what food to serve for a party at 2?

[vannah]

Dd's birthday party at the weekend, she'll be 4, and about 12 of her nursery friends are coming to our house. It only lasts an hour and half, starting at 2 ending at 3.30.

Will sandwiches, crisps, cake, and cucumber batons suffice or do I need to 'feed' them, ie pizza / nuggets / pasta etc?

What would you expect if you were attending a party at that time?
Thanks!
Oh, by the way does anyone have a 'welcome' activity for kids to do or make as they come in, which doesn't involve paints/ feltip , we have v light colour wallpaper!

Hiya, i have done party food for a local park who mostly have under 6's, in my experience, simple sandwiches (jam egg ham - not on the same sandwich obviously) go really well, we also do the usual crisps in bowls, buns etc, but what also goes down really well is the fruit kebabs, you may want to supervise this but we have not had any issues, what we do is cut wooden bbq kebab sticks in half then each one gets grape, apple, strawberry threaded on it, they are bright, kids love them and parents cant moan about the lack of good food!! Winner!! also for the party starter, what about cake or biscuit decorating - really cheap if you use digestives?? or buy plain cup cakes they can have all sorts of stuff to decorate them with, then take them home at the end. Best of luck, hope you and your paintwork survive the day.

Meant to add, if parents want their kids fed they should feed the little buggers them selves, you are giving them a fun time not a lesson in diet and nutrition!!

Thanks calamity! That's really really helpful. From your advice im definitely going for the fruit kebabs, plus decorating plain cakes. Brilliant

glad i could help, good luck! you will need when it is over!