Page 4 | Children’s party without lunch??

Sophie8888 · 2023-07-29T19:45:44+00:00

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!

RosesAndHellebores · 30/07/2023 18:22

You will need a modest party tea.

Ham sarnies/dairylea sarnies four fingers per round - one finger each

A little muffin case of crisps or hula hoops

2 strawberries and half a satsuma

1 party ring/1 chocolate finger

1 carton of juice

I'd put it in a little party box but you could save by making wrapping paper cones.

Party bag: slice of cake, bubbles, mini pack of Haribos

Job done: probably about £25-£30.

00100001 · 30/07/2023 18:26

Yeah kids just need a couple of sandwich triangles and some crisps and biscuits.

Don't even bother with cucumber etc.

30 kids?
Get two loves of cheap white bread, make half jam sandwiches and half something like cheese spread or ham - cut into triangles
Get 30 packs of supermarket crisps
Packs of cheap custard creams/party rings etc

And let them eat that. Kids eat hardly anything at parties and only want crap. So don't even bother with anything healthy

WhatHaveIDone21 · 30/07/2023 18:28

I wouldn't expect food at that time especially for toddlers. It's after lunch time and before tea time!

BoltedSpinach · 30/07/2023 18:29

We just had a 7 year old party 2-4 and I tried to serve afternoon tea. My stupid teenagers ate an entire loaf of white bread that I hadn’t thought to tell them was off limits but bought for the party (stupid mother) and so I only had enough for 1/2 sandwich each. It wasn’t enough. I was embarrassed. We also had lots of fruit and cakes, but kids were asking for more sandwiches.

00100001 · 30/07/2023 18:30

caringcarer · 29/07/2023 23:47

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

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Your kids sound like boring obnoxious brats.

RudsyFarmer · 30/07/2023 18:41

Just tell parents on the invite. As long as I know I am absolutely fine with it.

Smartiepants79 · 30/07/2023 19:50

00100001 · 30/07/2023 18:30

Your kids sound like boring obnoxious brats.

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Mine wouldn’t comment but they’ve never been given jam sandwiches in their lives so they wouldn’t eat them and if that was all that was on offer they’d be disappointed.
I’ve never eaten sweet sandwiches and so have never given them to my children either.
They eat all forms of savoury sandwich!

coodawoodashooda · 30/07/2023 20:02

Smartiepants79 · 30/07/2023 19:50

Mine wouldn’t comment but they’ve never been given jam sandwiches in their lives so they wouldn’t eat them and if that was all that was on offer they’d be disappointed.
I’ve never eaten sweet sandwiches and so have never given them to my children either.
They eat all forms of savoury sandwich!

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How old are your kids?

Smartiepants79 · 30/07/2023 20:27

coodawoodashooda · 30/07/2023 20:02

How old are your kids?

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Now 10 and 13! Been to many parties and hosted one per child every year. Why?
My 2 would never be rude about what had been provided. I’d expect them to politely eat as much of what they’ve been given as they can. At the age they are now they’d possibly eat the jam sandwich but they’ve never been given them by me and would never choose them.
As small children they’d have just left them on the plate.
For me, sweet sandwiches do help make a balanced meal. No protein, no nutritional value, just more sugar.

Smartiepants79 · 30/07/2023 20:28

Do NOT make a balanced meal!

Goldencup · 30/07/2023 20:42

RosesAndHellebores · 30/07/2023 18:22

You will need a modest party tea.

Ham sarnies/dairylea sarnies four fingers per round - one finger each

A little muffin case of crisps or hula hoops

2 strawberries and half a satsuma

1 party ring/1 chocolate finger

1 carton of juice

I'd put it in a little party box but you could save by making wrapping paper cones.

Party bag: slice of cake, bubbles, mini pack of Haribos

Job done: probably about £25-£30.

This is genius

SausageinaBun · 30/07/2023 21:16

I've never eaten a jam sandwich. But I have made them for parties and they seem to be more popular than cheese/ham.

I find the tendency to serve a meal with a party, whatever the time of day really odd. I've been to softplay parties where the parents have opted for a hot food buffet of goujons, pizza, sausages and chips at 10.30am.

wellingtonsandwaffles · 30/07/2023 21:19

I’ve been to one that was 2-4 and said “with cake and nibbles” so made it clear, that was fine. The kids normally don’t eat anything anyway! What was less fine was a 6-8 party where I hadn’t fed my child and no food was given and the place had stopped serving food to buy ourselves. A heads up there would have been mighty helpful!

wellingtonsandwaffles · 30/07/2023 21:24

SausageinaBun · 30/07/2023 21:16

I've never eaten a jam sandwich. But I have made them for parties and they seem to be more popular than cheese/ham.

