Would you expect lunch? Birthday party 1-3

[Anonymous]

Write either "snacks and cake will be served" or "lunch and cake will be served."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Write either "snacks and cake will be served" or "lunch and cake will be served."

This. I agree that it's polite to feed people at a party, but see no need for full meals if it's not meal time. But most importantly, tell people what to expect on the invitation so they can plan accordingly. I don't love parties in the 1-5 pm window that have pizza or other meal food, in part because I can't not feed my kids lunch if the party doesn't start till 1, and if they eat pizza at 3 or 4 (which they'll happily do) they are hungry again before bedtime (but often not by dinnertime). So personally I'd prefer snacks and cake at your party. And conversely, if the party spanned the 11-1 range or the 5-7 range and there were only snacks, it would be very challenging. We're going to one this afternoon from 4-6 that just says "food and cake" so I'm crossing my fingers that food = sufficient for dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who are all you people that have no hosting skills that we have to have this same discussion on a monthly basis? You put out food for guests at a party. Pizza is easy, but it can be other things, and even lots of finger foods as long as it's not just a lot,of sweets - some savories, proteins (Cheese, mini hot dogs, corn dogs, meatballs, etc), and some fruit or vegetables. If you have a ton leftover, have things that you can make a meal from later.

And if the kids are smaller, yes you have to feed the parents too if they are there.

+1. It's mind-boggling how often this question is asked. If you have guests, you feed them. Plain and simple. Did your mothers not raise you right?

Yes, my mother raised me right. She raised me to be thankful for whatever efforts the host took on my behalf. She raised me to show up ready to celebrate and participate in whatever activities were planned. She raised me to plan ahead and feed myself before the party, if I didn't think I could make it the duration of the party. She raised me to realize that a guest has a responsible to be gracious.

I can remember as a teen going through growth spurts I had a large appetite. There were many times I got fussed at for declaring, shortly after arriving at my GRANDPARENT'S house, that I was hungry.

This was family, not friends. These were casual visit where there were no planned activities. Rather than trying to coordinate a large group, we would be the only guests. There was always (great) food at Grandma's, and as we were staying the whole day there was an expectation that they would feed us two meals. Grandma certainly never objected to feeding me, frequently cooking my favorite foods.

Nonetheless, she taught me, correctly, that the point of visiting somebody is to share the pleasure of their company, not to pull up to a trough to be fed.

[Anonymous]

Not for 1-3. My kids would eat, then attend the party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Write either "snacks and cake will be served" or "lunch and cake will be served."

This. I agree that it's polite to feed people at a party, but see no need for full meals if it's not meal time. But most importantly, tell people what to expect on the invitation so they can plan accordingly. I don't love parties in the 1-5 pm window that have pizza or other meal food, in part because I can't not feed my kids lunch if the party doesn't start till 1, and if they eat pizza at 3 or 4 (which they'll happily do) they are hungry again before bedtime (but often not by dinnertime). So personally I'd prefer snacks and cake at your party. And conversely, if the party spanned the 11-1 range or the 5-7 range and there were only snacks, it would be very challenging. We're going to one this afternoon from 4-6 that just says "food and cake" so I'm crossing my fingers that food = sufficient for dinner.

Your logic makes no sense to me but we have very flexible meal times given our activity and family schedule. If a party is at 1, we give the child a snack before they go. If it is an early dinner at 4 (which we normally do after school depending on the day), then we give a before bed snack. I much prefer meals served by my child will often not eat what is served, even if it is something good.

[Anonymous]

NP & HIPPO. In your shoes, I would offer a light lunch, such as pizza, and expect some of the parents to eat, too. Even though your party starts technically after the main lunch hour of 12-1, you are essentially forcing people to forgo lunch to get to your party on time. Assume a half hour to travel to the party, another half hour to get self and kids ready, that's noon and lots of people are not going to be hungry for lunch prior to that. Even if guests don't expect lunch to be served, a good host would offer it. If your party started an hour later, my answer would be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP & HIPPO. In your shoes, I would offer a light lunch, such as pizza, and expect some of the parents to eat, too. Even though your party starts technically after the main lunch hour of 12-1, you are essentially forcing people to forgo lunch to get to your party on time. Assume a half hour to travel to the party, another half hour to get self and kids ready, that's noon and lots of people are not going to be hungry for lunch prior to that. Even if guests don't expect lunch to be served, a good host would offer it. If your party started an hour later, my answer would be different.

+1
Also, not all kids eat lunch early.
We normally have lunch 12:30-1.

[Anonymous]

Pizza is cheap. I would get a few pies.

My kids would have eaten by 1. However, we have attended parties starting at 1 or even 1:30 where some guests came from other activities (sports, classes, etc) and not have time to eat lunch. Their kids are starving.

[Anonymous]

No, would think this would be after lunch, my kid is young and eats between 11-12:30.
Also vote for stating "snacks and cake will be served" on the invite so no one is confused and has to deal with a melting down hungry kid bc they thought lunch would be served.

[Anonymous]

That's a pretty bad time because depending on where families are coming from they have to leave early, during lunch time. I think you should do heavy snacks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's a pretty bad time because depending on where families are coming from they have to leave early, during lunch time. I think you should do heavy snacks

Also. I used to work at my gym and did birthday parties there. When families ordered pizza, they almost always under-ordered. It does get eaten and I would also recommend getting a few pies!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you are a WASP, I expect some pretzels and maybe a few water bottles. If you are the same ethnicity is me, I expect a huge spread.

Ha, this is very funny and very true- I'm Italian and this is definitely spot on. I find "ethnic" people tend to have a lot of food available.

But I would not make assumptions about a 1-3 party being served lunch.

I'm hispanic and there is always a huge spread of substantial food and find it's true of all my 'ethnic' friends. I know when I go to a wasp party it will be light appetizers. I also notice that lots of wasp's are very light eaters and there will be left overs. S/O question: Are wasp people embarrassed to eat at parties? Just an observation I've made.

[Anonymous]

Hearty snacks are fine. However, I would never plan a birthday party for that time. That's nap/rest time. Before noon or after 3 work better.

[Anonymous]

I don't really expect a lot of food when we go to parties. Maybe just chips, drinks and the cake/ice cream. But parties at the bowling alley or chuck e cheese usually they will have pizza for the kids and the parents will order pizza for the adults too(maybe just 2 larges)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you are a WASP, I expect some pretzels and maybe a few water bottles. If you are the same ethnicity is me, I expect a huge spread.

Ha, this is very funny and very true- I'm Italian and this is definitely spot on. I find "ethnic" people tend to have a lot of food available.

But I would not make assumptions about a 1-3 party being served lunch.

I'm hispanic and there is always a huge spread of substantial food and find it's true of all my 'ethnic' friends. I know when I go to a wasp party it will be light appetizers. I also notice that lots of wasp's are very light eaters and there will be left overs. S/O question: Are wasp people embarrassed to eat at parties? Just an observation I've made.

I'm Filipino we have a huge extended family....lots of food! Food is love! There's either multiple cakes of a huge sheet cake, rice, chicken adobe, lumpia, pansit, salads...you name its probably on the table. My MIL is like that too she's Japanese