Going home hungry after birthday parties

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently went to a party where the only thing served was dessert - cake and cookies. No fruit, no protein, not even a little cheese platter - I had snacks in my purse but I knew the host would be offended if she saw me take those out. I'm pregnant so I can't really go hours on end without a well balanced snack, so I ate what the host provided but felt pretty ill coming out of the party.

I think if you're going to keep people for more than two hours you should offer something other than sugar - I can't be the only one who gets a stomach ache when I eat like that.

What time was the party?

It ran into dinner time.

You don't have to eat sugary things if they disagree with you. You also can survive not eating for 2 hours. If it ran to dinner (say 3-5) have a snack at 3. Leave at 4:30. Just having you take some responsibility for yourself, btw. I am absolutely in the camp that people throwing parties should go all out with fruit, cheese, etc. or not have the party--hospitality overboard. But you sound helpless.

You might have missed the part where I said the party ran more than two hours and that I came prepared with back up snacks for myself and my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently went to a party where the only thing served was dessert - cake and cookies. No fruit, no protein, not even a little cheese platter - I had snacks in my purse but I knew the host would be offended if she saw me take those out. I'm pregnant so I can't really go hours on end without a well balanced snack, so I ate what the host provided but felt pretty ill coming out of the party.

I think if you're going to keep people for more than two hours you should offer something other than sugar - I can't be the only one who gets a stomach ache when I eat like that.

What time was the party?

It ran into dinner time.

You don't have to eat sugary things if they disagree with you. You also can survive not eating for 2 hours. If it ran to dinner (say 3-5) have a snack at 3. Leave at 4:30. Just having you take some responsibility for yourself, btw. I am absolutely in the camp that people throwing parties should go all out with fruit, cheese, etc. or not have the party--hospitality overboard. But you sound helpless.

You might have missed the part where I said the party ran more than two hours and that I came prepared with back up snacks for myself and my kid.

But you said you wouldn't eat them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently went to a party where the only thing served was dessert - cake and cookies. No fruit, no protein, not even a little cheese platter - I had snacks in my purse but I knew the host would be offended if she saw me take those out. I'm pregnant so I can't really go hours on end without a well balanced snack, so I ate what the host provided but felt pretty ill coming out of the party.

I think if you're going to keep people for more than two hours you should offer something other than sugar - I can't be the only one who gets a stomach ache when I eat like that.

What time was the party?

It ran into dinner time.

You don't have to eat sugary things if they disagree with you. You also can survive not eating for 2 hours. If it ran to dinner (say 3-5) have a snack at 3. Leave at 4:30. Just having you take some responsibility for yourself, btw. I am absolutely in the camp that people throwing parties should go all out with fruit, cheese, etc. or not have the party--hospitality overboard. But you sound helpless.

You might have missed the part where I said the party ran more than two hours and that I came prepared with back up snacks for myself and my kid.

But you said you wouldn't eat them.

Okay, I'll be sure to reject your refreshments that you spent days preparing next time I'm a guest at your home. Thanks for letting me know you don't mind that sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently went to a party where the only thing served was dessert - cake and cookies. No fruit, no protein, not even a little cheese platter - I had snacks in my purse but I knew the host would be offended if she saw me take those out. I'm pregnant so I can't really go hours on end without a well balanced snack, so I ate what the host provided but felt pretty ill coming out of the party.

I think if you're going to keep people for more than two hours you should offer something other than sugar - I can't be the only one who gets a stomach ache when I eat like that.

What time was the party?

It ran into dinner time.

You don't have to eat sugary things if they disagree with you. You also can survive not eating for 2 hours. If it ran to dinner (say 3-5) have a snack at 3. Leave at 4:30. Just having you take some responsibility for yourself, btw. I am absolutely in the camp that people throwing parties should go all out with fruit, cheese, etc. or not have the party--hospitality overboard. But you sound helpless.

You might have missed the part where I said the party ran more than two hours and that I came prepared with back up snacks for myself and my kid.

That is not the point. People can have allergies, diet restrictions etc. They could be carrying their own food, eat before the party or eat after the party.

BUT- IT IS STILL THE DUTY OF THE HOST TO PROVIDE FOOD AND DRINKS, in ample quantity. Or make it very clear what you will be serving and request people to not bring gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you should only expect snacks at a kid's party, for the kids. Parents don't need any special food or drinks. The party is for the kids and kids don't need or want big meals at a party.

Unless it is a drop off party, you should feed everyone. What is wrong with you guys? How broke are you?

My parents were far more broke than 99% of DCUM families...and they fed everyone. I'm Indian, and even when times were lean, they could make a pot of channa, some rice , a vegetable and perhaps a meat curry, with some homemade samosas and other snacks. Don't have a party you cannot afford, people. IF you aren't comfortable in the kitchen and catering is $20/head, then have a very small party and make some sandwiches at home and cut them up, cut up some veggies for a veggie tray, make a tray of mac and cheese, etc.

[Anonymous]

The ones that really puzzle me are when there is a 90 dollar boutique bakery cake and a box of goldfish. Its like wouldn't it be better to spend 40 bucks on sheet pizzas and 30 bucks on a giant cake and 20 bucks on juice boxes and snacks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you should only expect snacks at a kid's party, for the kids. Parents don't need any special food or drinks. The party is for the kids and kids don't need or want big meals at a party.

Unless it is a drop off party, you should feed everyone. What is wrong with you guys? How broke are you?