I find the tendency to serve a meal with a party, whatever the time of day really odd. I've been to softplay parties where the parents have opted for a hot food buffet of goujons, pizza, sausages and chips at 10.30am.

Yes!! I went to one and they had chips and ice cream at 10AM!! Ridiculous

RosesAndHellebores · 30/07/2023 21:27

Jam pennies were good enough for the late Queen. They ought to be good enough for everyone else.

00100001 · 30/07/2023 21:42

Smartiepants79 · 30/07/2023 19:50

Mine wouldn’t comment but they’ve never been given jam sandwiches in their lives so they wouldn’t eat them and if that was all that was on offer they’d be disappointed.
I’ve never eaten sweet sandwiches and so have never given them to my children either.
They eat all forms of savoury sandwich!

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Your kids have missed out in a delicious food stuff, why wouldn't they be given jam sandwiches?
What a waste of life.

Hannahsbananas · 30/07/2023 21:43

Smartiepants79 · 30/07/2023 20:27

Now 10 and 13! Been to many parties and hosted one per child every year. Why?
My 2 would never be rude about what had been provided. I’d expect them to politely eat as much of what they’ve been given as they can. At the age they are now they’d possibly eat the jam sandwich but they’ve never been given them by me and would never choose them.
As small children they’d have just left them on the plate.
For me, sweet sandwiches do help make a balanced meal. No protein, no nutritional value, just more sugar.

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Surely they’re aware such things exist, though? Jam sandwiches are hardly out there.
Didn’t they read Paddington?
Btw, nobody catering a toddlers party worries about the nutritional value of the party table.
Your parties sound very boring indeed if you worry about the protein content, possibly unbalanced nutrition, blah blah, of the one triangle sandwich that the average toddler actually eats.
I take it party rings are verboten also?
Stop overthinking this 😂

00100001 · 30/07/2023 21:44

Smartiepants79 · 30/07/2023 20:27

Now 10 and 13! Been to many parties and hosted one per child every year. Why?
My 2 would never be rude about what had been provided. I’d expect them to politely eat as much of what they’ve been given as they can. At the age they are now they’d possibly eat the jam sandwich but they’ve never been given them by me and would never choose them.
As small children they’d have just left them on the plate.
For me, sweet sandwiches do help make a balanced meal. No protein, no nutritional value, just more sugar.

Show quote history

Doesn't matter though does it?

Not every meal has to be balanced.

Did your kids never have things like doughnuts or biscuits?

Smartiepants79 · 30/07/2023 22:02

I’m confused as to how my personal dislike of jam in sandwiches has morphed into a rather unkind attack on me as a person. 🤨
I am very confident that I throw an excellent children’s party. Just done one this weekend in fact, a huge success. I serve all the usual foods, plenty of crap including party rings! I make an amazing birthday cake also.
Everyone has likes and dislikes, I don’t understand why some kids won’t eat egg or tuna sandwiches but I accept that and make something else for
them. Even jam if that’s what they like best.
Oh, and Paddington eats marmalade sandwiches…

GeekyDiva80 · 30/07/2023 22:09

Isn't 2pm their nap time? Mine is usually asleep then. Just a thought. I'd think 10.30 to 12.30 would be a better time.

MuggleMe · 30/07/2023 22:15

I'd mention on the invite that due to the timing there'll be snacks and cakes. if you do food, do it at 3 or if younger and less structured party buffet.

Ruffpuff · 30/07/2023 22:15

2pm is fine. Just make sure you put it in the invites that there will only be snacks. Honestly, if you’re struggling then don’t feel under pressure to provide food due to societal expectations. Kids parties are so expensive and it’s hard at the moment.

Viviennemary · 30/07/2023 22:17

Snacks and cake is fine. I agree not jam. Least messiest fillings are best.

Zebrasinpyjamas · 30/07/2023 22:20

I think it is fine as long as every one knows in advance . Half the time the children don't eat much anyway.

You need to serve something but a slice of cake and a snack is fine imo

Canyousewcushions · 30/07/2023 22:37

Am not understanding the lack of love for a jam sandwich. Not something I'd done at parties in the early days as its not something I'd usually eat myself, but was doing a dairy free party as we had quite a few children who didn't eat dairy (vegan/allegies) and did ham or jam as the options. It was about a 50/50 split in terms of what the kids picked.

And jam is not really any worse that the other ultra processed alternatives in terms of whether its balances/heathly. Ham is not exactly known for its health giving properties- high salt and preservative laden- but is still widely accepted as a sensible sandwich filling.

Agree with others though, food is expected at a party regardless of time. Sandwiches, biscuits, crisps and fruit would be the standard expectation I think- inexpensive but a party tea is part of what makes it a party.