Socially acceptable children’s food for a party

[BirthdeighParteigh]

I’m having a party soon, and struggling for what to provide for the children attending - mostly 2-6 year olds.

The main food will probably be a self-serve taco bar - so fairly child friendly, and children aren’t likely to be here over a mealtime. I’m more stuck on drinks and snacks for the little ones.

My friends happily give their kids capri suns and pizza, but my neighbours (Hackney hipsters) are all very organic, so looking for some more wholesome options.

What snacks do people serve for children at summer bbqs? Criteria is that it needs to be prepped in advance, and ok at room temperature for a while. Anything individually packaged, and not messy, would be even better! I’m still not over the hummus hand prints on my paintwork from Christmas.

Thoughts on pom bears, popcorn, Babybels, mini water bottles, fruit juice cartons?

Personally I wouldn't do much special "kids" food if the taco bar is separate things, so parents could choose tortilla and some meat for child A, some tomatoes and grated cheese and tortilla for child B etc. As long as everything isn't covered in hot spices you should be fine. I wouldn't supply pom bears and Babybel etc especially if not over children's meal time. What time is the party?

100% fruit juice cartons would be ideal, plus water and disposable cups easily available.

For drinks we've done (and seen others) do drinks dispensers or plastic jugs - so one water/ one orange squash/one blackcurrant squash then paper cups (and then couple of sharpies someone can label cups so that you know who has which cup!)

Also small packages snacks like pom bears or mini party rings/cookies etc
And sliced fruit and veg food eg carrots peppers cucumbers strawberries melon apple etc

I have babybel wax in my carpet from years ago so I would say no to those

Watermelon? You could pre slice into sticks?

It is your party and you should provide whatever you want. If people don't like it, nobody is forcing them to eat/drink it.

Crudites- carrot sticks, baby tomatoes, cucumber
Fruit kababs- fruit on a stick is somehow wildly exciting

maybe cheese and pineapple on a stick too - retro fun

The kids probably just want cake. But if you want a healthier vibe, I’d do cucumber and carrot sticks, small tomatoes, berries, rice cakes, bread sticks.

Not sure about having a sharp stick collection around young kids?

If they are Hackney Hipsters I would avoid pre packaged snacks (the environment etc!) Do a fruit platter- big slices of different melons, pineapple, mango, few berries and one of cucumber, carrots, cubes of cheese, bread sticks- I think that shows willing towards children : ) Hackney Hipsters unlikely to go for squash I would say jugs of water and maybe some organic apple juice they can dilute. I mean I let my son eat and drink most things at a party but I’ve known many people who don’t

I wouldn't serve popcorn where there will be 2 year olds. It's a choking hazard. No babybel because of the wax! Fruit platters sound like a good shout, along with cubed cheese, pitta bread?

Thanks, this is great content. I’ll be swerving the red wax and sharp sticks, but definitely going for the watermelon slices, organic fruit juice and a few packs of Pom bears.

I have drinks dispensers but resent dedicating one to water when the kitchen tap is right there. Will definitely add paper cups and sharpies to the list though! I would have probably totally forgotten about child friendly cups.

Party starts at 2pm and I expect most people with children to use aspects of the taco bar to provide a nursery dinner around 5pm before heading home to do bedtime. The snacks are just for any mid afternoon hunger/whinging.

Hackney Hipsters? You need some puy lentils in there, and probably some quinoa so they can all show off their pronunciation skills.
Squares of cold pizza are always a hit with kids.

your Suggestions are so wasteful for packaging! Just do the same food for everyone, have drinks in paper cups. Kids don’t need their own food or little bottles or their own cups.

One of the few reasons I'm happy I don't live in London anymore. Pizza, crisps a chocolate bar and send them home with some Haribo are all ok here!

DC's former nursery got taken over by some Hackney Hipsters and it basically seemed to mean veggie food and bland mush smothered in crushed fruit.

Bottled water has been a choice at some kids parties that I’ve been to. They come in small fruit shoot sizes.

Taco bar sounds messy but delicious if you’re serving adults too. Are they suitable for those with allergies and vegans etc?

What worked easiest for me as a host was serving everyone a packed lunch in those containers that look like happy meals. Cardboard is recycleable and they serve as mini dustbin afterwards. A small wrap, some Pom bears and a mini bottle of water would be considered healthy here and easy to customise for allergies.

Don’t the healthy brigade even allow pizzas like Crosta&Mollica which don’t look UPF to me.

I wouldn't count on the people with kids leaving early, I never served "nursery tea" to my kids ever. That said tacos were their favourite food as preschool kids, ideally quite spicy. They got seriously annoyed on the occasions we went to dinner parties and there was kids food separately, especially dd2 as at home we always ate the same food from 6 months old.

I have found that kids love strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. All of them!

This
nobody has to eat anything they don’t want to
you are way over thing this OP

I wouldn't be providing Sharpies, unless you want someone's child scribbling on your flooring with it.
Keep in mind choking hazards, cut small tomatoes, grapes etc into halves or quarters.

Could you serve a few pizzas for the kids? That always goes down well, unless there are specific diets to cater for. Crisps, veg crudités and some berries/other fruit. Buy some large bottles of apple juice or smoothie and serve in plastic glasses, rather than individual packs.

I can also confirm that chocolate fondue with strawberries / other dipping items will go down extremely well with small children. But is messy.