jam pennies are a tradition in Royal children's birthdays ( jam filled sandwiches cut in the shape of pennies).

So if it's good enough for them....!

But I'd also do egg, peanut butter or something else.

Far too much fun sugar. Ignore the ridiculous hummus suggestions (far too much salt) and just cook a potful of brown rice. They can have a wonderful time dipping a spoon in.

Breadsticks are quite cheap and they seem to vanish off party tables (with or without dip)

( A sweet version I did is ends dipped in melted choc and sprinkles)

When did hummus become a party staple over jam sandwiches and party rings. I feel like this website is on a different planet to me sometimes.

Haha, you and me both. I love hummus and can eat shedloads, but all the kids parties I've been to over the years and there's been a lot I've never seen hummus at one!

We had 20 x 10 year old boys at football party here.
Made Jam, cheese, ham, tuna, egg sandwiches.
The jam ones lasted all of 5 seconds, tuna and cheese were next favourites.
Lots of egg & ham ones left.

When I have been really short of time I provided crisps, biscuits: party rings, pink wafers, bourbon creams, quorn chipolatas had halal/veggie guests and strawberries. There was nothing left for me or the other parents to snack on

Ha NoCapes I just broke up with a vegan- it was hummus morning, noon and night!

Think they seem hummus sarnies in M&S so not that wacky and tastier than just veg alone if you can't do cheese.

Make sure there is no gelatin in the jam - it is made from animal bones, skin etc. Probably non of the special diets - veg/halal/kosher - would be able to eat it.

I feel daft for saying hummus now, I only said it coz its cheaper than a block of cheese and easy to chuck on bread. My dd had her last birthday tea in McDonalds she enjoys a variety of cuisines

Admittedly my youngest is 14 so I may be behind the times, but in all my years of doing parties, I have never served up a sandwich. I doubt any of my dc have been served one either and if they had been, I doubt they ate it.

Mid afternoon means snack rather than meal so you don't need to serve anything meal like. Kids that age eat hardly anything anyway. I've always done pizza and chips. Then some crisps, popcorn, cupcakes, rice crispie buns and cake. If you can't do hot stuff, I'd throw a bowl of babybel or similar on the table instead.

It's a kids party. The food is meant to be crap. Any parent expecting a balanced, nutritious meal at a party either doesn't get out much or is living in a very bizarre bubble.

If you have to make jam sandwiches ( I would try to add some other cheap options like cheese) could you buy a cheap cutter from the £shop and make them dino sandwiches or whatever shape you can get. Makes them a little more novelty.

Jam isn't made with gelatine!

Supermarket jam has pectin as the gelling agent so should be ok wrt the gelatin question.

Is there ever gelatin in jam?! Pectin yes, but why would gelatin show up? I make my own and it's fruit & sugar only.

I would be a bit surprised at just jam sandwiches. It's not the 1940's, but maybe that's just me?

Maybe uber posh jam from artisan fruiterers that costs £10 a jar is made with gelatine but regular jam isn't!

OP, just read your update.
You are skint & seriously, the DCwill love you if you make loads of jam sandwiches. Crisps, biscuits, fairy cakes too.
Please don't bother with humous, dips, salad unless you want it later for tea.
DD went to a 'party' where the home made bread, humous, carrots & sugar free fairy cakes with cream cheese topping went practically untouched.
It's a party! It will be great!

Have things changed? When my DC were small, all that got rate at parties, no matter what was on the table, were crisps, cherry tomatoes, and the icing from the tip of fairy cakes. Not the cake mind you. Just the icing.

Smiling at the suggestion that you need to make sure there is protein!

Buy a load of cheap frozen pizzas

eaten at parties...

SUGAR FREE FAIRY CAKES??

I'm offended.

For the parents get a couple of packets of choco digestives and do squash, water, tea or coffee. Most parents I know would just be grateful for a hot drink or glass of water honestly.