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Original poster

Party food for 9yo's party - would you cheat?

44 replies

Hulababy · 27/02/2011 09:14

DD is having a climbing party for her 9th birthday in April. There will be up to 15 girls, all the same age.

The clibing centre doesn't cater bt do have a small room we can use. There is no room for putting food out though - so has to be very contained. We will also only have up to half an hour for eating afterwards. They are likely to be ravenous aftertwo hours of bouldering and climbing.

My original intention was to give each a food bag/box, each with a sandwich and juice carton, and then prob some crisps or fruit bag.

Cake will be cut and served at the end.

However DH reckons we could cheat. There is a Macdonalds round the corner. He thinks it would be far less hassle to take orders as the girls arrive and then do an advance order with MaccyDs for 15 Happy Meals and then collect it just before they finish climbing - so they all get something warm and a bit more substantial to eat, plus a drink, after their climbing.

But it is MaccyDs, a MN ^favourite Wink

What do you reckon? Would you cheat and make it less hassle for yourself, despite it being MaccyDs?

OP posts:
thunderbird69 · 27/02/2011 09:20

Sounds expensive?

Will there be any vegetarians as (I don't think) they do veggie happy meals.

Personally I'd make make my own, but it's entirely up to you/your DD.

DrNortherner · 27/02/2011 09:21

Don't think you'll get a yes on here Hula! I would just do it.

Saying that, my ds has been to many swimming parties recently where there is no room for catering and he has been given a party bag with carton of juice, bag of crisps and a mars bar.

What time is the party?

RealityIsKnockedUp · 27/02/2011 09:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Hulababy · 27/02/2011 09:27

thunderbird69 - no veggies. Cost TBh not muchdifferent to catering when I added everything up including food boxes, etc. And deduct the "cost" of the prep and hassle.

DrNotherner - party is 2:30-5pm. So not only will they have climbed for 2 hours it will be food time anyway. They do get juice and a bicuit alf way through, but will be ravenous based on DD when she normally goes climbing.

Reality - TBH despite the "middle-classness" of DD's school and where we are I don't think the parents would be particular bothered. They are all pretty laid back over stuff like that.

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RealityIsKnockedUp · 27/02/2011 09:31

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ChasingSquirrels · 27/02/2011 09:32

my only reservation about it would stem from your posts about the fact that the children will be hungry - MacDonald isn't a substantial and filling meal.

Original poster
Hulababy · 27/02/2011 09:42

chasingsquirresls - I would imagine a burger and fries would be more filling than a sandwich and some crisps. They will have cake after too. And can go home for supper.

Hmmm.

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lollyheart · 27/02/2011 09:48

Yes do it, I've done it before and the party was at home Grin
The kids will enjoy it it won't be much different in price by the time you have bought food drinks and the boxes for it to go inSmile

bellavita · 27/02/2011 09:53

Of course you should get them the Maccie D's. Less hassle, less expense and the girls will enjoy it.

I would have no qualms about this whatsoever.

Maryz · 27/02/2011 09:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChasingSquirrels · 27/02/2011 10:00

I may be thinking about how filling I find them, not 9yo girls. They are crap food, I have no problems with crap food, my post was more "unfilling food when hungry".
My boys always have chicken nuggets when they have a happy meal, and there isn't much there really. Maybe a burger would be more filling (although MaDonald's burgers aren't really burgers are they). And cake.

Alternatively do the climbing, have the cake and then send them home for tea. 4.30pm is quite early to eat, and it will be a rush to do in in half an hour.

Original poster
Hulababy · 27/02/2011 10:03

DD is not convinced by the idea of no food. I suggested that one, lol.

OP posts:
Ohforfoxsake · 27/02/2011 10:10

They'll be starving hungry and need fuel. Personally I'd do food boxes because you can prepare them the night before, that are self-contained, can be taken away if they dont finish given the time constraints and will be cheaper. 9 yo's don't still eat happy meals IME.
I'm not a fast food snob, but mcdonalds is shit.

Maryz · 27/02/2011 10:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ohforfoxsake · 27/02/2011 10:20

I am thinking I am a fast-food snob after-all.

Give them pizza instead. Get 8 margaritas delivered, find some online vouchers to make it cheap or they may even do you a deal.

Original poster
Hulababy · 27/02/2011 10:21

Ah, you see - I like good food and healthy options, but I also do admit that there is nothng wrong with the odd McDonalds. The food quality is nowhere near as bad as some people would believe. The quality of the food is not really my issue in the slightest. The odd burger is not going to be a problem food wise at all.

OP posts:
ChasingSquirrels · 27/02/2011 10:23

my 8.5yo will happily eat a happy meal, and be excited with the shit toy as well. I don't see that changing much in 6 months.

Original poster
Hulababy · 27/02/2011 10:24

Pizza deliver not as close by and DD wouldn't want just cheese pizza. Thinking pizza takeaway, which tbh isn;t much healthier imo, wuld be more hassle organising who wants what re toppings.

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Original poster
Hulababy · 27/02/2011 10:25

I don't think food boxes will be a huge amount different in price after I take into accoun cost of boxes too. I have done them before and def not a cheaper option. No room for plates of food though.

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TallulahDoesTheHula · 27/02/2011 10:26

Mcd's is fine but I wouldn't have thought a happy meal will fill up a 9 yr old!!
I'd say better to do sandwiches, crisps, fruit and cake to fill them up.
Especially if you are short of time! Imagine if you've placed this bog order and only have 30 mins to eat and they are running 15 mind late in mcd! You'll be stuck then

dontdisstheteens · 27/02/2011 10:28

The only drawback to maccie d I can think of is that happy meal is so small. By nine each of my boys would want a bigger meal than that. Just sell it to the kids as a snack if you don't want to make it very expensive.

Other than that, no contest! It is a party!

Ohforfoxsake · 27/02/2011 10:45

How about a nice jacket potato from Spud u Like? They'll give you cutlery and napkins too. Cheese and beans all round. Warm, nutritious and filling. Perfect Wink

Grin
Original poster
Hulababy · 27/02/2011 10:46

Hmmm. We will see. Still have a little while to go to decide.

OP posts:
DurhamDurham · 27/02/2011 10:49

After all that climbing they will be starving and v thirsty. I would go for the McD's and also lay on some plates of fruit, cakes and crisps with extra supplies of juice.

Original poster
Hulababy · 27/02/2011 10:53

No room for plates of things. There will be cake or buns though.

Do these children really need so much extra food? Surely a burger and some chips is sufficent for a child, followed by some cake? I know DD can eat a lot given the chance, but even so. Some of DD's friends seem to eat much less than DD when they come to play. There will be more drinks (squash or water) as that is available at the climbing centre anway, and they get a snack of squash/water and a couple of biscuits hald way through the climbing session.

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