Anonymous wrote:I would still serve pizza and cake. The kids will be hungry by 4:00. If you decide not to serve pizza, please put that on the invitation.

WTH? The party is NOT during a meal time so why would the OP need to state the obvious on an invite?

We did a party at this time and in addition to cake, we served cheese and crackers, hummus and carrots, and fruit. Seemed like plenty.

PLEASE SERVE AMPLE WATER !!!!!!!!

Why dont people bother to search the forums? This has been discussed ad nauseum

I'm the one who did Wegmans catering. We had our "eating part" at around 5 pm, I believe. Initially I also was thinking drinks and cake but then decided to do more - and that was a good call. Kids were ravenous after hour+ of intense physical activity and adults seemed happy to have some food, too.
I also bought little waters/little organic milks in addition to "standard" organic juices. Also got several comments about "amazing choice" (really?

Yes, it does add up, but really it is relatively minor expense compared to the money you are already spending on the place/goody bags (and yes, I didn't get the usual "bag of junk", either). I do however have an issue with ridiculously overpriced pizzas that are normally offered as a "tie-in" through the party places (as in twice the price, half the quality of regular pizza chains).

So for all of you fed up with "pizza+juice" combo I just have the usual Gandhi quote: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

I do however wish that everyone would RSVP. Please, people, pleeeeeeeese! (I was reading the recent thread about people not RSVPing and one poster was nonchalantly writing about never having time to RSVP... It made my blood boil, but I resisted the extremely powerful urge to call her all the really bad names and closed the forum right away

I would make the party longer - an hour and a half, and only spend a half hour in the party room. Then just do cake. It's the middle of the afternoon. Pizza is a meal, not a snack. Cake is a snack. I'd do cake, water and seltzer.

in the past we have done this time slot twice (in a gym place) and we served cheese pizza, chicken nuggets, sandwich platter (for adults), cut up fruits, water and cake.

We have stopped serving juice and cola because we feel that fruits and cake have enough sugar already. Besides kids start on juice and cola before eating and they become very hyper.

I am always surprised that when you serve food, people do eat regardless of what time the party is. I think it has something to do with the atmosphere of fun and celebration that people tend to indulge. I am sure they are having a very light dinner after that.

Anonymous wrote:I would still serve pizza and cake. The kids will be hungry by 4:00. If you decide not to serve pizza, please put that on the invitation.

A child who is hungry at 4:00 will do just fine with fruit and cake. If your child will be hungry after that, perhaps plan on an early dinner after the party.

We are hosting a party for the exact same time slot this weekend. Guests will be ages 4-6 and parents. I plan to do cupcakes and pizza. I also posted about this a few weeks ago and was considering appetizers, fruit, sandwiches, etc. I chose pizza because it is just so much easier. For the record, I hate pizza.

what is "cheap" pizza?

I would not expect more than snacks, drinks and cake during that time frame but you never know what the family had time to eat before arrival so I would have enough for heavy snacks for both kids and adults. Cheese, hummus, crackers, maybe little ham and biscuit sandwiches, or chicken fingers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sick of the cheap, unhealthy pizza served at all the birthday parties I attended with my 7 y o child.

Agree. I can't stand the cheap pizza anymore. If you care about the guests, you can serve tea sandwiches, fruits, milk, water but no juices. Please stop offering crap.

Then don't go to the parties anymore. These events are expensive and pizza is a cheaper alternative. Not everyone can afford fancy tea sandwiches and a bunch of fresh fruit. Sounds like you can, so buy our own!

Anonymous wrote:I'm sick of the cheap, unhealthy pizza served at all the birthday parties I attended with my 7 y o child.

Agree. I can't stand the cheap pizza anymore. If you care about the guests, you can serve tea sandwiches, fruits, milk, water but no juices. Please stop offering crap.

I'm sick of the cheap, unhealthy pizza served at all the birthday parties I attended with my 7 y o child.

I would assume that there would be the typical pizza and cake at this party, and would just plan that my child would be eating dinner early. So, I would appreciate an invitation specifying that it will be "snacks" and cakes - not a big deal either way, but would be know to know.