My parents were far more broke than 99% of DCUM families...and they fed everyone. I'm Indian, and even when times were lean, they could make a pot of channa, some rice , a vegetable and perhaps a meat curry, with some homemade samosas and other snacks. Don't have a party you cannot afford, people. IF you aren't comfortable in the kitchen and catering is $20/head, then have a very small party and make some sandwiches at home and cut them up, cut up some veggies for a veggie tray, make a tray of mac and cheese, etc.

Let's face it: it's just a cultural thing. Growing up here in the States (DC metropolitan area) in the 1970s, kids' bday parties were just for kids; the kids were dropped off; and it was usually like 2-4 in the afternoon on a Saturday, and the hosts served cake, ice cream, and drinks. That's it.

You are talking about something different: a party where adults and maybe other family members attend. Your parents thus served lots of yummy, ethnic, but inexpensive food. Personally, I do not care for this type of food so attending a party where this food was served wouldn't help me at all, b/c I would not eat any of it. Also, the smells would make me fell yucky and would sort of overwhelm the party experience to me. To me, a child's b-day party is not an ethnic Indian restaurant type of experience. But, whatever, if you held a party like this, we'd happily attend, be good guests, have nice manners, and go home. We wouldnt' complain about your choice of food, and, LIKEWISE, if you were MY guest at MY child's party, I would expect that you would recognize it was a different type of experience and you would attend and not complain about it either, not complain about it not conforming to your Indian expectations.

Geez, people. Different strokes for different folks. Ever heard of that?

[Anonymous]

OP, it's a new game. It's called "prove how cheap you are". My MIL invented it.

Is she throwing all of these parties?

I can not stand the thought of inviting people where there is no food. Ever. It's like telling people you don't really want them there. No manners. None. And proud of it!

Ew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never been to a party where there wasn't food. I feel like that's part of the definition of a party. I don't think you have to feed adults, per se, but I do think it's really weird to not offer some sort of snack for the children. It's not that hard to get something safe.

+1 And I have three kids and we go to tons of parties

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ones that really puzzle me are when there is a 90 dollar boutique bakery cake and a box of goldfish. Its like wouldn't it be better to spend 40 bucks on sheet pizzas and 30 bucks on a giant cake and 20 bucks on juice boxes and snacks?

Whatever. That is the hosts' choice. Let them do their party the way they want to; you do your party the way YOU want to. Live and let live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never been to a party where there wasn't food. I feel like that's part of the definition of a party. I don't think you have to feed adults, per se, but I do think it's really weird to not offer some sort of snack for the children. It's not that hard to get something safe.

+1 And I have three kids and we go to tons of parties

I think it's weird to revolve your life around food and to say that food is the definition of a party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones that really puzzle me are when there is a 90 dollar boutique bakery cake and a box of goldfish. Its like wouldn't it be better to spend 40 bucks on sheet pizzas and 30 bucks on a giant cake and 20 bucks on juice boxes and snacks?

Whatever. That is the hosts' choice. Let them do their party the way they want to; you do your party the way YOU want to. Live and let live.

ooo that one hurt huh? did you buy a 100 dollar princess sofia cake for your little sofia and nothing else??? yup yup you did!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones that really puzzle me are when there is a 90 dollar boutique bakery cake and a box of goldfish. Its like wouldn't it be better to spend 40 bucks on sheet pizzas and 30 bucks on a giant cake and 20 bucks on juice boxes and snacks?

Whatever. That is the hosts' choice. Let them do their party the way they want to; you do your party the way YOU want to. Live and let live.

ooo that one hurt huh? did you buy a 100 dollar princess sofia cake for your little sofia and nothing else??? yup yup you did!

Nope. Ours was Costco with flowers and a sun on it b/c I do not push commercial characters on my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones that really puzzle me are when there is a 90 dollar boutique bakery cake and a box of goldfish. Its like wouldn't it be better to spend 40 bucks on sheet pizzas and 30 bucks on a giant cake and 20 bucks on juice boxes and snacks?

Whatever. That is the hosts' choice. Let them do their party the way they want to; you do your party the way YOU want to. Live and let live.

ooo that one hurt huh? did you buy a 100 dollar princess sofia cake for your little sofia and nothing else??? yup yup you did!

Nope. Ours was Costco with flowers and a sun on it b/c I do not push commercial characters on my child.

Well while you were at Costco you should have picked up a cheese platter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones that really puzzle me are when there is a 90 dollar boutique bakery cake and a box of goldfish. Its like wouldn't it be better to spend 40 bucks on sheet pizzas and 30 bucks on a giant cake and 20 bucks on juice boxes and snacks?

Whatever. That is the hosts' choice. Let them do their party the way they want to; you do your party the way YOU want to. Live and let live.

ooo that one hurt huh? did you buy a 100 dollar princess sofia cake for your little sofia and nothing else??? yup yup you did!

Nope. Ours was Costco with flowers and a sun on it b/c I do not push commercial characters on my child.

Well while you were at Costco you should have picked up a cheese platter.

Sorry. Not doing it for a 2:30-4 party. It was at Curiosity Zone and the kids were all in the lab doing experiment and activities until it was time for cake, at which time they moved into the eating room. Parents stand in the lobby and watch through the plate glass windows. At cake time, after singing HB, cake and drinks distributed to all, children and adults. At end of party, goody bags handed out and everyone was on their way. Done.