Food for adults at birthday party

[Anonymous]

I used to get annoyed if food wasn’t served to adults. I don’t care anymore.

My oldest is now 13 and just happy when he gets invited. I would not expect to stay or be fed and an elementary party. If the host said parents had to stay and it was not a drop off party, it was crappy of them not to have enough food.

Those places tend to have packages per child and the food is meant for the child. I remember one year I had a laser tag party for my child. I got a package with pizza and drinks. The party room didn’t even fit the adults. Many adults didn’t just drop off and stayed. I remember stressing about not having enough food. This was the weekend though on a Saturday morning.

[Anonymous]

The more I think about this the more annoyed I get. If I rearrange my day and race around after work for something like this (at dinnertime on a weeknight!) and the host turns out to be cheapo charlie, it's going on blast on social media later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more I think about this the more annoyed I get. If I rearrange my day and race around after work for something like this (at dinnertime on a weeknight!) and the host turns out to be cheapo charlie, it's going on blast on social media later.

Oh ffs, just decline the invitation if it’s such a bother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have had this debate before. It's a cultural thing. WASPy people think you should skimp on food out of some bizarre sense of moral superiority of austerity, people from non-WASP cultures are horrified at lettings guests (and yes parents are gueats) be hungry.

No, we just know the difference between kids who are guests of a party, and who should be well fed if the party is at meal time, and the parents who are dropping off and picking up.

You would be seeing different answers here if this were a toddler or preschool party.

This. Those advocating that the parents should have been fed are basically saying that if you throw a dinner party, you are obligated to feed your guests' Uber drivers. Absurd.

If the Uber driver was expected to accompany the guest into the room and stay with them the whole time then yes I would expect to feed them. This comparison makes no sense.

Who expects a parent of a ten year old to stay?

At our parties the older kids parents often stay as we make it a family party. I feed everyone including staff working at the venue.

This is really unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always made sure there is enough food for the adults when my kids were of drop-off age but the parents rarely ever ate. Maybe a slice of cake but rarely did they eat pizza, etc. So its possible this is not the first time they hosted a party and were left with a ton of leftovers because the parents didn't eat. Who knows.

Also, its possible that the venue will only allow pizza that they order/make and it's included in the package or per kid price. Did they order from outside of the venue or did the venue handle it?

Did you say meals were served to everyone? We always put on the invitation that parents were encouraged to stay, food for all. Everyone almost ate because they knew there would be food. I generally assume there isn't food for adults and minimal food for kids as that's often what happens. I do a huge spread of simple things - salad, pizza, subs or make your own sandwiches, veggies, fruit, chips, hummus, pasta salad and a few other things and most gets eaten. If you have a lot and make it clear food is available, people will eat.

I hosted three kid parties this year and none of the venues allowed bringing in food like this (laser tag, trampoline type places). They offered kid packages with pizza from their own vendor, plus juice according to the number of kids in the package. The only thing you could bring in was the cake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always made sure there is enough food for the adults when my kids were of drop-off age but the parents rarely ever ate. Maybe a slice of cake but rarely did they eat pizza, etc. So its possible this is not the first time they hosted a party and were left with a ton of leftovers because the parents didn't eat. Who knows.

Also, its possible that the venue will only allow pizza that they order/make and it's included in the package or per kid price. Did they order from outside of the venue or did the venue handle it?

Did you say meals were served to everyone? We always put on the invitation that parents were encouraged to stay, food for all. Everyone almost ate because they knew there would be food. I generally assume there isn't food for adults and minimal food for kids as that's often what happens. I do a huge spread of simple things - salad, pizza, subs or make your own sandwiches, veggies, fruit, chips, hummus, pasta salad and a few other things and most gets eaten. If you have a lot and make it clear food is available, people will eat.

Nah. When I had preschool age kids (aka the kind of parties where parents were expected to stay), we always had enough extra pizza for the adults, and it was almost always declined.

