What to serve at teen party?

[partyteen]

I was stupid enough to let my DD invite lots of friends (50!) to our house for the Halloween party.
What food to serve? DD says not to worry, as apparently ‘nobody eats at parties’. Just some crisps, dips, crackers and sweets were offered at the many parties she went to over last year.
Everyone is over 16yo, some alcohol will be allowed (not served by me, but teens will bring their own). I and DD’s dad will be home. Party is between 7-10:30pm.
Is there really no nibbles expected these days at parties?

Just some crisps, dips, crackers and sweets were offered at the many parties she went to over last year.

What are these if they're not nibbles? 😳

Don't do brightly or luridly coloured cocktails!
I slaved over huge bowls of coleslaws and potato salads that my children love. Handmade 100 burgers, got the younger kids to butter the rolls. They ate the burgers but only ate the potatoes at about 2am (which was great as there were loads). Left the salad, and normally everyone loves those salads, it just isn't teen party food. They didn't eat the crisps or home made hummus or tzaziki.
All lovely children but en masse they turn into Philistines.
Maybe a constant rolling pizza supply would work? You might need to invest in more oven shelves.
(I'd sooner die than order takeaway pizzas)

50?!

I would pre order pizza to arrive fairly early - you want to make sure they line their stomachs before drinking too much! Lots will have skipped dinner in favour of pre drinks at other friends' houses.

I would also ban spirits, but maybe I'm a killjoy (or alternatively - I remember what my teen parties were like 😱)

I got giant pizzas from a local place and it was all eaten.

There was a lot of vodka!

I'm embarrassed for your kids who will forever be known as Potato Salad.

We just had crisps and chocolate for a post prom party but there were demands for pizza too. And this was midnight onwards and I assume that they had already had supper before the prom

If you can afford it I would order in some massive pizzas about midway through the party from a local pizza place - doesn't have to be great quality - they usually have deals on. ...

Please be careful around alcohol (I am sure you intend to). My daughter has told me some horror stories about parties she has attended (and she is only 14!) at which some young people have turned up already very drunk before they even got there - the situation sounded so dangerous! Her dad and I try to be careful about which parties we let her attend (and I am far from a protective parent by Mumsnet standards!) but some people shock you - she was given spirits at a "pre-party party" by a mum we thought we knew well on one occasion!

So yeah, stipulate so spirits and no turning up pissed, and do security duty on the door if you can....

You are clearly lovely parents and I hope your daughter appreciates your kindness!

I don’t know your daughter, but I feel worried for her on the basis of the detail of this party (7pm - 10.30pm with mum serving drinks).

Very worried!

I intend to confiscate spirit bottles if I see any. Will make our (DH & I) presence known. Will provide soft drinks, but NO alcohol whatsoever. Ordering giant pizzas is very good idea, will look into this. Thank you, All!

50! I think food is least of your worries 😂

I think snacks are fine, crisps, crackers maybe pizza?

Pizzas no need for anything else. They can be eaten hot or cold

You are going to stand in the midst of this party of 16/17 year olds handing out squash and fizz and herding them out at 10.30?

and why are you ordering pizza when your daughter has asked you NOT to!!

I’m sure she’s not going to be at the door handing out party bags but will do an occasional walk through to make her presence felt!

Definitely pizza. I’d get cheap cake and sweets too. Anything to fill them up and soak up any alcohol.

if you cook, do a big tray bake cake and cover it in orange icing for Halloween.

Hotdogs

Because she is a kind and responsible adult who knows that drinking on an empty stomach isn't good for anyone.....

The cast majority of teenagers like pizza and enjoy being offered it. And it will help them stay a bit more sober.

Her daughter is very lucky to have been allowed to have this party - she may have to compromise on a few of the details!

It just gets so so sticky so have mops/ floor wipes/ kitchen roll, old towels and tea towels at the ready
50 is so many op.
i had 35 and it took days to properly clean up and that was with some of them helping me at the end of the party plus my own DC the next day.
If it’s wet outside they track it in and outside as they’ll outside chatting and/or vaping.

They were good kids and no massive dramas but I would never do it again.

I cooked pizzas at 9 and they nearly all got ate no one’s bothered about the sweets in my experience they like a bit of stodge but stagger when you cook it to help sober anyone up who may have taken things a bit far.

Also provide loads of bottled water but opened out of the packs. Sounds so stupid but I just put them out in the cases and no one touched it as soon as I’d unboxed them out of the packaging they nearly all went.

If budget isn't an issue get lots of pizza at the time they are arriving and lots of soft drinks. Then when pizza is going down, order more.
It's to tempt them to eat before drinking alcohol.
Also lots of different CHILLED drinks for same reason.
Don't trust 16 years olds. Your daughter cannot possibly know 50 people so well that she could vouch for their behaviour.
If she is saying don't worry about food, their plan might be drinking. You need to worry and then worry more. Just in case.
Lots of food when drinking is a bit like a seatbelt when driving.

And either her or her husband should be on the door for the first hour or so, to remove any spirits and refuse entry to anyone who is already intoxicated - just like pubs do on a Friday o Saturday night.

OP, I don't know if this is an issue in your daughters's peer group, but is it worth stipulating no drugs? And what are your rules on vaping/smoking? If these are anything like my daughter's friends, there will be quite a few turning up with vapes. As these kids are over 16 I would allow this but very very clear on garden only, put some ashtrays out there, and kick out anyone who sparks up in the house. And I would kick out weed smokers personally, or anyone acting like they had taken anything else. But that's just me.

Don’t do dips and things, they won’t touch it. Get a load of supermarket pizzas. Put a couple out to start with and see if they go, if they do, you can always chuck more in the oven.

In my experience, girls don’t eat at parties but boys do once they’ve had a couple of beers.

Get pizzas. Or loads of crisps/sliced baguettes. Your sole aim is to soak up the alcohol.

Really, get food.
Burgers or kebabs are good too.
Lots of grease food.

I would be wanting the party to be held in a venue if it was me that was hosting it.

They aren’t underage to drink on private property (age 5 and above is legal - they are presumably at sixth form)
Plus Op isn’t supplying any alcohol to the yp.

50 sounds far too many and liable to get out of hand. Mine had an 18th in a cricket club with that sort of number. I did crisps and sweets and a pizza delivery. Pizza got eaten.