Food for adults at kids party. What would you expect/like?

[GreenerGrass321]

I have my DS party coming up and was wondering about what to do for food for the adults. Most children are between 2-6 so will all have an adult with them. The children will get a hot lunch provided by the venue at 12 so I was thinking I should also do something for the grown ups, which I don’t mind, as long as it’s not too expensive. Easy to eat, picky food like sausage rolls, sandwich’s (but what flavour?), crisps. It’s at a farm with a soft play, and I am paying for the children to attend which also includes a free adult ticket, so not the cheapest. DH thinks we should buy the adults sandwiches from the venue menu which will work out to be more costly.
If you were attending, what would you like/expect? It’s my first party I am throwing and also haven’t been to any myself yet so don’t know what the ‘norm’ is

There is no expectation of food or drink for adults at a party.

It's lovely if tea and squash are provided, but not necessary.

It's lovely if a piece of birthday cake is provided, but not necessary.

It's amazing if 'proper' food is provided, but not necessary.

If it's a church hall type party I always do extra sandwiches, crisps, biscuits for the parents. But at your type I certainly wouldn't be buying food from the farm for parents, it'll be extortionate. If you're so inclined offer parents a hot drink and a piece of birthday cake, let them buy their own sandwiches etc if they want them.

This is such a new phenomenon. My eldest are late teens now and not once in all the birthday parties we went to when they were kids was their food for the parents. I had a young one again now and been to a few parties, in the past year and again, no food for the adults. I've never expected to be fed at a kids party!

A few bowls of crisps to nibble on.
If the adults are hungry they can buy their own.
They'll probably end up eating the kids leftovers anyway - kids never eat much at parties.
Well except the bowls of crisps 😂

We always do Morrisons party platter sandwiches and cakes, some crisps. Pork pies/ savoury eggs etc. (all cold food) Always goes down very well.

You may not be allowed to take in food from outside if the venue sell it. I even used to have to get permission from venues for a child on a very restricted medical diet.

I never expected to be fed at a children's party. If it fell over a mealtime and there was no other way of getting food eg it was at a village hall then some parents did provide a bit of a buffet. At a soft play/farm/wacky warehouse I would expect to buy my own food from the venue.

I don't expect to be fed - cup of tea or coffee is nice but I'd expect to buy my own.

I only provided biscuits and tea/coffee and a slice of birthday cake as my budget was quite tight and I wanted to spend the extra money on the children rather than the adults. It's popular around here though, usually a glass of prosecco and sandwiches/buffet food. I don't usually eat though as a bit fussy about this sort of food and would never expect to be given anything, it's really a event for the children. However if you want to I would probably provide sandwiches and cakes.

IME it’s not the norm to feed adults at kids parties (although I personally do it, but in a village hall type situation where I can cook a few extra pizzas etc). At a venue, I’d be pleasantly surprised if tea, coffee and biscuits were provided, but I’d take my purse expecting to buy my own.

If you really want to feed the adults or it’s a party that goes 11am-1pm so it’s clearly a mealtime, I doubt they’d let you take food in, but could you order a few bowls of chips/crisps or a few pizzas to share?

Also nobody will starve, surely an adult can either before or after the party and survive two hours.

As the parent I've never expected to be fed at a kids party. If it's a soft play type venue with a cafe I'll usually buy myself a latte, otherwise I just go knowing I need to eat before or after.

Occasionally some biscuits and squash is provided which is nice, but I would t expect the hosts to be making me cups of tea when they've got a load of kids they're trying to keep control of.

When it's a venue like that I would not expect to be catered for as an adult. When we have held parties in similar places I usually buy a round of coffees/teas for adults staying and that's all that's needed (but people don't expect it, I do it though as I think it's a nice touch)
You could bring a biscuit selection if you're allowed to bring outside food. Otherwise just cater for the children.

I don't expect food at venues, at someone's house maybe nibbles for the adults. Crisps and dip sort of thing.

My experience is adults won't expect food. I always do the kids parties at home and over cater just in case any adults want food. There is always food left.

That’s great that everyone seems to be on the same wave length. I’ve spoken to the venue previously and they said that we are welcome to bring our own food for adults. Think snacks and nibble foods will be what I will do and I’ll offer a hot drink. I would probably want to eat something myself so wouldn’t want to seem rude eating food they can’t have in front of them. But like some have mentioned, I can’t imagine the children will finish all their food anyway so no doubt the parents will help get the plates clean

I've just done a party last month and I didn't put any drinks or food for the adults and not an eye was batted. Honestly don't worry about it.

Echoing what everyone has said here - as an adult, there's no way I would expect to be fed at the type of party you describe (and I've been to MANY of them!).

If the host provided tea or coffe I would be very grateful, but that's not something I would expect either.

Agree with all of the above, it's also quite uncomfortable being forced to eat a slice of pizza or whatever by the parents of the birthday child at some random time of the day, when you're trying to stick that healthy eating plan mid-January! 😁 I find most parents don't want to eat at a kids party, it's unecessary.

A cup of tea/coffee and a selection box of biscuits is perfect.

My DH insisted on catering for parents for years, until he finally admitted that no one ever eats it.

I agree with what most have said. When my daughter was little we had, and have been to, parties at venues and at church halls. At a venue, parents would just go and buy themselves a drink or a snack if they wanted it. At a church hall there's often a kitchen so the host might take a box of teabags/a jar of coffee for the parents to help themselves to a cuppa. Never any expectation to be fed. I think I went to one party where the host brought a tray of samosas/snacks for the parents to nibble on. It was very kind, but certainly not expected.

Honestly, for an adults-at-kids-party situation, most people probably don’t expect much. Maybe just some light snacks to keep it simple. I’ve been to parties where they just throw out a few bowls of crisps and maybe some sandwiches – nothing fancy, just ham, cheese, or egg mayo. When we have gatherings at Gallo (you can check it here www.gallocoalfirekitchen.com/location/gallo-coal-fire/ ), we like to offer things that are easy to grab and eat, like mini pizzas or finger foods. But really, you could just stick to crisps, sausage rolls, and a cake slice.

Kids food for a kids party is all I would expect for the kids only

Agree. Even more so when it's a venue where they have a cafe or similar that people could buy from if they wanted to.

I did provide a small selection of hot and cold drinks and sandwiches for parents at my DC's 4th birthday party though. That was because the children needed an adult to stay with them so it's not like adult could drop and come back, and party was directly across most people's usual lunch time (think 12-2). The cafe was also in a different room than the party so it's like parents could easily sit in the cafe and continue to supervise their children. We recently did their 6th birthday party and that was in a soft play type place with a cafe attached so didn't cater for adults there, the kids had set food from the venue. We wouldn't have been allowed to bring our own. Some of the parents bought themselves snacks and drinks, but it wasn't across a time when adults usually have a meal anyway (think 3-5pm type party).

Agree I wouldn't expect to be fed either. Some crisps/snacks to nibble on if hungry would be well received though!