Playdates

[PrettyCandles]

Do you expect a guest to bring food, or provide a contribution yourself?

At some of dd's playdates (as host or guest) children or their parents have brought small bags of goodies - sweets, biscuits, chocolates, cakes, etc.

It seems odd to me because when I'm the host, I expect to feed the children. Also I may not want to feed them these foods.

Am I missing something here?

Some of DDs friends bring sweets which I always find a bit irritating because I then feel obliged to do the same when they go out - usually necessitating a dash to the shop en route.

So no - I don't expect them to bring anything - but I do always check with the Mum that they are likely to eat what I'm planning to make.

Hmmm. It's a tricky one really, as I know where you're coming from and would be tempted to just ask that no such foods were bought round or say that you will be providing all the food they need/want. But it would seem rude as they are only trying to be polite and helpful. Maybe you could bake a little something lik flapjacks and say that you will be providing it, so not to worry about bringing anything. This is what I have done and it seemed to work quite well.
As vegans we often used to get the problem of friends leaving things like chocolates and biscuits round our house even though I had said we didn't eat them! But making sure they know you are baking AND cooking a meal seems to help alot. Good luck!