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm the only one who eats at 5:30, but I don't understand why OP couldn't buy a little something for herself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always made sure there is enough food for the adults when my kids were of drop-off age but the parents rarely ever ate. Maybe a slice of cake but rarely did they eat pizza, etc. So its possible this is not the first time they hosted a party and were left with a ton of leftovers because the parents didn't eat. Who knows.

Also, its possible that the venue will only allow pizza that they order/make and it's included in the package or per kid price. Did they order from outside of the venue or did the venue handle it?

Did you say meals were served to everyone? We always put on the invitation that parents were encouraged to stay, food for all. Everyone almost ate because they knew there would be food. I generally assume there isn't food for adults and minimal food for kids as that's often what happens. I do a huge spread of simple things - salad, pizza, subs or make your own sandwiches, veggies, fruit, chips, hummus, pasta salad and a few other things and most gets eaten. If you have a lot and make it clear food is available, people will eat.

I hosted three kid parties this year and none of the venues allowed bringing in food like this (laser tag, trampoline type places). They offered kid packages with pizza from their own vendor, plus juice according to the number of kids in the package. The only thing you could bring in was the cake.

We’ve done those too and always buy extra food for adults but there are more flexible venues. You can always buy more above the package.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always made sure there is enough food for the adults when my kids were of drop-off age but the parents rarely ever ate. Maybe a slice of cake but rarely did they eat pizza, etc. So its possible this is not the first time they hosted a party and were left with a ton of leftovers because the parents didn't eat. Who knows.

Also, its possible that the venue will only allow pizza that they order/make and it's included in the package or per kid price. Did they order from outside of the venue or did the venue handle it?

Did you say meals were served to everyone? We always put on the invitation that parents were encouraged to stay, food for all. Everyone almost ate because they knew there would be food. I generally assume there isn't food for adults and minimal food for kids as that's often what happens. I do a huge spread of simple things - salad, pizza, subs or make your own sandwiches, veggies, fruit, chips, hummus, pasta salad and a few other things and most gets eaten. If you have a lot and make it clear food is available, people will eat.

Nah. When I had preschool age kids (aka the kind of parties where parents were expected to stay), we always had enough extra pizza for the adults, and it was almost always declined.

Maybe it is the pizza you are buying. Get subs and other food too. You also have to say adult food provided as so many don’t provide it. I don’t care. If we are hungry and no food I’d leave a party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have had this debate before. It's a cultural thing. WASPy people think you should skimp on food out of some bizarre sense of moral superiority of austerity, people from non-WASP cultures are horrified at lettings guests (and yes parents are gueats) be hungry.

No, we just know the difference between kids who are guests of a party, and who should be well fed if the party is at meal time, and the parents who are dropping off and picking up.

You would be seeing different answers here if this were a toddler or preschool party.

This. Those advocating that the parents should have been fed are basically saying that if you throw a dinner party, you are obligated to feed your guests' Uber drivers. Absurd.

If the Uber driver was expected to accompany the guest into the room and stay with them the whole time then yes I would expect to feed them. This comparison makes no sense.

Who expects a parent of a ten year old to stay?

At our parties the older kids parents often stay as we make it a family party. I feed everyone including staff working at the venue.

This is really unusual.

No, we invite everyone. Not unusual. Easier on me not to supervise your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always made sure there is enough food for the adults when my kids were of drop-off age but the parents rarely ever ate. Maybe a slice of cake but rarely did they eat pizza, etc. So its possible this is not the first time they hosted a party and were left with a ton of leftovers because the parents didn't eat. Who knows.

Also, its possible that the venue will only allow pizza that they order/make and it's included in the package or per kid price. Did they order from outside of the venue or did the venue handle it?

Did you say meals were served to everyone? We always put on the invitation that parents were encouraged to stay, food for all. Everyone almost ate because they knew there would be food. I generally assume there isn't food for adults and minimal food for kids as that's often what happens. I do a huge spread of simple things - salad, pizza, subs or make your own sandwiches, veggies, fruit, chips, hummus, pasta salad and a few other things and most gets eaten. If you have a lot and make it clear food is available, people will eat.

