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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

Original poster

Children’s party without lunch??

100 replies

Sophie8888 · 29/07/2023 20:45

Sorry for all party questions 🙈 Is it bad to host a child’s birthday party without lunch if it starts at 2pm? I was thinking of having snacks and cake but want to avoid lunch due to costs.

thanks!

OP posts:
koalab · 29/07/2023 20:47

That would be fine by me.

ReeseWitherfork · 29/07/2023 20:48

How old?

I’ve never been to a children’s party without food, so I might find it a bit odd. But I think as long as you’re crystal clear to parents in advance then it’ll be no big deal. If it’s 2-4 then maybe just don’t give them loads of crap to eat at the end of the party without something substantial first. That would bug me, personally. Mucking up dinner I mean.

Gymmum82 · 29/07/2023 20:49

Every kids party I’ve ever attended despite the time has included food. So I’d be pretty surprised if there was no food provided tbh and I ordinarily send my kids hungry because I know there will be food.
If you are planning this I think you need to be clear that there won’t be food because as I say in the 9 years we’ve been attending party’s it’s never happened

TropicalTrama · 29/07/2023 20:49

Yes that’s fine because everyone will eat lunch before due to the timing and then be home in time for dinner. You could always do few sandwiches though to serve as a tea, that will cost hardly anything if you do cheap fillings like cheese or jam. Or is it a venue where you’d be on the hook for their madly overpriced nuggets?

Original poster
Sophie8888 · 29/07/2023 20:51

God now I feel bad! Food it is!

OP posts:
Original poster
Sophie8888 · 29/07/2023 20:52

Would 2pm not be too late to offer lunch for toddlers though? I’m so bad at this stuff 🙈

OP posts:
Comedycook · 29/07/2023 20:54

Doesn't have to be lunch necessarily...but you do need to provide food. You can make a big batch of ham, cheese and jam sandwiches pretty cheaply. Chuck some crisps in a bowl. Carrot and cucumber batons. Some chocolate fingers or biscuits. Job done.

DinnaeFashYersel · 29/07/2023 20:55

Fine with me.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/07/2023 20:55

How longs the party? I’d feed them lunch beforehand given the time, but may expect tea if goes on beyond 4pm

thesurreymum · 29/07/2023 20:57

The last two parties I have been to have not had food and similar time to yours. One did have icecream and cones though with a choice of toppings. I thought that was a really nice touch.

Ohyousillydivvy · 29/07/2023 20:58

If you can't afford to host properly and provide food then have a smaller celebration with fewer children. It will be noticeable if you scrimp on food especially as people will buy a gift. So you do need to provide something as kids get hungry in between lunch & tea. 2pm is perfect snack time for most kids.

HanSB · 29/07/2023 20:59

Yes but don’t make much for toddlers, I would make a little sandwich, bowls of crisps, popcorn, party ring biscuits, a bowl of easy peelers and then the birthday cake

ReeseWitherfork · 29/07/2023 20:59

What is the party? What’s the entertainment/location etc?

TropicalTrama · 29/07/2023 20:59

Offer food at the end. So if the party is 2-4 I’d do a tea at 3.15, then sing happy birthday, cake, party bags, mingle and home.

Babadook76 · 29/07/2023 21:00

TropicalTrama · 29/07/2023 20:49

Yes that’s fine because everyone will eat lunch before due to the timing and then be home in time for dinner. You could always do few sandwiches though to serve as a tea, that will cost hardly anything if you do cheap fillings like cheese or jam. Or is it a venue where you’d be on the hook for their madly overpriced nuggets?

I disagree. It is usually normal to have lunch before 2 and dinner a while after. But if my children had a party at 2pm I’d expect there to be quite a lot of food there like most birthday parties. I’d give my children an early breakfast and a very light snack for lunch, and plan a very light snack for dinner, basically planning their whole days meals around the party. It’s fine not to provide food imo as long as you let people know. My children would be absolutely starving at the party if we weren’t prewarned they wouldn’t get fed

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 29/07/2023 21:02

TropicalTrama · 29/07/2023 20:59

Offer food at the end. So if the party is 2-4 I’d do a tea at 3.15, then sing happy birthday, cake, party bags, mingle and home.

Agreed

Normandy144 · 29/07/2023 21:10

Typically food is always at the end of the party. So for a 2pm party I would feed my child lunch as normal at 12pm. I would then assume that a party tea would be served around 3.15pm and home time at 4pm. I could then do them a light supper if needed at around 5pm. It it's just toddlers you don't need to spend much. Make some sandwiches, have a fruit and veggies tray and some crisps. You can give them some sweet treats too if you like e.g.chocolate fingers or flapjacks. That is all you need and it doesn't have to cost very much.

coodawoodashooda · 29/07/2023 21:16

I've given a bag of food for each child. 5 items. Jam sandwich, pom bears, drink, fruit, chocolate buttons. No dishes. Loads of bin bags available for the rubbish.

Whitewolf2 · 29/07/2023 21:18

I agree to party food after an hour or so - mostly to give everyone a moment to rest, refuel, sing happy birthday with the cake and then have a bit more fun before the party finishes.
So you don’t need loads of food, I wouldn’t expect a full dinner or anything like that, just some snacks.

MaxiPadd · 29/07/2023 21:23

I actually did a party without food and just cake (cupcakes) when my DC were little

But I used those McDonald's like cardboard lunchboxes for party bags and included a carton drink, pom bears, and Barney bear cake rolls in each along with a few goodies- I forget what now, likely a balloon and toy car or whatever

Anyone who said they were hungry just got given their party box earlier to tuck into

Had no complaints

JenniferBarkley · 29/07/2023 21:49

Snacks and cake is fine at that time OP. The food wouldn't be coming until after 3 so everyone will have had lunch and then that's too early for dinner. Every party I've been to at that time that has served a full meal has had a tonne of leftovers because the kids just weren't hungry and had no interest in sitting down to eat.

We were going to do a party at that time for our youngest, we were going to leave crisps and popcorn out through, then a few bowls of nuggets and cocktail sausages for them to pick at and then cake.

drpet49 · 29/07/2023 21:52

Gymmum82 · 29/07/2023 20:49

Every kids party I’ve ever attended despite the time has included food. So I’d be pretty surprised if there was no food provided tbh and I ordinarily send my kids hungry because I know there will be food.
If you are planning this I think you need to be clear that there won’t be food because as I say in the 9 years we’ve been attending party’s it’s never happened

This has been my experience too

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/07/2023 21:57

Sandwiches and bday cake - afternoon tea

caringcarer · 29/07/2023 22:35

TropicalTrama · 29/07/2023 20:49

Yes that’s fine because everyone will eat lunch before due to the timing and then be home in time for dinner. You could always do few sandwiches though to serve as a tea, that will cost hardly anything if you do cheap fillings like cheese or jam. Or is it a venue where you’d be on the hook for their madly overpriced nuggets?

For goodness sake Don't serve jam.

caringcarer · 29/07/2023 22:36

coodawoodashooda · 29/07/2023 21:16

I've given a bag of food for each child. 5 items. Jam sandwich, pom bears, drink, fruit, chocolate buttons. No dishes. Loads of bin bags available for the rubbish.

What is it about giving kids jam?