Party food for 4 yr olds of varying cultural backgrounds - am I better off sticking to vegetarian all the way?

[fruitbeard]

And if so, what would you recommend?

DD's nursery friends are largely Muslim, Hindu and Sikh children. Obviously I don't want to put out food that they can't eat (or may want to eat and then kick off when their parents say they can't have it), which pretty much rules out sausages/sausage rolls, doesn't it?

At the moment I'm thinking quorn nuggets (I've had them before at veggie sisters and couldn't tell the difference, so hopefully that will satisfy the non-veggies), tomato/cheese pizza, garlic bread (DD adores it), party rings (natch) and bowls of crisps and grapes (my sop to healthiness). Is this enough or should I do a bit more to give some variety? I was thinking perhaps cheese doodahs (mini babybel type things)?

Would I be mortally offending anyone if I did do some sausages for the non-muslim guests (I like them myself!)?

And what about the parents?? What food do I lay on for them? Waaah!

I have to start a whole other thread about the ridiculous size of this feckin' party but that's another issue...

how about some cucumber and carrot stocks with a houmous dip? and fairy/cup cakes?
I think you should do some sausages if ou and yuor family like them.
As for parents - any kids party I've been to I've been lucky to get a cup of tea at them. Personally, I like to "do" teas or coffees or juice for the parents. BTW you could always add cheese or egg sarnies to your "menu". Tell the parents to help themselves to what left.

Ooh, good idea for sarnies, thanks

I mentioned food for parents because last year I put out dips and doritos for them, thinking that would do - they were gone in 55 seconds and there was a distinctly forlorn air of 'oh, is there no more..?' amongst the throng.

They're decorating fairy cakes as one of the activities so that's sorted.

Cheers

How about geting sausages and also veggie sausages (for the Muslims/veggie Hindus etc). Ds has a Muslim friend and 2 Hindu friends. We supplied veggie food, but also sausages and ham sandwiches at his party. No-one was offended. Everything was clearly labelled, so they didn't have to eat food they weren't happy with, and we didn't mix the meat products with the veggie stuff on the same plates.

Don't forget to avoid jellies and jelly sweets in party bags.

For 4yos I wouldn't risk having proper sausages on the table unless you know each parent is staying and will watch their own children.

I'd be tempted to do party food boxes. Send a reply slip with the invites and ask for a sandwich choice (give them a list of 3 to choose from)

Party bags - do non sweet ones

You can get veggie sausage rolls (Supermarkets) & 'porkless pies' (Holland & Barrett).

Our Muslim CM is a bit of anything that looks like it might be pork, though - have had to reassure her that we are veggie so any sausages served at kids' parties/in lunch boxes definitely have no relation to pig whatsoever.

If I were doing a spread for lots of different cultural backgrounds & didn't know all the families well, would probably avoid anything but obviously veggie iyswim.

Ooh yes, party boxes could be the way to go!

Personally I would just do veggie food-that way all of them can eat anything and there is no problem.Hummus is good in little rolls or sandwiches,or to dip with mini pittas,lots of veggie sticks,grissini are fab for parties too.

Party rings are not veggie.

Oh bum! Why on earth do they need gelatine in them? Thanks for that AA, I would have blithely bought them - actually, I must have a chat with a Sikh lady I used to work with - she had a big list of things she couldn't eat because of the animal products and I seem to recall that there were particular brands of chocolate and biscuits she couldn't have.

oh double bum! I can't make my own marshmallow fondant icing either, can I? Will have to buy the ready made blechy stuff...

Ah well... I shall have to suss out alternative biccies that will offend no-one...

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, really helpful!

They get everyone! It is infuriating isn't it.

You can get Halal Haribos, believe it or not! Check out the 'ethnic' aisles in the supermarkets, its not all spices and curry paste theres sweet things too which might be what you need

I would say if they are too young to know what they can/can't eat, and parents won't be supervising, then do individual party boxes. Otherwise if you make it totally veggie, some children (not the Hindus/Sikhs/Muslims) may not eat much. I know that ds at the age of 4 would eat crisps, grapes, cucumber. tomatoes, bread, breadsticks, but wouldn't eat cheese (he had to be off dairy for some time) or hummus (which he loves now) or veggie sausages (which he also eats now).

Ooh! Now that I never knew - excellent!

Actually, I'm being dippy - there's a huge Halal butchers/grocers in the shopping parade at the bottom of our road, they must have acceptable stuff - I'll pop in there and ask their advice...

Lol at Halal Haribos, ds's Muslim friend has something which his family refer to as "Halal Ham" which is actually some other type of meat (which doesn't contain pork). Fortunately his friend's family are not strict about meat/chicken being Halal, so we can give his friend chicken or beef or lamb if he comes over without checking its credentials, but they don't eat pork in any form. Many Muslims wouldn't eat any meat except Halal though.