What would you serve at a bday party

[Twinkletwinklelil]

Detail:
I’ll be 38/39 weeks pregnant for my toddlers 2 year bday
inlaws are adamant they want to come over (and eat)

what would you serve at this stage?
could do with something affordable and obviously easy. Dh will help with prep.

there will be 6 adults and my 2yo

I would 100% order something, and if ILs are so adamant there should be food I'd be sending out a text prior with something like, 'here's the menu! Let me know what you want me to order for you. Don't forget to transfer the cost of your dishes!'

But if you're a nicer and more patient person than me, you could do something like a chilli/pasta bake 😂

Any take away they collect on way round

Ask them to be in charge of providing the party food, as you will be focused on other things!

They would be so angry 😂😂
they’re rude and so demanding honestly

Thanks all. I don’t think these are options though as they’re not the nicest people. I’d rather not have them over at all but I can’t do that unfortunately.

Get something ready made you can just pop in the oven. I'm sure all supermarkets do family sized ready meals now, things like pasta bake. For example the M&S pasta carbonara bake family size serves four, so you would also need another smaller pack for your number of guests. You could add garlic bread and a green salad.

I would probably just get some of those party food things that you fire into the oven.
Otherwise I would probably get a ready made lasagne or pasta bake. A couple of packs of bagged salad leaves and some garlic bread.

Honestly this feels like a mistake. Can you (with support of your dh) not say 'this pregnancy is wiping me out, I'm really not going to be up for hosting this year but we'd love to bring child to yours. We'll bring the cake and balloons!'
Then you can leave when you like. Ideally I'd aim it for mid afternoon and make it a coffee, cake and presents deal and not have to eat with them at all.
Inviting themselves over is just rude.

You can. DH can take your 2 year old to see PIL before or afterwards because you need to rest.

Problem is those ready made meals are expensive. Is slow cooker an option? I would go with something in there and do some rice on the side. Otherwise pizza and salad and say it’s your toddler’s bday and they chose it.

More helpfully if you absolutely have to host and it's a sit down meal.

Some kind of pasta dish with bagged salad and garlic bread has to be the most cost effective.
Or slightly fancier then the stuffed pasta and sauces. Although depends in appetites, pasta bake would be heartier.

Sausage, mash, veg and gravy?
Baked potatoes with toppings
Pie (bought from the freezer) and chips.
Soup and crusty bread.

Look on the bright side, if the food is a bit shit they might be slower to invite themselves over next time 🤣

Oh, homemade options- bolognese with spaghetti or chilli with rice/nachos etc would be cheapish. Anything mince can be padded out with pulses and more tomato.

Will they expect alcohol? If so make it BYO as your house is dry while you are pregnant. I'd rather spend money on bought garlic bread than booz

Well as I'd gone into labour/given birth at 36 weeks with both of mine, that would simply never have happened!

I would refuse, point blank. You have the perfect reason why you shouldn't be doing this. What does your DH say/think? Surely he can't believe this is acceptable?

Dh struggles to be confrontational- and that’s what it would turn into.
they’d probably expect it even if I have the baby days before!!

thanks for the ideas all. Lots to think about

Shame you've gone into possible labour on the day of their visit, isn't it @Twinkletwinklelil ?
You can't cater for them if you're in hospital, can you?
Honestly they sound completely insufferable. There's always covid, too. D&V. The possibilities are endless and no catering required.
Best of luck with the birth. I hope they're not planning another visit shortly after that!

You could suggest they bring a main dish which you can pop in the oven, and you'll provide the salad.

If nobody is just going to tell them no then a few quiches to stick in the oven, microwave new potatoes and a bag of salad. If DH isn't going to stand up to his parents then he should be quite capable of sorting the food, not just helping with prep. Honestly the thought of 5 adults demanding a woman at full term wait on them hand and foot is atrocious. You should be the one being looked after!

You should be the one being looked after!

Absolutely!

Your DH doesn't have to be confrontational @Twinkletwinklelil. If they want to make it a confrontation, that's up to them. All he has to do is to express his concern for you, and say that you can't host a party given the late stage of your pregnancy

Unless - here's a thought - he's prepared to cater for it himself (and not just 'help')?

Thank you all, you’re so kind!

Will float the idea passed dh about not doing it 🥴

We had practically the same party this week (albeit without me being pregnant!). We made giant sausage rolls (v easy - pork meat, grated carrot and courgette, chickpeas and pulses wrapped in ready roll pastry). We then got loads of pickled bits and relishes, some cheeses and olives) and popped it all on our island for people the help themselves- went down very well and pretty faff free. Then tea and cake and everyone home by 9pm. Perfect!

I would serve the Chinese takeaway they’re bringing with them.

They don't come or you DH does it all. Surely he can bung some new potatoes in the microwave and a quiche in the ovan served with a ready made side salad.

Hey,
I was in a really similar situation this year. My Dd was turning 4 on my due date (poor planning on my part! 😂)

I just did party food my dd would enjoy as it was her birthday, sandwiches, fruit, pizza, cocktail sausages etc. just basic party food and cake, on paper plates so no washing up either!

At 40 weeks pregnant I really enjoyed a party food tea too.

Hope this helps! Good luck with the new baby.

My in laws were the same, I gave up in the end there’s no point getting stressed over it, they are what they are. Mine arrived the afternoon I came out of hospital, I had the baby the day before so it was less than 24 hours later. Parked themselves on the sofa, was really annoyed when my parents arrived. Then started asking what I was doing for dinner, my mum very calmly said, “ well I had planned on ordering take out for them and then disappearing to let them enjoy it, I assume you will be leaving with us ?” Mil not happy and stomped off with my mum and dad, didn’t stop her turning up the next morning and staying the day. That’s another story though .

anyway, party, I would go Buffett complete with paper party plates etc. order plates of sandwiches from Tesco or wherever, bowls of crisps a cake done. It’s your 2yrs old party so get what they like to eat if that’s chocolate spread sandwiches and jammie dodgers go for it 😂. Go all out child party, buying it all in.