AIBU to ask what food you would serve at this kids party?

[welovetv]

So, I'm having a kids party this Sunday from 2 til 4pm. Around 35-40 kids expected. My original plan was just to provide snacks (crisps, cheddars, party rings, chocolate fingers etc etc) as it's not over a meal time, but now I'm second guessing myself.

What food would you serve? Ages are 3-5 year olds and venue is just a local hall with bouncy castle and disco.

WIBU to just serve unhealthy snacks (as those are the things that my kids would always prefer)? Or should I spend even more money and put on some proper food?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

I think it will probably be expected, even though it isn't over a meal time. I think most kids will eat something. At the parties we went to, the parents usually insist on them all sitting down. I like the idea of sliced, buttered baguette as it is easy and liked by all. Then you could have bowls of brightly coloured snacky bits: cheese cubes, cocktail sausages, cucumber sticks, sliced pepper, cherry tomatoes, satsuma segments, strawberries. These bowls could be interspersed with bigger bowls of crisps and plates of party rings etc. For a party classic, I love those marshmallows dipped in chocolate and topped with a smartie.

I also came here to say hotdogs, can get veggie ones as well as pork to suit all

Around here people would be bemused if there wasn't a proper party spread. Sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, crisps, little sausages/mini sausage rolls. It's just expected.

What you've suggested plus these are all you need. I would skip cherry tomatoes or grapes for the choking hazard. Make life easy for yourself and decant it all onto paper bowls and let them graze.

Maybe jugs of squash too.

I think sometimes even if it’s not over a mealtime you might find it’s eaten into usual mealtimes so to be at a party at 2 means lunch at 1 might be cut short to get ready, esp if they’re excited and/or have other activities in morning. Don’t go overboard though. If you have access to an air fryer or two you could do a load of chicken/quorn nuggets with ketchup. Bulk out even further with some mini wraps, kids often appreciate the familiar.

Cocktail sausages and popcorn. My SIL served that for a kids party of 4/5 year olds and we followed suit. Absolutely perfect for that age.

And birthday cake - obviously

What you’ve done is perfect but I agree with people saying sandwiches. We did a party for our 2 year old at the same time, did basic sandwiches and most got demolished!
my child has a habit of skipping lunch due to excitement before parties, so sandwiches normally keep him going (until he inevitably declines the dinner we’ve made him too ha)

For a kids party I usually do cheese sandwiches, jam sandwiches, birthday cake, a fruit plate, crisps, and mini pizzas. Invariably the fruit does not get eaten 😁

Fruit tray, veg tray with dips and pizza. They’ll get hungry from running around

Two kids in primary and I've attended parties at every time from 9am to 6pm. My children have expected and eaten a party buffet irrespective of the time and irrespective of what other food they have eaten that day at every one. They have a separate party food stomach.
Throw in some sandwiches or pizza and cocktail sausages and you're good.

Wouldn't worry about sandwiches but sausage rolls or cocktail sausages are good. I'd also get a few packs of babybels rather than cheese cubes as easier to keep fresh.

At that age I would include a few sandwiches, cheese, ham, grapes, strawberries + carrot / cucumber sticks