Food for 3rd birthday party

[Lily7050]

We are planning to have about 60 guests including parents.
The venue has kitchen with oven and fridge/freezer. The party will be in the morning from 10am to midday.
The children usually have lunch at nursery around 11:30am. I think I will offer main food around 11am so the children could finish eating by 12:00.
I have read a few older threads about party food so got general ideas. Also we have been to a few parties of nursery children and neighbors.
I work full time so do not have much time to bake/cook for 60 people.
I think I will cut carrot, cucumber and peppers sticks and offers them with humus. Also cut fruits and make cheese and ham sandwiches.
From other parties I noticed my DS seemed to be the only fussy eater who did not eat anything at parties. He likes brioche rolls. I was thinking of making some sandwiches with brioche rolls so my DS would eat at his birthday party but my DP says no one did them so they will look odd.
I wonder what other people here think of brioche roll sandwiches?
Also my DS does not eat cakes but he eats ice-cream sometimes. Would 3yo children get offered ice-cream at parties?
The only main meal my DS eats at home is pasta of particular shape, Mezzi Rigatoni. Would it be ok if I offer Mezzi Rigatoni with bolognese sauce so if other children fancy they could have it as well?
Pizza seems to work well at children's parties but I do not make pizzas myself and most delivery places do not deliver before 11:30-midday. If I find a place that can deliver by 10:45-11 I will order pizzas.

Egg butties
Ham butties
Cocktail sausages
Crisps
Cucumber
Carrot
Party rings
Fairy cakes.

We will do 2 year old party soon. I’m planning easy

Mini Philadelphia sandwiches
Fruit cut up ( strawberries, blueberries, melon)
Pom bears/ other crisps
Main birthday Cake

Some open sandwiches for adults/ kids who want. Cream cheese/ smoked salmon/ Parma ham type thing.

It’s a 2 hour party. No one will starve in that time if they aren’t huge fans of what’s on offer.

Sandwiches, party sausage roll, crisps (skips, onion rings, cheesy footballs), krispie cake. Cup of diluting juice/ water.
That’s enough.

What 3 yos are you catering for that supermarket pizzas are not okay?! Must be far more discerning than the kids round my way!

We did 45 people for my daughters first bday, and it was just family and our closest friends and their kids (and we don't have a large family!) So I could see having 60 people easily once our daughter is in preschool and has more friends!

I would order/buy: sandwich platters, fruit salad, veggie tray, pre made dips, chips, supermarket pizzas to be baked at the venue, cake and cookies. I would make a massive pasta salad with the pasta shape your child likes (pesto, cherry tomatoes, feta, olives and garbanzo beans is easy), and a tray of child friendly sandwiches (brioche is fine!) I wouldn't bother with sandwich boxes, that sounds like a lot of work and waste, just let the parents feed them. I would leave the food out the whole time, rather than serving it at 11:30.

You don’t feed the parents at a kids party. They are welcome to the buffet after the kids have finished but you don’t cater to them.

You’re overthinking this. Cold buffet food. The kids will barely eat anything. No idea what kind of parties are serving homemade pizza.

And for the love of god please don’t attempt to serve pasta bolognese.

I had a thread recently about my 4 year olds party and was told pizza was a no no. I did end up doing them and they were a huge hit! We got the frozen mini pizzas from Asda 12 in a pack and cut them in half. Went down a storm. Also served mini sausage rolls, wotsits, doritos, carrot sticks and houmous, watermelon fingers (bigger hit than expected!) Chocolate fingers and custard creams and then cake for pudding. Pretty standard and all went down well. Only served kids though, we had invited 22 but only 15 made it. We had tea coffee and biscuits for the adults if they wanted. Party was 2-4 so after lunch time but the kids were starving 🤭

60 people might be a bit overwhelming for a 3 year old’s party? Have they all RSVP’d?

Cold buffet food might be the way to go:

• Mini pizzas
• Mini sausage rolls
• Ham and cheese finger sandwiches/cut into squares (cut into shapes with biscuit cutters if you’re bothered)
• cheese straws
• Bread sticks, carrots and cucumber batons with humus
• Fruit kebabs (just be aware of any fruit allergies)
• mini muffins or mini cupcakes (flavours of your preference - E.g. carrot cake/blueberry/choc chip/red velvet/funfetti/vanilla/chocolate etc.)

Ice cream might be too much faff with 60 attendees. Choc ice could be an option, but keeping it simple is key.

What's wrong with supermarket pizza? Thats been the most popular thing at every kids birthday buffet I've ever been to... and I don't think I've ever seen one without!

@TheRealBoswell

60 people might be a bit overwhelming for a 3 year old’s party? Have they all RSVP’d?

Cold buffet food might be the way to go:

• Mini pizzas
• Mini sausage rolls
• Ham and cheese finger sandwiches/cut into squares (cut into shapes with biscuit cutters if you’re bothered)
• cheese straws
• Bread sticks, carrots and cucumber batons with humus
• Fruit kebabs (just be aware of any fruit allergies)
• mini muffins or mini cupcakes (flavours of your preference - E.g. carrot cake/blueberry/choc chip/red velvet/funfetti/vanilla/chocolate etc.)

Ice cream might be too much faff with 60 attendees. Choc ice could be an option, but keeping it simple is key.

Choco ice is a good idea!

Thanks again to everyone for contribution.
Agree about ice cream. We will have limited time to clean the rubbish and leave the venue.
Re. pizzas, I will taste some supermarket pizzas during the time before party to see which one is good. I think it will be safer option than waiting for deliveries.
Other savory ready option0s I think is Higgidy tomato and cheddar mini muffins www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&productId=1393406&langId=44&istCompanyId=1e096408-041f-4238-994e-a7cf46bf9413&istFeedId=689af7a8-5842-4d88-be59-1ee5688a81b5&istItemId=ptpitapil&istBid=t&&cmpid=cpc&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=15424330555&utm_content=shopping&utm_term=%7bsku%7d&utm_custom1=129852755749&utm_custom2=759-449-0952&gclid=CjwKCAjw6dmSBhBkEiwA_W-EoHcn-kynRcVGFMLOcb-WVkH_u_SAqw0aazOu1fyi40m_VDzCn3uJ1RoCdaAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Also need to taste before party to see how salty/spicy they are.
Re. sweet food, I think Bonne Mamman fruit cakes and madeleines will be good option.

We have just catered for 40 children, slightly older than 3, but we kept it simple:

Ham, cheese and jam sandwiches
Individual bags of crisps/quavers etc
A few ready made packs of sausage/cheese rolls
Bags of maryland cookies
Cucumber/carrot sticks
Water/fruit shoots

Took 2 of us a hour the night before to prep/wrap up etc and a few mins at party to unwrap and put the packaged bits on platters.

Parents will help the children get what food they need, and where we held the party didn't have a table big enough, so the kids ate like a picnic on the floor in their friendship groups with their parents....I was worried about this, but they loved it!