Food for a 3 year old party - need ideas, I don't cook as my 3 year old doesn't eat....

[TheBlonde]

help please...
my thoughts so far are mini sarnies (do kids eat these?), mini sausages, olives, falafel...

will do cake obviously

home made chicken nuggets and home made potatoe wedges with ketchup would probably be easier than party food. Believe me the kids love it.

2 organic chicken breasts
1 organic egg
Plain flour
Salt and pepper
Olive oil

Cut the chicken breasts into nugget sized pieces. Make them slightly bigger than you would eat them as they shrink a bit with cooking. Beat the egg in a small bowl and place the chicken pieces into the egg. Heat the oven (180c). Take the eggy chicken pieces and coat them in the seasoned flour and place them onto a very lightly greased baking tin. After a while turn the pieces over and cook until the nuggets are golden. For extra flavouring, try breaking crumbs of chicken stock cube into the flour with the seasoning.

Preheat oven. Cut each potato lengthwise into 8 wedges; toss in bowl with a little melted butter, oil and if you want to some seasoned salt. Arrange in single layer on 2 baking sheets. Bake until tender and golden, turning potatoes and rotating sheets halfway through baking, about 45 minutes.

Jelly and icecream to follow.

thanks violetsky

carrot and cucumber sticks always go down well round here, cubes of cheese, raisins etc. I wouldn't faff around with cooking stuff for 3 year olds party as they may be too excited to eat anything. lso depends on the time of the party - if it is not at a meal time (e.g. 2-4pm) then they won't eat anything!

Is the party at home or elsewhere?
How many for?

At DD's previous parties we bought party food boxes and with teh invites sent out little reply slips where the child ticked a sandwich choice (cheese, ham or jam), and a drink choice apple, orange, water) as well as any allergies comments.

I also put in some raisins or grapes, a small chocolate bar, a small bun, some crisps, etc.

This year DD has asked for plates and food on plates. So far she has asked for things like mini sausages, cooked meat, veggie sticks, grapes, pitta pockets, hummous, etc.

my kids ask for crisps

I've always found that the following work:

• sandwiches
• cocktail sausages
• cherry tomatoes / cucumber sticks / carrot sticks / sliced peppers (with or without dip)

• hula hoops
• Juice / water to drink
• pizza slices

Kids never eat as much as you think they will, and the adults can nibble on the kids stuff.

It is going to be at home
Probably 3.30 til 5.30

I've always found that the following work:

• sandwiches
• cocktail sausages
• cherry tomatoes / cucumber sticks / carrot sticks / sliced peppers (with or without dip)

• hula hoops
• Juice / water to drink
• pizza slices

Kids never eat as much as you think they will, and the adults can nibble on the kids stuff.

pizza sounds good, even my child will eat that

For DS's 3rd birthday, we did

• mini burgers in buns

• mini sausages in buns

• carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, strips of pepper

• variety of fruit (apples, oranges, grapes, bananas)

• cheese

• small sandwiches (these didn't actually get eaten very much)

DS loves olives but I'm not sure whether his friends do.

For my dd's 4th party I will make up lunch boxes for each child.

Cheese sandwich
Mini sausage, mini sausage roll
Small pack of crisps
Satuma or similar
box of juice

There will also be cups of water and birthday cake. The reason I'm doing it like this is because I always over estimate how much food is needed. I don't mind if they don't finish what is in the lunchbox but I know I won't have made too much.

Buy lots of little tortillas, lay out various fillings and let them make their own.

But it's true make at least 1/3 less than you estimate you will need, you just end up with loads of waste otherwise.