Food boxes - what do I do

[OatcakeCravings]

Right for some reason, I have decided to throw my son a 4th birthday party and invite his whole nursery class plus non-nursery friends so i am looking at 25-30 kids. I've hired a hall and an entertainer so far so good! But what do I do about food? Its over lunch so I'll have to provide something reasonable but it will all have to be cold and then cleared away in 15 mins!

I had thought about buying those cardboard lunch boxes so I could assemble everything in the morning and just add a sandwich at the last minute, thus keeping them refridgerated for as long as possible. What do I wrap the sandwiches in? Cling film? What else should I put in the box? I was thinking that 4 triangles of sandwich would do - 2 cheese and 2 ham, a bag of crisps (plain), a drink (carton of apple juice but I'd have a case of water if the child didn't like it), some sort of cheese (either a cheese string or a dairylea cheese thing) and some grapes (again do I just pop a wee bunch in or do I have to wrap them in something). Then I'd have either a cupcake for everyone or a slice of birthday cake.

Or do you think it would be easier do platters of sarnies, sausage rolls, mini pizzas (all cold), plus crisps on the table with paper plates? Then serve the cake. Am I being a bit mean with the sweet goodies? Should add biscuits to this either in the lunch box or on the table?

Aarrgghh - wish I'd booked soft play that comes with the food now!

I think boxes are easier - bung a cupcake in each, and don't worry about wrapping grapes. Maybe some cherry tomatos in there too ?

You could do a big plate of sarnies and then take them round which saves wrapping and waste (plus easier to keep in fridge)

I think it unlikely that they will eat 4 triangles each, I reckon nearer to 2 or 3,, mine eat 4 for packed lunch, but never at a party as too excited. Having the sandwiches separate will mean you can make fewer.

We just have platters it gives them more choice, but some of them do grab handfulls. As it is a fairy party I am doing mini everything, so mini party rings, mini choc fingers, mini cakes, cherry tomato etc, and the sandwiches I am going to cut each sandwich into 8, I'm guessing they will probably grab 3 still but actually eat them, rather than leaving half.

If you do lunchboxes do check for allergies before, at that age neither girl could eat cheese or dairy, with plates I used to just select things I knew they could have, it would be worse if I had to take food away.

Mine say they prefer plates to boxes, and they had better do from now on as I have invested in loads of ikea plastic plates!

Satsumas are good cos you can pop them back in fruit bowl afterwards if they remain untouched!