Share your never-fail playdate food tips with Lidl - chance to win vouchers NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We've all been there - trying to find something to cook for your child’s fussy friend during a playdate. Lidl are after your tips and recipes for the kind of food that always goes down a treat when you're having kids over for playdates. Do you play it safe with fish fingers and chips? Or do you have some other less conservative recipes and meal suggestions that are guaranteed to please? Maybe you have a pasta and sauce combo that no child has yet turned their noses up at.

Share your ideas, tips and recipes below and you will be entered into a prize draw where you could win one of five £50 Lidl vouchers.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

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My DS isn't yet 2 so I haven't endured playdates yet but have got some fab ideas here!

When he's been on playdates at friends houses, he's had
fish fingers with cucumber sticks, cherry tomatoes and cheese (all of his favourite food - loves it so much that he nicked a load off his friends plate too )
mini sausage rolls, cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, mini sausages, breadsticks

I think for young kids keeping it simple is key. Finger food works best at this age. I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes here though!

Vegetarian sushi is really popular with kids I've found.

Maybe a bit of novelty value for a lot of kids and I just use nori sheets, white rice and grated carrot.

pasta - cream cheese - peas - tinned tuna. 10 minutes and it's done.

Or orange tea (nuggets, chips, sweetcorn, fishfingers)

We're already at a disadvantage as one of mine doesn't do normal children's food. Anything stodgy - e.g. pizza, pasta, breaded chicken, burgers is out as is chips. If it is a sleepover I sometimes do pizza as it is easy and pop some gluten free ones in for me and her. Give her olives, guacamole and some anchovies she is happy, she just doesn't like children's food, which is unfortunate as that is all that some of her friends will eat. I tend to do buffets - lots of little things on the table and they just grab what they want. Pudding tends to be either cakes which they decorate or chocolate fountain with fruit and marshmallows.

The other tip to remember is that play dates and even sleepovers don't last forever. If a child still won't eat I cheerfully remind them through gritted teeth that it doesn't matter because mummy/ daddy will be here soon and they can get something else when they get home.

Muffin pizzas here - Split english muffins in half, and pop out lots of toppings - tomato puree, cheese and things like ham, pineapple, sweetcorn. Let the children make their own, and pop them on a square of greaseproof with their name on. Grill until the cheese is melted.

Older children (if they're here long enough) make their own flatbread dough and we do flatbread pizzas.

In both cases serve with veg sticks and cherry tomatoes. Usually carrot, cucumber and peppers.

Both recipes can be made allergy friendly relatively easily without any child feeling that they're singled out or different.

Fish fingers chips and beans!

Pizza

When young they are so easy to please!

i like to get the kids involved and get them to pick something out the veggie patch. digging up potatoes is always a hit or popping peas out of pods, they can't wait to try them.

Easy Peasy homemade pizza.

Takes about fifteen minutes if you've already made the dough. Can be good fun thing to do if not, making dough with the children.

Pizza or a 'picnic dinner' loads of snacky bits (sausage rolls, veg sticks, fruit, crisps, triangle sandwiches)

I tend to go for diy pizza - buy the base then put out loads of toppings to choose from! I have, however, encountered the occasional child who doesn't like pizza!

A picnic outside, or on a rug in the living room if it's raining, always works for me. A few veg sticks, simple sandwiches and sausage rolls. Nothing fancy at all! But the novelty of eating it picnic style always means they enjoy eating it.

Find out in advance what the other child/children enjoy. Failing that provide a small buffet of options. I usually provide the usual - carrot sticks, low-fat thin-crust pizza, baked potato halves, small cheeses and pasta. Always be prepared that the other child/ren may be really fussy eaters and might not like ANYTHING you provide!

I go for something like a PIZZA as well

Make the dough ................ even a packet mix is OK
While its proving, you have the time to TASTE ................... the toppings, the children might be faced with new foods, so a small piece to see if they like is ideal.

Put the topping on, their choice,
put in the oven.

You can then if you want build on the theme, before ? or after making ....
make napkins
ads for your café
menus
lay the table
make place mats

Eat and enjoy

Depending on the size of the pizzas, they could make another small one to take home for parents and siblings to taste ?????????????

HAVE FUN

Cheese and tomato pizza with chips, beans and sweetcorn. There is not a child in the world who won't eat at least one of those things. Plus quick and easy to make. Job done.

I recently just made sandwiches, but cut them into cubes and called them micro-sandwiches (instant hit!). Also Lidls sausage rolls and cocktail sausages are brilliant, I have yet to have any left over cocktail sausages!

We've only had the one play date so far, and I made chicken nuggets and chips.. but I made sure the chicken was from 100% chicken breast, and I made the chips myself in very little oil in my air fryer. Then I added some beans. I don't think that's too bad as the kids loved it!

The meal that has never failed during play date is homemade pizza made by the kids,

I usually make the dough and then put the ingredients on the table, each kid put whatever they want on the pizza and then eats it after I cooked it.

I serve it with cucumber, carrot stick and tomatoes

Homemade pizzas and fairy cakes x

Salad sticks served with cheese cubes and we make faces that smile so it all gets eaten!

Lots of picky food as they love to have their own little buffet.

Make it fun! Tell the kids off for playing with their food! ........and then join in.

pittas and dips - homemade, nutritious and kids love them!

dinosaur shaped sandwiches always go down well.

popcorn and strawberries.. never fails