What do children like to eat at buffets?

[debka]

I have to do a buffet for about 40, 10 of whom are children aged 6-17.

I normally do a selection of sandwiches/wraps/baguettes etc, sausage rolls/quiches/tortilla chips and dips, and various cakes.

Would your 6-17yos eat this? What would they appreciate as part of a buffet lunch? (It is finger food only btw).

PLUS, I have to cater for one person who can't eat wheat- any suggestions for him??

THANK YOU!!!

You are probably getting no answers because asking what children like to eat at buffets is like asking what adults like to eat at buffets. They are all different - what one likes another won't touch. Just serve what you want - there will be something they can eat.
I have bumped it up for someone to answer the lack of wheat question. (Assuming you don't want to do rice salads etc)

My DD would eat everything you listed. Possibly not the quiche, she would eat hard boiled eggs though if that helps.

Mini sausages - my dd could eat those by the gallon

Cocktail sausages, olives, quiche, breadsticks.

DS would have to be very hungry indeed to eat sandwiches or pizza.

cake

DD2 Ham sandwiches, some salami, bread sticks, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, CRISPS, biscuits, gapes and carrot sticks.

DD1 smocked salmon, prawns, pâté, quiche, olives, cucumber, raw peppers (other salad), and most other things, but she will start at the expensive end and work down

They are 11 and 14, but this hasn't changed much since they were toddlers, except DD1 gets happier with lettuce and tomato as she gets older.

do hate cold pizza it never works in a buffett.

Agree both mine will have a go at anything and DS1 loves anything that looks fancy & colourful. Will scoff smoked salmon & prawns.

DS will happily have a plate of just meat. So sausages, ham, sausage rolls, pigs in blankets, sliced beef, chicken nuggets etc.

crisps and chocolate fingers!

Chicken legs, chicken satay sticks, mini sausages, mini scotch eggs, cucumber sticks, grapes, crisps, cold pasta or rice salad.

One of mine only eats plain bread & butter rather than a sandwich with filling, so maybe keep a bit of spare bread back for fussy ones!

Mine eat anything - not helpful! But the things you mention I would say would cover the majority of people. Re cold pizza - I know lots of people who do like it and lots who don't.

For the person who can't eat wheat, you could make frittata - quiche without the pastry. I think most sausages contain wheat, so definitely worth considering chicken drumsticks (plainly cooked unless you're sure there's no wheat in anything you might marinade it in). Maybe serve carrot/cucumber/pepper sticks to go with the dips, and bowls of cherry tomatoes. I think it's also worth asking what they usually eat instead of bread (a friend of mine takes ricecakes or ryebread with her everywhere, but not everyone likes that so worth checking perhaps?)

Unless you only want finger food, then you could serve potato or rice salad.

Pringles, breadsticks, dips, mini sausages......and try cheese & pineapple on sticks! Very 1970s but whenever my dcs have a birthday party with buffet these always go down a storm.

Marvellous, thanks everyone.

I like the idea of a fritatta for my wheat-free man too. I'll have to check if he is also gluten intolerant, if he isn't then presumably I could make him some flapjacks.

Ham and cheese sarnies cut into nice shapes using biscuit cutters, wotsits, carrot & cucumber sticks, sausage rolls - my dd is 5

Fusspot would love chicken drum sticks,

Egg mayo sandwiches, carrot sticks and mini sausages would go down well here!