Can I just serve cake at a B'day party or do I have to serve a meal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cake is fine. I do not want my kid eating pizza at 3:30 because then she won't eat dinner.

The pizza would be considered diner. NBD!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out of curiosity, I just asked my mom if I ever went to a cake only party. She was shocked I was even asking about this, as it was never a thing growing up. (I'm 34) She said all the parties I attended and hosted always had food, snacks, candy, and cake. She thought I was planning on hosting a cake only party and nearly ripped me to shreds. I had to let her know I was doing no such thing. And neither should you, OP. It's in poor taste.

Were the parties your mom is referring to ones where the families were also invited? Like a backyard BBQ type of thing? Or a moms playgroup for babies and toddlers? I ask because my mom would hardly know what food was (or wasn't) served at any birthday party I went to at the time of the party, much less 20-30 years later. I know I don't ask my kids what food was served after every party they attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Out of curiosity, I just asked my mom if I ever went to a cake only party. She was shocked I was even asking about this, as it was never a thing growing up. (I'm 34) She said all the parties I attended and hosted always had food, snacks, candy, and cake. She thought I was planning on hosting a cake only party and nearly ripped me to shreds. I had to let her know I was doing no such thing. And neither should you, OP. It's in poor taste.

Were the parties your mom is referring to ones where the families were also invited? Like a backyard BBQ type of thing? Or a moms playgroup for babies and toddlers? I ask because my mom would hardly know what food was (or wasn't) served at any birthday party I went to at the time of the party, much less 20-30 years later. I know I don't ask my kids what food was served after every party they attend.

No, they weren't bbq's or big family get togethers, they were either at play places or people's homes and according to her, parents were always encouraged to stay or if they came towards pick up time they were offered a bite as the kid got ready. I know she always asked us if we ate after any type of play date with friends, just to make sure we weren't ravenous, so I'm sure she did this after parties as well.

[Anonymous]

I think it's cheap but whatever. What I most hate is when people don't state on the invitation what their intent is. If you are not going to serve a meal say so....just say snacks/drinks will be served. That way my kids will show up with the appropriate appetite.

[Anonymous]

Just curious. Are the cake only posters all white? I'm south Asian and we always serve food at all of our kids parties. We go so far as to have adult food and kid food. Around here it seems that it's pretty common for mainly white folks to serve cake and possibly chips with juice boxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. Are the cake only posters all white? I'm south Asian and we always serve food at all of our kids parties. We go so far as to have adult food and kid food. Around here it seems that it's pretty common for mainly white folks to serve cake and possibly chips with juice boxes.

Cake only poster here - and yes, I'm white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your party begins and ends between the hours of 1-5 I don't expect you to feed my kid anything other than cake and a drink.

We are doing a venue party this year at a bakery - so the only food is baked goods from there, mainly cake. No outside food allowed, obviously. It's from 3-4:30. The kids are 6-8, I think it will be fine.

Here too. The most my kid gets during those hours is a snack. Cake would be a snack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. Are the cake only posters all white? I'm south Asian and we always serve food at all of our kids parties. We go so far as to have adult food and kid food. Around here it seems that it's pretty common for mainly white folks to serve cake and possibly chips with juice boxes.

Persian poster here and I agree with you - that we always serve food at all of our kid parties. Both a kid-friendly option and a heartier adult option. The cake-only parties mainly seem to be white families. I don't know if it's a cultural thing, but Persians love feeding people and I don't know that I've ever been to a birthday where they haven't had a great spread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. Are the cake only posters all white? I'm south Asian and we always serve food at all of our kids parties. We go so far as to have adult food and kid food. Around here it seems that it's pretty common for mainly white folks to serve cake and possibly chips with juice boxes.

Persian poster here and I agree with you - that we always serve food at all of our kid parties. Both a kid-friendly option and a heartier adult option. The cake-only parties mainly seem to be white families. I don't know if it's a cultural thing, but Persians love feeding people and I don't know that I've ever been to a birthday where they haven't had a great spread.

I'm white/Jewish and have never been to a no food party. I can't imagine having a party without food, including for the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. Are the cake only posters all white? I'm south Asian and we always serve food at all of our kids parties. We go so far as to have adult food and kid food. Around here it seems that it's pretty common for mainly white folks to serve cake and possibly chips with juice boxes.

Persian poster here and I agree with you - that we always serve food at all of our kid parties. Both a kid-friendly option and a heartier adult option. The cake-only parties mainly seem to be white families. I don't know if it's a cultural thing, but Persians love feeding people and I don't know that I've ever been to a birthday where they haven't had a great spread.

I'm white/Jewish and have never been to a no food party. I can't imagine having a party without food, including for the parents.

Cake is food.

[Anonymous]

I would sneak in a fruit tray.

I hate the no outside food policy when their menu is full of over priced crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cake is fine. I do not want my kid eating pizza at 3:30 because then she won't eat dinner.

OMG - It's ONE day!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. Are the cake only posters all white? I'm south Asian and we always serve food at all of our kids parties. We go so far as to have adult food and kid food. Around here it seems that it's pretty common for mainly white folks to serve cake and possibly chips with juice boxes.

Cake only poster here - and yes, I'm white.

Same here. If it makes a difference, I am also from a rural area and our birthday parties were very simple. A few non-helium balloons for decoration, a couple of hours playing games with friends, and cake and ice cream. No party favors. I don't recall any birthday party that had more than that except for one family who made it a huge annual neighborhood picnic.

They were really a lot of fun and I don't recall there ever being a worry about whether kids would be too hungry or not hungry enough for their next meal, but I'm also an old-enough-timer that I predate the Age of Snacks At All Times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. Are the cake only posters all white? I'm south Asian and we always serve food at all of our kids parties. We go so far as to have adult food and kid food. Around here it seems that it's pretty common for mainly white folks to serve cake and possibly chips with juice boxes.

Persian poster here and I agree with you - that we always serve food at all of our kid parties. Both a kid-friendly option and a heartier adult option. The cake-only parties mainly seem to be white families. I don't know if it's a cultural thing, but Persians love feeding people and I don't know that I've ever been to a birthday where they haven't had a great spread.

I'm white/Jewish and have never been to a no food party. I can't imagine having a party without food, including for the parents.

Cake is food.

Its desert, not full food. Its tacky not to at least have veggies, fruit and snack food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. Are the cake only posters all white? I'm south Asian and we always serve food at all of our kids parties. We go so far as to have adult food and kid food. Around here it seems that it's pretty common for mainly white folks to serve cake and possibly chips with juice boxes.

Persian poster here and I agree with you - that we always serve food at all of our kid parties. Both a kid-friendly option and a heartier adult option. The cake-only parties mainly seem to be white families. I don't know if it's a cultural thing, but Persians love feeding people and I don't know that I've ever been to a birthday where they haven't had a great spread.

I'm white/Jewish and have never been to a no food party. I can't imagine having a party without food, including for the parents.

Cake is food.

Its desert, not full food. Its tacky not to at least have veggies, fruit and snack food.

It's tackier to believe that you know best what other people "should" offer to their guests. Simply decline the invitation if it's too shocking or beneath you to let your child play with friends for an hour and a half and be offered a mere slice of cake for refreshment.