To not do food at a 6 yr old birthday party?

[yellowgecko]

I’m organising a village hall party on a Saturday, 2pm-4pm. The plan is to do a kids disco, and put out bowls of sweets and crisps, do the cake towards the end and give everyone a party bag on leaving.
I think we’ll end up with around 25 kids. I’m just fed up of going to parties and seeing all the food waste!

AIBU - yes you need to do a buffet / proper food
YANBU - snacks are fine, no one will starve

I’d say it was totally fine not to do food, snacks only. Genuinely I wouldn’t give a fuck, and I’m irritated by all the po faced people here going on about OP being a poor host if she doesn’t give nuggets and pizza to children between the hours of 2 and 4

I'm reading this open mouthed with envy. No cucumber sticks? You try that round here you'd be strung up in the square for a week with a letter C patch pinned on your boob.

The person you are replying to did not suggest anyone did.

But I can still remember a party when I was about 9 where we had finger food and then the party girl's dad made chats, and it was the best thing ever. I'm about to turn 60 and I still have fond memories.

I wouldn’t think it’s clear at all because of the all the kids parties I’ve been too, only one has not included a meal regardless of timings. No problem if people choose not to provide food, but when it’s not the norm, letting parents know is a courtesy and one that’s much appreciated as you can plan meals around it and ensure your child has a filling lunch/dinner is prepped etc..

Its not ridiculous, its penny pinching. If you cant afford to feed the kids a bit of lunch then don't bother doing a party.

Same. Just seems weird to me but I’m old school.

I don't see the harm with mini sausages, breadsticks, cheese and dips with crisps and biscuits.

I wouldn't expect a full on lunch
Sweets in party bag at the end

I took my DC to one party in the birthday child's family's restaurant and they expected us to buy the DC's food from them! I couldn't afford it, we left early and bought sandwiches from the 24 hour shop. If you don't provide food, please tell parents on the invitation.

I would cook several of the large rectangle party pizzas at home, then put out some crisps, fruit kebabs and then get some cupcakes or brownies or something. If you are using a disco company, they usually allow for a break in a 2 hour party and that's when the children have their food.

I did a party for my DD and honestly there was limited food waste because I'd learned from the first party not to over cater & just get the stuff they'll eat. And the fruit kebabs went first!

These responses are wild to me

Maybe children expecting to eat full meals between regular mealtimes is the reason for the childhood obesity epidemic?

you need to provide a well balanced meal including protein and veg

I’m quite enjoying them, I’m glad I asked!

To repeat - I CAN afford to feed the children at the party, and I WILL provide food. It’s the amount of food waste at these parties that I dislike and the expecting of a ‘proper’ meal between meals.

Those suggesting pizza - DD doesn’t like it so yes maybe for the other kids, but she won’t eat it. I don’t want to cook tray cups of oven chips in the tiny kitchen.

it feels like breaking up the party halfway with an individual assortment of ‘snack box’ of carrot sticks and crisps (or other healthier options) that I can throw together in the morning and putting the sweets in the party bag for the way home is the way to go.

Research would indicate it’s a combination of genetics, UPFs being more available, physical inactivity, sedentary habits and portion sizes but evidence just so rarely is kind enough to be brief enough to fit into a snappy retort isn’t it? Don’t be ridiculous - my (smaller than average!) kids are able to enjoy parties - I just adjust their mealtimes around it so we don’t need dinner etc if we have a late party meal. Not exactly rocket science.

I don’t know why you’ve decided people definitely shouldn’t be given the heads up -why would it be a problem to let people know what to expect?? The OP is planning to offer lots of sweets etc and I wouldn’t want my kids filling up on that.

Like I said, I’ve zero issue with no party food but I think it’s polite to give people the heads up because generally people expect it - the literal definition of a party is a gathering where you celebrate, eat, drink, talk, play.

I highly doubt that some pizza and half a hot dog at the occasional kid’s party is fuelling the childhood obesity epidemic.

