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!

At 2 everyone should have eaten. Just snacks are fine. If you are worried put out a plate of sandwiches.

I did a 2-4 party for 6 year olds and at 3 pm handed out snack boxes which had strawberries, fruity stars, a packet of crisps, a biscuit and a carton of juice in. Yes full of sugar but it’s a party. And all ambient so had been able to make them up in the morning and not keep them in the fridge. Kids ate what they wanted, left what they didn’t and it was much easier than faffing with sandwiches and refrigerating etc etc

Toddlers would get sticky eating sawdust, I never know why anyone would think jam is a good idea for that age group. But it’s bloody delicious and doesn’t deserve a smear campaign. #TeamJam

That sounds perfect, actually.

The sugar content depends on what it is cut with. This is form google not personal experience

As a baby/toddler DD slept till noon so 2-4pm would definitely have been a mealtime for her! Quite possibly breakfast. 🫣

So as long as we cut it with something low in sugar we're all good, thanks!

Your children? Hopefully they wouldn’t actually say that when offered a jam sandwich, as it would be very rude.

Jam is cheap, vegan (so good for vegans, vegetarians and dairy free children), nut free and most children like it, so it’s a sensible choice for a party. I would do one other kind of sandwich too though, just in case.

Your children sound like party poopers @caringcarer

We served jam sandwiches at a kids party once, DC's request as they had developed a fondness for them at the time. They were a big hit with everyone, parents alike who hadn't had one for years!

Snack and a cake is fine at that time OP, 17 years+ of kids parties here, in my experience unless it's hot pizza/nuggets or hotdogs which some of the trampolining etc places serve then I wouldn't worry too much about food, mostly picked at and thrown away. Unless I knew it was a hot meal I'd not bank on party food being a meal for my DCs and would always feed them as usual.

Now I don't mind jam ( ingredients sugar, fruit, pectin) but those god awful hotdogs are full of shit and I wouldn't serve them to a dog never mind young children. Ditto cheap ham.

Excellent - well done!

🤔What do you mean ?

You’re clearly superior to me for not feeding kids sausages/frankfurters and ham. Very well done.

I feed my kids and their friends food. Just food. Whatever I can get into their hungry little mouths. I also eat any and everything and we are all of a healthy weight, appearance etc, so it seems to be working just fine.

Thanks!

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/diet-and-cancer/does-eating-processed-and-red-meat-cause-cancer

https://joinzoe-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/joinzoe.com/learn/what-is-ultra-processed-food.amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16907317808943&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fjoinzoe.com%2Flearn%2Fwhat-is-ultra-processed-food

I do not consider Frankfurters food.

Ingredients of leading brand of Frankfurters, no one could really think it's OK for kids to eat this stuff.

Classic MN thread. From "can I do a party at 2pm without food?" to "JAM SANDWICHES = DEATH" in the space of 50 posts

It's nuts. I suggested ham and jam sandwiches on the first page. Thought it was a cheap idea for a kids party as op said she didn't want to spend too much. But I now see the error of my ways. My ham and jam sandwich suggestion would have condemned these poor kids to diabetes and cancer. Op... perhaps you should serve some quinoa and green juices. Lightly poach some organic salmon too. Kids love that at parties.

Ffs it's a party

Does it have to be a nutritious meal? Hot dogs aren't going to kill the kids and most won't actually eat much of the hot dog and just enjoy munching on the ketchup bun

Chuck some cucumbers and carrots in and a bowl of packet crisps (because tot hands are yucky for sharing bowls)

Jug of squash and plastic cups or drink cartons and everyone will be fine

Veggie sausages if hotdogs are too sinful

Or really go mad and buy everyone a dairylea lunchable (under £30 total if you get them on a deal I'm sure)

Kids love them - go mad putting name stickers on each for decoration

When I did my DD party after lunch there was just snack food and some drinks. No sandwiches.

The adults who attended ate most of it. People don't let their kids go hungry but don't eat properly themselves.

All the canned drinks went.

The left over bottled water we gave to the venue.

This is good by hotdog standards though… they’ve got nothing on the ones that happily and proudly list the main ingredient as “mechanically recovered meat”.

(Would still happily let my kids eat them at a party though and think it’s a pretty good idea for a cheap party food.)

Just my opinion but I think that type of processed crap meat will be regarded by future generations as analogous to how smoking in front of children is now seen.

It’s perfectly fine not to have food but I’d recommend making it really clear on the invites so that parents can provide lunch pre-party.

Thats a brilliant idea!