What food would you serve at a 2pm to 4pm children's party?

[GibbyWB]

Hello,
I'm having a birthday party for my 5-year-old on a Saturday from 2pm–4pm with an entertainer. After reading another thread, I'm now wondering if I've got the timing wrong!
As it's after lunchtime, I'm hoping most of the children will have already eaten. There will be a 20-minute break in the entertainment for food. What would you put out? Would you do a full party tea, or just snacks and cake?
There will be around 35 children, so I'm trying to keep it practical without everyone leaving hungry!

I was thinking ice-cream in a cone? But thought I should have something a little more!

This. Don't over-think it.

With that many kids, think 'chimps tea party'.

Where we are, people only provide a meal at 11-1 parties. For 10-12 and 2-4 they will do snacks. No one minds, the key is to make people aware in advance. It’s always good to send a party reminder anyway so you can just say ‘We will be having a short break for ice cream at 3pm’. It means everyone knows they need lunch before they go and tea when they get back.

That said, I always do food in party boxes as it’s really easy. The idea of a class full of 5 year olds filing past a buffet fills me with horror! It means you can get the boxes ready before you get there and just put out when you’re ready. Keep it super simple - sandwich/pizza/sausage roll (choose 1 thing for everyone - wrap in foil), pack of crisps, mini biscuits, raisins, fruit shoot, napkin. It really helps prevent waste and means you can cater for dietary requirements separately.

I wouldn’t over complicate it but with 5YOs people will expect food. Sandwiches (I’d go with jam, ham and cheese to cover most preferences/dietary requirements) but don’t do tons, crisps e.g. pom bears or hula hoops, fruit shoot or juice carton and then birthday cake. Maybe some strawberries if you feel the need to put something healthy out. I don’t think you need to be cooking pizzas or sausages and stunt veggies are pointless because they don’t get eaten.

I recall having these as a child and thought they were the most amazing things ever. Likely less colouring and E-numbers than back then though.
Rainbow oranges

People will expect food. Most parents will probably give their child a light lunch and then not expectto have to give them much if anything for tea.

I'd go wth sandwiches, crisps, fruit and cake as a bare minimum with maybe mini pizza slices/cocktail sausages etc.

Hi all. Sorry to restart this thread.

I’m planning a similar time for my boy’s 6th birthday in Jan.

I’m thinking of hiring a hall and keep cleaning and making / cooking to a minimum. Can I do McDonald’s happy meal for each kid? And of course cake and crisps and maybe cucumber and pepper sticks.
Or is it bad?

Also, when you’re doing sandwiches- Do you make sandwiches for 30 kids at home or order from ASDA / Costco or something?

thanks

@clunkyduck

I’m sure they’d all love a Happy Meal! If you do that, get pre orders in advance for whether they want nuggets/burger/fish fingers and either get them all the same drink or be prepared for a lot of faff with milkshakes! You wouldn’t need crisps as well but you could get some veg sticks for them to look at if you really want (I wouldn’t bother - it’s a party not every day). But for 30 kids that would be expensive and you’d need to check if they could make them quickly enough to stop them all going cold.

Another option could be pizza? Just get a delivery of pizzas from a local takeaway?

If people do sandwiches my experience is they make them themselves. Pair with crisps, veg sticks, something sweet. Loads will get wasted though. If you plate it up for them there’s less waste.

Personally I’d go with pizza.

I would do a picnic box with all packaged life stuff myself. They can bring it home or snack or snack there. No queuing up with so many kids and can get it done ahead of time. I did juice, string cheese, fruit snacks, crisps, raisins, wee pack of party rings and a chocolate something. But whatever is on sale or your kid likes. Hated all the wrappers but I let that go for parties, particularly with 35 (!!) kids.

Who cares, it’s a party, I’m still alive and never had oregano or watermelon at a party when I was a kid

I'd do fruit and veg sticks and then cake if you want them to eat the cake there, or some other sweet snack if you want to send the cake home. Maybe ice creams?

We did 2:30/4:30 party the other weekend. We bought pizzas, watermelon. Jug of squash. Cake in party bags

Also to add to @clunkyduck , although I replied above you’d have better replies if you start your own thread as most of these posters are replying to the @GibbyWB whose party has probably been and gone!

Honestly it’s the worst time for a party for food wise

kids either don’t eat as not that hungry as has lunch so don’t went to eat tea 3/330

or they eat it but then not hungry for home tea 5 ish yet starving at 630/7 bedtime

Thank you all. I’ll start a new thread in a month! 😅