Anonymous wrote:We did bagels and coffee for the parents and Pete's Pizza for kids and parents for an 11-1pm party for 3 year olds.

Maybe skip the bagels but get better pizza? Dominos is nasty.

Agree. Get Papa John's instead.

11:30 is basically lunch time and bagels is more of a breakfast food so that may be why people didn't eat so much. Domino's is pretty bad pizza, but for a kids birthday party, perfectly fine. Pete's a Pizza is ridiculously expensive so ignore the previous poster's overly refined palate.

Ultimately, don't worry if they don't eat, but I see what you're concerned about with the waste of food. Just serve something that you wouldn't mind eating yourself if it goes uneaten and just put it out in small amounts so it's still "clean" to be eaten later.

We did bagels and coffee for the parents and Pete's Pizza for kids and parents for an 11-1pm party for 3 year olds.

Maybe skip the bagels but get better pizza? Dominos is nasty.

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed it's one of those things where someone has to go first and dig in, then the others follow. If you want to put out a nice spread, go for it and encourage people to start eating. I would have loved a bagel w/ lox and fruit. If it's too much work, just go with fruit. Adults surely eat pizza too.

For the record, I will always be the first to dig in, I have no shame. and i have noticed this wait and watch approach at parties too. pizza would be fine together with the fruit option. And coffee and soda (although I understand if you don't want to tempt the kids with soda there), really any form of caffeine. Pizza is easy to quickly scoff down while standing (again, no shame here) so I can keep my eye on DC

+1 on the mimosas. I did not know it was the norm not to eat at kids' parties. I always help myself liberally!

People have always eaten at this time at things I've been to. Agreed one person needs to make the first move.

Echo PP. I always make a good friend prepare a plate (even if she won't eat it). People need a cue that it's ok to hit the buffet. One person usually starts the stampede.

Mimosas!

I've noticed it's one of those things where someone has to go first and dig in, then the others follow. If you want to put out a nice spread, go for it and encourage people to start eating. I would have loved a bagel w/ lox and fruit. If it's too much work, just go with fruit. Adults surely eat pizza too.

My experience too which is why I always laugh when people here make such a stink about needing to have a full buffet ready when no one eats a thing.

I think coffee or soda and maybe a bowl of pretzels is fine.

Whisky for the coffee, duh.

Just get pizza for the adults too. Fruit salad would be nice as well.
With 2 year olds the parents usually have their hands full with the kids, so it's hard to eat.

Yes, coffee. But you did well last year.I would've finished your fresh fruit.
The problem might be more the fact that it's a kid's birthday and they are too busy keeping their little ones in check.
I've seen parents eat pizza at kids birthday...

Coffee

This is the third year I have hosted a party in my home for my daughter and the adults eat nothing. I don't know why I continue to offer them something; perhaps because it seems to be the standard....however in my experience they eat nothing.

In previous years I put out fresh Bagels, cream cheese, lox, hand cut fresh fruit. All completely untouched. What would you offer?

The kids are having Dominos and Giant sheet cake. Just offer parents this too and be done? Yuck.