Children’s party without lunch??

[Sophie8888]

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!

You could do a large hotdog in a brioche bun for next to nothing.

I do hot dogs, warm up a Tupperware box of them and buns. You can get veggie ones from big supermarkets too. Chop up a bag of carrots for carrot sticks and a few cucumbers. Super cheap and the kids get really chuffed as it’s finally not pizza!

It's vegetarian and likely eaten. Each child would get half a sandwich without crusts. It's also easy and cheap.

Toddlers eat very little at parties in my experience.
I’d do a selection of snacks, maybe cheap ice lolly and cake and that will be ok.
Some crisps and fruit and maybe baby sausages or something.

My kids would not touch a jam sandwich!

For a 2pm party for little ones.......... I would expect nothing except a bit of birthday cake. And a cup of squash/water.

Mine neither, and they might comment it is full of sugar and bad for children's teeth.

I didn't consider it to be an event where each guest is served their ideal culinary delight. It's a kid's party. 'Here is a bag with 5 things in it. I hope you are not repelled by all of them and find something to eat. If you hate all of it then don't worry, you're going home in 20 minutes.'

Yes, this is what chocolate spread is for.

Why?

Because chocolate spread is nicer

Would they be equally forthright about the rest of the fare, given that it's, you know, party food? Maybe you need to send along a personalised lunch box when they go to parties.

Yeah, can't argue with that.

Hot dogs?! Far too easy to choke on especially if you have under 5s, they’re up there with whole grapes (don’t serve those either) which is a hell of a lot worse than a jam sandwich that the kids can always leave if they don’t fancy it. As PP says it’s just 5 things in a box that they can eat or not as they like and no one expects it to be healthy.

Honestly I think 2-4 is fine to not serve a meal, but you do need to have snacks. At my daughters last party I just put ‘snacks provided’ on the invite so everyone was expecting it, then bought lots of packs of crisps and biscuits and some fruit

I'd do the party element first - games /activity from about 215-315.
Then do food so it's like an early tea - sandwiches, fruit, crisps, buns
Then at 350pm do cake and party bags.

I tried it once and the children were all starving even with snacks. I ended up giving out the party bags early to distract them.

Or one of those pre wrapped brioche buns?

Hahahaha!!!

Also, op, this is definitely cheaper than a buffet where the adults have to be considered. I offer adults cake. Or, I hand out a box of biscuits. It's obvious, easier, requires no prep and doesn't need tidied up.

Why not ?

When we have thrown and attended kids party inbetween lunch and tea time, the kids have hardly eaten anything, but i would always provide snacks its a good opportunity to round up for happy bithday sing song.

Just a sandwhich (one piece of bread into 2 triangles) cheese or ham, some batons of cucumber, and a bit of fruit.

Please ensure if you are using chocolate spread or chocolate brioche you check for nut contents and warn as needed for any nut allery attendees the parents can be extra vigilant.

So much angst over jam sandwiches! Party rings must make some of your heads explode.

I know, good grief, it's jam not heroin!!

Well exactly, at least heroin has a lower sugar content!!!!

No idea if that's actually true, let's assume it is.