Bad hosting.
My 5 year old went to a party like this at a carnival. The host didn't go for a party package but instead bought a string of passes for rides which of course ran out. At the end, she then produced one cupcake each for each child guest. That was it.

100% should maybe served food
This is way out of the norm.

Anonymous wrote:Yikes, they should have provided food. With that time frame I’d expect a meal or at least very heavy snacking.

This. But also, OP already knew this. What's the point of posting? Sometimes life (or a party host) throws you a curve ball and you need to scramble at 1pm to get food for your kids. OP, if you want to start taking backup snacks to future parties, then rock on. I'm guessing you won't ever need them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s not a big deal. It was not a dinner party.

Its during a meal time after an activity. It requires food.

+1

It's crazy not to serve something substantive.

Agreed, tacky and cheap.

Kids were probably starving after swimming.

Not the hostess with the mostest fur shur.

Yes there should have been food.
However, if it wasn’t on the invite ( which u state it wasn’t) I would have asked the host just to clarify. If the host said no I’d have sent snacks with my kid.

Yes, there should have been pizza or something. Almost all kids eat lunch before 1:00 and after 2 hours of swimming, they would be extra hungry.

I worked at a pool that did similar parties and parents brought food for sure to the party room.

Your assumption was right that they would eat as most parties would have food at lunch time but sometimes people don't follow social norms and your assumptions are wrong. Tis life. You got your kids food on the way home and everyone survived and still had a fun party.

What are you hoping DCUM will do about this, OP?

Anonymous wrote:No food for kids who have just been swimming for 2 hours? That's bad hosting.

Agreed. 12-1 is prime lunchtime.

Yikes, they should have provided food. With that time frame I’d expect a meal or at least very heavy snacking.

No food for kids who have just been swimming for 2 hours? That's bad hosting.

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s not a big deal. It was not a dinner party.

Its during a meal time after an activity. It requires food.

I think it’s not a big deal. It was not a dinner party.

What is the purpose of the post. So we can all call the party host poor?

I have two kids 11 and 8 and we've been to many birthdays over the years. Majority of time its assumed some form of food will be served, or invitation will specify "snacks and cake" if there isn't going to be pizza or meal. Today my 8yr old DD went to a swim party. The invitation said 10-12:00 would be swimming, and then an hour in the party room afterward. Only cupcakes were served, and I guess the rest of the time was opening presents and playing games in the party room. My kid was starving by the time I picked her up, as were the other girls. They were all begging for parents to stop and get them something to eat. Am I mistaken to have assumed they would be eating during the 12:00-1:00 time frame after swimming for 2 hours?