Simple party food ideas - children

[Aimsmum]

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I always put the food out so they can help themselves to what they like. I think the key is to go for fairly healthy not just overly healthy. Most kids are familiar with sandwiches, mini sausages, chees and crisps.

Just keep it simple and if you are using a hall think about what you can take in boxes, avoid stuff that has to be hot even if there are kitchen facilities, you don't want to be stuck in an unfamiliar kitchen when you should be out making sure DD or DS is welcoming guests.

I put everything in boxes and made up trays once we were there so they don't spill all over the car. Well actually MIL was assigned this task, she was quite happy to be out of the main party room.
I found it easier to put a mixture of food on each plate so its easier for kids to reach, less chance of knocking over juice.
Cartoons or capri sun type jucie make less mess when knooked over than bottles or cups.
Avoid Cheesy Wotsits as thay smell disgusting and make everyone orange .
If you do do an ice cream factory check there is freezer facilities big enough to accomodate a huge tub or multiple blocks of ice cream, not just a wee compartment.

When I said I put everything in boxes i meant big tubs for transportation.

Thanks thats really helpful.Shes only little but already knows shes having a party and is really excited!

popcorn instead of crisps - you can do salty and sweet and its verrrrry popular

chocolate crispy cakes essential IMO

dd2 is having her 3rd birthday in a few weeks and I will do:
cold sausages, cheese sandwiches and marmite sandwiches (cut into shapes), salty popcorn, cucumber, pepper and cherry toms (to placate mums, not actually expecting any to get eaten)
fairy cakes, choc crispy cakes, toffee popcorn, and I might do that fairy bread, one other sweet thing and of course THE CAKE

This thread is great - dd's birthday is coming up (OK in 3 months but I'm excited) and this has given me great ideas.

We went to a party recently when the food was in boxes - nice idea but all the kids just ate the jelly, biscuits etc and ignored the sandwiches!! I prefer having table full of food. I love watching them choose what they're going to eat.

I love the idea of them decorating biscuits but think it could be a disaster for a bunch of 3 year olds ...

so....... savoury out first and then sweet things or all at once?

I might make a jelly too

Agree with www, not too many sandwiches.
I catered for 30+ at DS1 and DD's party this summer and did about 1 small roll (or half a regular one) per child, ham and jam IIRC, soft cheese also popular.
My ds1 is the only child who ever eats more than one sandwich (or none!)
I also did
halved cherry toms
cucumber and carrot sticks
crisps and hula hoops
sausages
sausage rolls (made by my mum)
Then fo pudding, chco crispie cakes as Enid says, also tiger iced buns (orange icing with chocolate stripes) and Nigella's fab butter biscuits in 4 and 6 (the relevant ages) which always go really well.
Oh and straberries and raspberries as well, it was June tho, prob a bit mad in Oct but they went down well.
I make all the cakes but then I am a bit of a glutton for punishment, Nothing wrong with just loading the trolley as Asda.
Loving some of the ideas here, sausages in a grapfruit and creen jelly grass! fab!

I'm loving this thread, I cheated at my DD's 6th this year and just paid for it all at a fun factory - but only because I'm new to the area

Next year i'll defo pinch some ideas!

Lots of bowls of grapes, raisins, cherry toms, basically anything little are a must IMO.

I think all supermarkets do Veggie hotdogs - Tivall are nice, from the freezer section. Taste nice too!

I like the idea of decorating fairy cakes, i know that I'll be using that one! You can buy packs of 10-12 for about £1 at the supermarkets.

Oh no, I knew I shouldnt have read this one, I'm planning a halloween party now....

Oh I did boxes for dd's party when she was 2 and they had a picnic in the garden, the boxes went down very well