Food timing? Is this ok?

[Partyfoodtiming]

I'm planning my daughter's 6th birthday and invites have already gone out for 12.3 - 3pm.

We have a bouncy castle from 12:30, and an entertainer from 1 - 2pm.

We planned to then do cake and food at 2pm.

Now I'm worrying if 2pm is too late for food since the party starts at lunch time! I don't want upset, hungry kids. Should I just stick all the food out ready for 12:30 arrival, or just put a small table up with snacks, crisps etc for arrival and then the main food at 2pm as planned?

We have a hall and 30 kids coming, plus parents who I also plan to provide some food and drink for.

Do as you've planned but pop a text out to parents so the know and the children can have elevenses beforehand. One of my dc gets frantic if hungry!

i think with a 12:30pm start lunch would be expected then. I'd put out half the lunch and snacks for 12:30 then replenish an hour later with cake at 2:00pm.

I would have given my 5-6yo kids lunch before a 12:30 party

Oh, 3 different opinions 😀

Wouldn't if be chaotic if I put the food out for arrival? I'm thinking that might just be the best solution, then parents can help themselves if the kids are complaining they're hungry.

food out on arrival OP

I think anything is OK, as long as you tell people first if you’re doing lunch at a weird time. Kids would deff be hungry before 2, but that’s ok if they’ve had a very substantial snack first.

I’d do snacks and drinks out at arrival, things like fruit and biscuits, then party lunch at 2pm

I'd put it all out from 12.30 and let people help themselves, do cake at 2pm

I’d say on the invite birthday tea at 2pm,
so they know to have lunch before coming

Hmmm, my concern with food on arrival would be kids eating lots of sugar and then going on a bouncy castle and throwing up. So if you do serve some food at the start, I suggest you keep cake and any sugary items for after the bouncy castle.

I also wouldn’t leave food out through the party - every entertainer I have hired has said it creates distraction so the children don’t engage as well and creates a disjointed party.

In your situation I would probably just tell the parents your plan, and they can manage their children’s timings. Lots of 5/6 year olds eat lunch at 12, so the parents can give them a meal a little earlier. And after jumping about on a bouncy castle, they will be ready for more food by 2.

Too late for this as invites have already gone out!