Kids party food

[gerbilgirl]

More of a would ibu?

It's our daughters birthday in a few weeks and we have hired a local hall and have a mixture of school friends and family coming. She will be 5.

Her sister had a similar party last year (she turned 8) and we did a full spread of sandwiches, sausage rolls, nibbles, crisps, fruit, quiche, etc.

As this party is not over mealtime (2-4pm) would it be unreasonable to just put out some crisps, biscuits, cakes, fruit rather than the full spread?

Haven't actually made up my mind yet, but was curious as to people's expectations?

Thanks for any thoughts

I would say it's fine. Like you say it's not lunch or dinner time. A lot are too busy running around to eat much anyway and the parents end up eating it :)

Chuck in some mini sausages and your grand.

Yes, I think that's fine.

If I was taking my 5 year old to a party I'd expect food unless told otherwise, so I'd not give her much lunch. 2-4 we often have our main meal between those times at the weekend and in the week she eats as soon as she's in from school so it's definitely meal time for us. If you aren't doing food then message and let parents know so they can feed beforehand.

I would do the full spread. Sit them down at half three for a party tea, and cutting the cake. I wouldn't think it"odd" if you did as you have suggested though!

Agree with @HiJenny35 I would assume my DC was being fed at the party and would give only give them a snack before we went.
So wouldn't be the end of the world but would prefer to know before

Yeah fine. Just let the parents know so they can feed their kids beforehand. No one wants a bunch of grumpy hungry 5 year olds. Id presume there was food unless told otherwise.

I always do sandwiches etc. When we go to parties I assume there will be a full spread and therefore give them lighter meals beforehand.
DD’s 4th birthday party is 1-3 and I will do sandwiches, cocktail sausages, chopped veg and fruit, crisps and cake.

I’d always expect food at a party

M DD5 never eats much at parties anyway, even ones where they all sit down properly - so for a 2-4 party I would definitely give her lunch anyway as they never eat at 2pm, and she couldn't wait any later.
I would also have something planned for tea at 5/5.30ish.
I'd not be bothered at all if we turned up and it was just nibbles!
If you've not sent the invites, you could just say 'Party games and nibbles' on them, or else just let the parents know, although I don't think you need to!

I’d give my kids a light snack for lunch, if the party was 2-4, as I’d expect food to be laid on.

It’s fine to do it the way you suggest, but you probably should let the parents know so they can feed the kids a proper lunch.

I would do a full spread, 2 hours is a long time to fill activity wise too. Kids will get hungry from running round and will need a break. I think food is also kind of expected at a kids party!

I would expect food, tbh

2 hours is a long time to spend with a mob of hyper, hangry 5 year olds. The party tea is a chance to calm things down after an hour and rest their overheated sweaty bodies. You can tell when it's time for the tea as they start sobbing over everything!

A few nibbles won't give them the break, and I'd seriously recommend shortening the time if they'll only spend a few minutes sitting all together.

Parents can always eat the spare food if it's shared out carefully to reduce mangled waste on plates.

I would need to be told before as I wouldn't feed my child before, I'd assume food at the party.

What you’ve suggested is fine When my DC are invited to a 2-4 party I give them lunch beforehand.
Our school does lunch at 11:15 so 2pm definitely isn’t meal time around here though!

I would do the usual spread - I think many people would be expecting it and may not have given the child a big lunch, in anticipation of this. I’m sure any spare food would be hoovered up by the parents anyway

I would do the usual spread. I would give my kids a normal sized lunch as usual at 12. They normally have food at the end of the party so would be eating about 3.30ish. After an hour and a half of running around at a party my kids would be hungry.

I think most people expect their kids will be fed as part of the party tbh. Maybe do crackers & cheese, breadsticks/ veg sticks and hummus, cocktail sausages/ baby bells etc if you don’t want to make sandwiches.

People really wouldn't give a 5 year old lunch because of a party at 2pm? Party food is usually at the end of the party, would people really not give their child anything to eat between breakfast and the birthday tea which would probably be after 3pm?

I mean, I would expect a party tea, but not in lieu of an actual meal!

Thank you for all your comments, as I thought there is a bit of a split of opinion!!

We always make sure ours eat before a party so it hadn't occurred to me that people wouldn't - I'm not even sure they would make it past 2pm without food

Will need to give it some serious thought as to whether we are brave enough to follow the idea through!!

I would always expect food at a party and would always put it on, no matter what the time. 2pm to me is lunchtime anyway.

I would plan a party 2-4 so that I don't have to do food.

Snacks is fine.

Laguna but how many parties start off with the food? None DD has been to or we’ve hosted, that’s for sure. The kids wouldn’t be eating till gone 3. That seems to me a very long time for most 5 year olds to wait.