Nah. When I had preschool age kids (aka the kind of parties where parents were expected to stay), we always had enough extra pizza for the adults, and it was almost always declined.

Maybe it is the pizza you are buying. Get subs and other food too. You also have to say adult food provided as so many don’t provide it. I don’t care. If we are hungry and no food I’d leave a party.

PIA to get your kid to a party then have to come home and do dinner on a weekday. Very inconsiderate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always made sure there is enough food for the adults when my kids were of drop-off age but the parents rarely ever ate. Maybe a slice of cake but rarely did they eat pizza, etc. So its possible this is not the first time they hosted a party and were left with a ton of leftovers because the parents didn't eat. Who knows.

Also, its possible that the venue will only allow pizza that they order/make and it's included in the package or per kid price. Did they order from outside of the venue or did the venue handle it?

Did you say meals were served to everyone? We always put on the invitation that parents were encouraged to stay, food for all. Everyone almost ate because they knew there would be food. I generally assume there isn't food for adults and minimal food for kids as that's often what happens. I do a huge spread of simple things - salad, pizza, subs or make your own sandwiches, veggies, fruit, chips, hummus, pasta salad and a few other things and most gets eaten. If you have a lot and make it clear food is available, people will eat.

Nah. When I had preschool age kids (aka the kind of parties where parents were expected to stay), we always had enough extra pizza for the adults, and it was almost always declined.

Maybe it is the pizza you are buying. Get subs and other food too. You also have to say adult food provided as so many don’t provide it. I don’t care. If we are hungry and no food I’d leave a party.

Nope, the parents declined subs the years we did those too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have had this debate before. It's a cultural thing. WASPy people think you should skimp on food out of some bizarre sense of moral superiority of austerity, people from non-WASP cultures are horrified at lettings guests (and yes parents are gueats) be hungry.

No, we just know the difference between kids who are guests of a party, and who should be well fed if the party is at meal time, and the parents who are dropping off and picking up.

You would be seeing different answers here if this were a toddler or preschool party.

This. Those advocating that the parents should have been fed are basically saying that if you throw a dinner party, you are obligated to feed your guests' Uber drivers. Absurd.

If the Uber driver was expected to accompany the guest into the room and stay with them the whole time then yes I would expect to feed them. This comparison makes no sense.

Who expects a parent of a ten year old to stay?

At our parties the older kids parents often stay as we make it a family party. I feed everyone including staff working at the venue.

This is really unusual.

No, we invite everyone. Not unusual. Easier on me not to supervise your kid.

It may be easier for you but it’s absolutely unusual to have parties with the parents staying at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always made sure there is enough food for the adults when my kids were of drop-off age but the parents rarely ever ate. Maybe a slice of cake but rarely did they eat pizza, etc. So its possible this is not the first time they hosted a party and were left with a ton of leftovers because the parents didn't eat. Who knows.

Also, its possible that the venue will only allow pizza that they order/make and it's included in the package or per kid price. Did they order from outside of the venue or did the venue handle it?

Did you say meals were served to everyone? We always put on the invitation that parents were encouraged to stay, food for all. Everyone almost ate because they knew there would be food. I generally assume there isn't food for adults and minimal food for kids as that's often what happens. I do a huge spread of simple things - salad, pizza, subs or make your own sandwiches, veggies, fruit, chips, hummus, pasta salad and a few other things and most gets eaten. If you have a lot and make it clear food is available, people will eat.

I hosted three kid parties this year and none of the venues allowed bringing in food like this (laser tag, trampoline type places). They offered kid packages with pizza from their own vendor, plus juice according to the number of kids in the package. The only thing you could bring in was the cake.

We’ve done those too and always buy extra food for adults but there are more flexible venues. You can always buy more above the package.

We choose the venue based on what the birthday child wants not based on whether adults would like the food the venue provides!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm the only one who eats at 5:30, but I don't understand why OP couldn't buy a little something for herself?

Lol I don’t want venue pizza but I do eat at 5:30 like you! I would have gone somewhere else and returned for pickup.