The only party that my daughter hasn't come home hungry from was the party that only did snacks.

She won't/can't eat most "party food" she usually just has the 3 sticks of cucumber and handful of grapes that are on the side of the ham wrap/chicken nuggets and chips. I don't think I have been to a party where I haven't eaten her food after she has gone back to the party. She has food allergies which does limit things but she really isn't a fan of typical picnic/party foods compounded by it not being a usual meal times. We tend to have lunch at 1 and dinner at 6. Parties are often 11 -1 food at 12 to 12.30 which is on the early side for lunch but not the end of the world. Parties that are 2 -4 with a tea at 3.30 don't get touched at all but in her head she "had food" at the party so doesn't want dinner.

Give her a buffet of fruit, bread sticks and hummus and she's perfectly happy for the afternoon and then has her evening meal as usual.

Did they stand up and clap? 😄

That’s different to a bunch of 5/6 year olds dancing for 2 hours !

I think the great thing about food at a children’s party is that it offers as a break from the rest of the planned activities. A two-hour disco is quite a long time and having some food breaks things up and offers them something else to do. A juice or squash bar at a disco is fun.

I don’t think the food has to be complex and I wouldn’t overly worry about everything being healthy. It’s a party so a moment for a treat. I have a daughter who hates cake 🤷‍♀️, so we always do other things like fruit, crackers, cheese, crisps etc. Google kids party food for lots of options and low effort.

This is astoundingly rude towards guests. I’d like to think I would have done the same as you did in this position.

Am asian (am guessing youre not op), it would be unthinkable to do any get together without it revolving around food. Probably explains the weight and diabetes issues with south Asians but there you go

Never been to a children's party without food. Whatever time of day it is. I'd find it really strange. It's an additional activity to be looked forward to. A break in the entertainment. I've never noticed much in the way of food waste either.

I think it's generally expected that there will be a party tea. This was always my most dreaded party time though as like others say you eat before you go and it then messes up tea time.

If you are doing a disco I would plan other activities. Kids will get hot and bored of that quite quickly and will be skidding round the floor. Unless you are going to do party games which is brave if you are going to pick winners! Food at least usually gets everyone to sit down for 30 mins.
Even if you buy in a disco be prepared that not all kids will engage in this. I helped out at a silent disco at my kids school with the little ones. I ended up overseeing a breakout room for the ones whose parents signed them up for it but they didn't like it - too noisy (even though it's headphones and these had individual volume control), too dark, too many people, not wanting to dance etc.
I get you don't want to be stuck in the kitchen but in terms of activities what about a craft table?

Kids like eating. Especially crisps and snacks. Party without food for them is like party without drinks for adults. Yes you can do without food and drinks for 2h. But only consuming what you need is not the point of a party

Absolutely…

Kale crisps, artisan sausage rolls, homemade houmous and crudités, fruit kebabs, quail scotch eggs, pinwheel wraps and make sure there are lots of vegan options.
Bake a homemade cake like flourless chickpea brownie cake or a sponge with Greek yogurt instead of icing.

No fizzy pop just homemade organic elderflower cordial.

Either that or have a few bowls of crisps, some sausage/cheese and onion rolls, tubs of flapjack and brownies and the obligatory chopped up cucumber and a pot of humous for a snack and risk the kids not keeling over from starvation in two hours between meals.
As long as you put it on the invite and can deal with the kids like pp have mentioned that expect a full table of party food and are horrified or confused that you haven’t provided it and will be asking questions then you are fine.
After reading this thread you might also have a few parents dissing you as well but it’s better then wasting loads of food because a few weird parents expect a “well balanced meal with protein and veg” from a 2 hour kids party!

What have you got for party bags? That’s the real question.
One of the first mumsnet threads I ever read was about someone saying they couldn’t be bothered with party bags and she had her arse handed to her.
She was treated as though she was going to torture the kids then punch them in the face rather than provide a really nice party ended with cake 😂.