Sandwiches yes or no

[Nightowl44]

Hi im hosting my dc 5th birthday party in 2 weeks im doing the buffett myself there is 35 kids attending ! Also 40 + adults im planning to only cater for the kids but I know from attending other partys the adults eat aswell but stressed trying to carter for all them people but would rather to much food than too little.

im wondering from peoples experiences if I should do sandwiches as part of the kidd buffett do kids actually eat the sandwiches ? Im also doing sausage rolls , cocktail sauces, and chicken goujons . There will be some cake and crisps. Can I skip the sandwiches to save time ? Or are samdwhiches a hit with kids . Also can I make the ham and cheese sandwhiches the night before and wrap them tight and just cut them in the morning and keep in fridge until 12pm to serve ?

People often say on these threads that children don't eat the sandwiches but in my experience they do, especially if the party is at lunchtime. Last time I made the equivalent of three quarters of a sandwich per child (I.e. 3 triangles of a sandwich cut into four) and all that was left at the end were a few of the less popular jam ones. I was gutted, was planning to toast the leftover ham and cheese ones. It would be fine to make them the night before.

yes sandwiches - can order a platter at most supermarkets. Morrison's do nice ones & a decent price

Yes I think you need sandwiches, and yes you can make them the night before. I would lose the sausage rolls personally if you’ve got cocktail sausages as well.

I regret all the years I made sandwiches and had them taking up loads of space in the fridge, poorly wrapped and messy under cling film. Morrisons sandwicn platters are so easy and straightforward and go straight on the table all nicely arranged in triangle peaks.
They did get eaten, mostly. I would keep the sausage rolls as they’re the best bit.

I tended to buy lots of packs of party biscuits too, open some and the rest as needed.

@Talipesmum

Buying platters isnt an option im trying to save money and also my child has allergies so would rather I know exactly what is in them or I would have for easiness as I hate making sandwhiches lol

I would say yes to sandwiches - cut them into 2s or 4s to make them go further
They are always popular, particularly jam sandwiches, as these tend to be a novelty / treat

Kids do eat sandwiches - especially if they are quite basic - cheese or ham, white bread and cut in rectangles with the crusts off so very easy to eat.

Yes, you can prepare them the night before and keep the in the fridge. You can actually prepare them in advance and freeze them, defrost the night before.

Also making lots of the same kind of sandwich is easier than making them individually - you can set up a conveyor belt system

I always used to do garlic bread instead of sandwiches. Oh, and breadsticks are cheap and a bit of a novelty.

80 people for a five year-old's birthday?

so you’re catering for 75+?!?!?

I made a lot of sandwiches for my son's 8th birthday party last month. Not a single one was eaten.

I don't think you need sausage rolls and cocktail sausages. One or the other.

It really depends on the activity - a really energetic one then yes they get eaten - the more sedate activities like those play villages not so much

If the party is at an actual mealtime then yes to sandwiches but 2 quarters each is probably enough for kids with everything else planned. If not at a mealtime I wouldn't bother. Don't put out the sweet stuff straight away and more of the savory will get eaten.

Everywhere must differ because there’s no point in sandwiches in the children’s parties I’ve been to! Sausage rolls yes, cocktail sausages yes, satay yes, crisps yes but no sandwiches!

No you don’t need sandwiches with that other food, just make sure you have enough! And 40 parents?!? Don’t any just drop off? That’s insane (and not my experience at all).

Yes to sandwiches, in my experience keep them simple, cheese, ham and jam. Plain white and brown bread, don’t bother with pickles, mayo etc. Tubs of baby tomatoes and slice a couple of cucumbers. Sausages yes, Sausage rolls are never eaten by the kids at any of the parties I’ve been to recently.

If you don’t want to do sandwiches, cold pizzas, again keep the flavours basic and just use cheap supermarket own brand ones.

I think sandwiches would be a hit but you could do some pasta instead (served cold) and garlic bread or pizzas.

I would also add some veg sticks to the mix

@mondaytosunday I know its a lot of people thays why im stressed lol , No they dont drop off and leave because they are still at nursery and mostly 4 and some 5 . I know im crazy but can't reduce the numbers we have a very large family and a lot of the kids parents come in a couple ! i dont want to ask them to leave as it i see as being rude . Its a big hall .

Im only catering for the children the adults are more than welcome to hoover up the left overs .do you think thats rude me doing that ? I was going to make tea and coffee for the parents but the hall doesn't have any cups etc .when I personally go a childs party I dont expect the parents to cater for adults i just eat my sons left overs on his plate lol. Party is 1-3 .

If your budget will stretch I'd get some paper cups from home bargains and some biscuits to go with tea and coffee

They'd get eaten, but if it stresses you out don't. If you are at home are pizzas not easier, whack a load in the oven for 10 min, easy peasy, always goes down a hit (if anyone is allergic get them to bring their own food for ease). I wouldn't even contemplate the adults, never in my 6 years on the kids party circuit have I expected to be fed or watered, a couple a lavish partys we were but a normal kids party absolutely not. Just do what's easiest, my kids really don't care about the food, as long as there is cake they are happy!