Kids parties: buffet or food box?

[SockTurtleMoop]

(I’m shamelessly using AIBU because I want the voting feature.)

DS(4) birthday party coming up and I can’t decide whether to do buffet or food boxes for the kids. What do people generally prefer?

Kids aged 2-8 present, most of them 4/5.

YABU: party boxes
YANBU: buffet

I say buffet as I think for children aged 3 or 4 or over (not the 2 year olds so much) part of the fun is choosing food and being able to have whatever they want; as a treat. The downside is: more mess, more waste, some children will end up with a plate of only eat hula hoops! But given the aim of the party is fun I’d go (and did) for the buffet. The other option is not wrong though.

Not all kids that age love free choice, it can be completely overwhelming for them

Boxes. With that range of children it will be easier as there's always one child who ladens their plate and hardly touches anything.

We used to do one cheese sandwich and one chocolate spread and most children like one of the other, and have a few jam sandwiches spare for anyone who needed more.
We found up to age 5yo they loved having a box and just ate what was in there. After that age they were a lot more fussy. You can choose to either just stick firm and say they have what they have, or have some spares and let them swap around. We found having no spares often meant the child who swore they couldn't stand raspberry yoghurt suddenly found they loved it after all.

I've done both in past....food box lot less hassle and no waste

I found boxes to be way easier, particularly if you have children attending who have intolerances or are veggie/vegan.

Put shared plates in the middle and then the children can help themselves to extras if they wish, but at least you know that everyone got a decent portion in the first place. I found it was also easier for the helpers this way.

The only party food I remember as a kid was in a party box.

After watching a child suck the flavour off crisps before putting back in the bowl at a buffet last week, I'd say boxes! Then there was the boy deeply picking his nose and then putting his hands on the food. I always did boxes as well so I didn't over cater when mine were little.

Food boxes are so much more hygienic - very small children are so gross around food.

Party boxes, my son would eat most things in there rather than buffet where he'll pick and choose ( then mainly choose crisps!!)

Plus less waste with a box as you over compensate on buffet.

Cardboard food party boxes work best

But don’t put the drinks inside then as they get too heavy. Instead get a plastic tub, fill it with ice, and stick bottles of water and juice boxes in there for children to help themselves.

Our food boxes used to contain:
Milk roll with ham or jam
Baby bel cheese.
Small pkt hula hoops.
Small yoghurt.
Disposal paper tub full of melon and strawberries
Wooden spork
Paper napkin

Buffet, every food bag/box party my DDs have been to they won’t eat what’s given to them, same with other kids. Not everyone likes the same things, at least given the option most kids will find something they like.

Party boxes! Been both sides and it's so much better, more food eaten or taken home and less mess. Not too expensive either.

We always do a buffet but never bother with sandwiches. Pizza, chips, crudite, fruit, crisps, bowls of popcorn, little bags of shrink type thing.

Agree.

From the PP's example above - mine wouldn't eat babybel or yoghurt - much more waste

Boxes - easier to make the correct amount/less waste, easier to control/allow for allergies, and kids can take them home if they don’t finish the food, so less clearing up for you.

I don’t think it looks mean either, kids seem to love them

For DDs 4th birthday we took sandwich orders beforehand and did a little plate each with sandwiches, sausage rolls, fruit, carrot, cucumber and a mini roll on and a packet of crisps each. We had barely any waste and it worked out cheaper than the buffet the previous year, I think it feels like a buffet needs more options

Buffet, then the kids can take what they want instead of having stuff they might not like. At that age, no doubt parents will be there to help them get the food on to their plates.

I would go with the boxes too - I think kids like that type of thing, it’s way more exciting to get their own individual box, plus it cuts down on waste.

I saw a vid on instagram where the lady was showing how dye makes them up- I think it was a packet of pom bears, a satsuma, a packet of mini cookies/party rings, sandwich choice was cheese, ham or jam and carton of juice.
If I was doing it, I’d probably substitute the mini cookies for a homemade chocolate rice crispy/cornflake cake.

You could put the lunches on paper plates and have them around the table if you want it to look more party-like? Then have a few bits like bowls of crisps/snacks in the middle.

Did you buy 30 banana and 30 apples? I’m thinking of doing this but I’m worried they will all want the same so I will need one of each!

Buffet, I’ve seen lots of waste when food
boxes have been done.

Most if the children wanted to take the boxes home so there wasn’t that much waste tbh.

Good grief no, it was an outdoor nerf gun party run by a forest school organisation. There were 10 children there including Ds.

The parents gave me the food choices with the RSVP

Put a request form on the rsvp slip/invite with the options