Don’t have choking risks people. Running toddlers are unreliable. No toothpicks, no grapes (who has time to cut an entire bunch of grapes). Serve seedless watermelon and clementines and call it done.

For the parents, I would provide sushi rolls and sparkling waters.

Oh, just realized I forgot to answer your original question. Sorry. I served veggies at my son’s 5th birthday party. All the kids ate them. The parents were thrilled. Make sure to have a variety and don’t let the dip touch the food, unless you’re positive that no kids have allergies. Dips contain a lot of common allergens, such as dairy, soy, and gluten.

OP, we had parties from 10-12 when they were little and 11-1 now that they’re older. That way, families with younger siblings or late nappers can attend. If you don’t want to serve a meal, 9:30-11:30 would work as well. The 2-4 time slot works well in older elementary, when parties are drop-off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the food is fine as long as it's cut up in the right sizes. The time of the party seems off though.

Changed it to 3-5, parents are invited and will have food for them..great reminder on size. Thanks

2 year olds will do better at a morning party, 3-5 sounds like a nightmare, some kids will just be getting up from nap around then. When my youngest turned 3, we had a morning playground party with brunch foods - we had lots of fruit, muffins, croissants, coffee for parents, and donuts instead of cake. It was a HUGE hit.

Agree with this. Afternoon/evening parties are such a tough needle to thread at this age. Some kids are taking long naps and aren’t up till 4. Some are having a super early dinner at 5:30, while some are having a post-nap snack and a later dinner. Some are in bed at 6:30 and need to be home/winding down by 5:30 while some aren’t in bed until 8.

But everyone with a 2 year old is up and active and looking for an activity from 10-noon. We do all our parties in that window for toddlers with great success.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chick-fil-A nuggets tray.

Um, no. This is DCUM, not the Southern MAGA forum.

The CFA nuggets platter is always the first food to run out at every local party I attend

Do you live in Mississippi or somewhere along those lines? Most people in my circle boycott chick-filled-hate and don’t let their children eat it.

Really? Most people in my liberal circles know that the way a boycott works is that you boycott to get people to change the behavior, and then you stop boycotting. Because if you continue to boycott after an organization has changed their behavior what they'll learn is not to change behavior the next time you boycott.

Thank you! This is what I say all the time. Your boycott worked 15 years ago, it's time to reward the company for changing their ways. Also, I'm in Fairfax and nobody is avoiding Chick-fil-A. The Mississippi PP must be a troll.

OP 3-5 doesn’t make it better.

Anonymous wrote:One thing to consider if you're serving fruit, veggies and cheese, particularly if you're serving fruit and veggies and cheese to people who may be walking around eating, is that you want them to be in a form that toddlers can manage without the risk of choking, and without parents needing to cut. Because trying to cut grapes on a little plastic plate with a 2 year old on your hip is not a particularly fun activity suited to a party.

Oh my god, don't have grapes at a toddler party, what a mess! You can have watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, mandarin slices, strawberries all cut into small pieces in little cups with mini forks or picks. You're welcome.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the food is fine as long as it's cut up in the right sizes. The time of the party seems off though.

Changed it to 3-5, parents are invited and will have food for them..great reminder on size. Thanks

2 year olds will do better at a morning party, 3-5 sounds like a nightmare, some kids will just be getting up from nap around then. When my youngest turned 3, we had a morning playground party with brunch foods - we had lots of fruit, muffins, croissants, coffee for parents, and donuts instead of cake. It was a HUGE hit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chick-fil-A nuggets tray.

Um, no. This is DCUM, not the Southern MAGA forum.

The CFA nuggets platter is always the first food to run out at every local party I attend

Do you live in Mississippi or somewhere along those lines? Most people in my circle boycott chick-filled-hate and don’t let their children eat it.

I live in a very blue area of Northern Virginia and absolutely no one is boycotting Chick-Fil-A, it shows up at every non-Sunday preschool birthday party. It's easy and kids love it. If I boycotted every company whose owners I disagree with, then I would have absolutely nowhere to shop.

Anonymous wrote:Terrible time for a party! That’s nap time.

I’ve found that no matter what time I host the party at, pizza is always expected. I had all these neat sub sandwiches and cutesy appetizers at a 5th birthday party and they all pretty much rioted over there not being pizza. I learned my lesson! Pizza it is.

If everyone collectively stops providing pizza, the kids will stop expecting it. In my crowd we do a lot of sushi and dim sum. Never pizza.

Terrible time for a party! That’s nap time.

I’ve found that no matter what time I host the party at, pizza is always expected. I had all these neat sub sandwiches and cutesy appetizers at a 5th birthday party and they all pretty much rioted over there not being pizza. I learned my lesson! Pizza it is.

Agree with the time concern...my kid is often still asleep at 3 and if they are awake by then they're rarely awake long enough for us to get someplace by 3.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FTP here. Overdid at my DD first birthday and want to rethink for her 2nd party in June between 2-4pm.

Good food is important to us.

Any ideas on good and toddler friendly food options to serve between 2-4pm.

Thinking fruits platter
Cheese platter
Milk boxes
Veg platter with a dip
Pretzels and gold fish
Cake

Thanks so much

You have to be kidding about the bolded items for toddlers.

Fruit and cheese are pretty well liked with all the toddlers I know.

This is essentially my 2 year olds main diet...throw in some cucumbers, bell pepper or green beans and a yogurt pouch and we call it lunch

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the food is fine as long as it's cut up in the right sizes. The time of the party seems off though.

Changed it to 3-5, parents are invited and will have food for them..great reminder on size. Thanks

NP. 3-5 is better - parents can give lunch at 11:30, put down for nap noon - 2pm, and get them to your party at 3pm. No need for tons of food for parents mid-day. Don't go crazy on the snacks. At that time, I would do very little, but high quality.