Anonymous
Post 05/30/2015 00:50     Subject: Re:s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
Anonymous wrote:We've done scrambled eggs with veggies in a casserole dish, cheese melted on top and mini bagels with plain cream cheese and smoked salmon (optional), tomato (optional) and green onion (optional). Cream cheese is already on the bagels, so that I don't have to worry about knives on the floor, crumbs in the cream cheese, etc.
I hate the premade veggie trays, so I do my own combined trays with exotic fruits and veggies, kids try things they've never seen or tasted. We've done pomegranate seeds, dragonfruit, cherimoya, papaya, lychees, ataulfo and haden mangoes, starfruit, casaba, canary and santa claus melons (kids always get a kick out of eating something named for santa claus!), pattypan squash (steamed, kids were laughing while scooping them out!), kohlrabi stems, jicama, tomatilloes. The best thing about exotic trays is that you only need about 1-2 bites per child, so it's fairly cheap to do.
I refuse to do sugary fruit drinks or pop, so we do 100% fruit/vegetable juice (diluted about 2 parts juice to 1 water) and almond milk and water.
I make the cakes, and I guarantee your child won't get a sugar rush. It's quinoa instead of wheat, plenty of eggs, almond milk instead of cow's milk, dried fruit instead of refined sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and ground nuts (as long as I know all the kids can have nuts, otherwise I leave them out). None of the kids realize it's healthy, all they know is that it tastes good and they're usually allowed a second piece if they are still hungry enough to eat it.


I forgot to mention: you won't ever find a pizza at any party I host. My kids don't eat take-out pizza with me, we make dough and add cauliflower to it, but since I don't want to do that much work for a slew of kids, in addition to everything else, no pizza.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2015 00:48     Subject: Re:s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
We've done scrambled eggs with veggies in a casserole dish, cheese melted on top and mini bagels with plain cream cheese and smoked salmon (optional), tomato (optional) and green onion (optional). Cream cheese is already on the bagels, so that I don't have to worry about knives on the floor, crumbs in the cream cheese, etc.
I hate the premade veggie trays, so I do my own combined trays with exotic fruits and veggies, kids try things they've never seen or tasted. We've done pomegranate seeds, dragonfruit, cherimoya, papaya, lychees, ataulfo and haden mangoes, starfruit, casaba, canary and santa claus melons (kids always get a kick out of eating something named for santa claus!), pattypan squash (steamed, kids were laughing while scooping them out!), kohlrabi stems, jicama, tomatilloes. The best thing about exotic trays is that you only need about 1-2 bites per child, so it's fairly cheap to do.
I refuse to do sugary fruit drinks or pop, so we do 100% fruit/vegetable juice (diluted about 2 parts juice to 1 water) and almond milk and water.
I make the cakes, and I guarantee your child won't get a sugar rush. It's quinoa instead of wheat, plenty of eggs, almond milk instead of cow's milk, dried fruit instead of refined sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and ground nuts (as long as I know all the kids can have nuts, otherwise I leave them out). None of the kids realize it's healthy, all they know is that it tastes good and they're usually allowed a second piece if they are still hungry enough to eat it.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2015 00:11     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
Anonymous wrote:I think it would be weird to have pizza at 10:30 or 11.


Same here. I nice buffet style brunch sounds really nice.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2015 00:11     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids' parties I've been to did NOT serve pizza. A couple were brunch-type foods, one was macaroni and cheese and sides, one was grilled hot dogs and burgers, and some were just snacks and cake. Pizza might be common but it's hardly "traditional."

And frankly, just because some kids are really picky eaters is no reason for everyone to serve the same boring food at parties. There are lots of good options, even within the bounds of "kid food."


I actually think pizza is more "traditional" but not very "common." Just in my experience. Pizza was served at all of my friends' birthday parties as a kid (15-25 years ago) but these days I rarely see it. Maybe it's a demographic thing?
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2015 00:09     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
Hey OP, just letting you know that I would love to come to an early bday party in which the host served brunch. This would be great, good food and still leaves us time to fit something else in that day.

Bagels sound good. I'd have a few spreads (basic cream cheese, herb cheese spread (?), peanut butter, and jam) and toppings (lox, cucumber, tomato, etc)

I'd probably have a simple fruit platter (just two fruits) and maybe a bowl of carrots and celery?

Maybe one other egg based brunch entree.

and then bottled water and some juices.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2015 21:38     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You'll need lunch food. My kid would not touch bagels with tomatos and cream cheese, he might nibble on a plain bagel but that's not lunch. The breakfast spread is great for adults but get some pizza or even PBJs for the kids before giving them cake!


Then give him something else for lunch after the party ends at 12.


Of course I would. But the OP asked for opinions and I have mine. My son just turned 3, maybe he will be easier around mealtime when he's older, but after cupcakes at noon the car ride would be unpleasant and then I'd have to scramble and probably stop for fast food. Of course we would survive and never complain to the host. I don't like bagels and cream cheese either, but unlike a toddler I can keep it together and eat a later than normal lunch
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2015 21:34     Subject: !
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My 5yr old usually eats lunch around 11:15 or 11:30 so I wouldn't be thrilled to feed her a cupcake and then hold off on lunch until we are home which would probably be closer to 12:30 or 12:45. Combination probably guarantees a hyper but cranky-hungry kid.

13:45 here again.


What is with all these posts. Just serve your guests a proper meal for crying out loud!! It's not that hard!


Sure, it's not that hard, but a two-hour party will not always fall during a normal meal time. No reason for a full spread mid-afternoon. If you offer a full dinner after guests just had lunch, food will go to waste. And on the other side, parents don't always like having their kids' appetite for dinner ruined.


Haha. Full spread? What is that? The people who ask these kind of dumb questions about feeding their guests do not know what a "full spread" would be if it hit them in their face.

DCUM - you are calling people for a celebration so here are the etiquettes -

1) Be hospitable and welcoming. Do not flip out if parents and siblings also join in. If you are not too broke - include parents and siblings in the invitation.

2) Serve food - to everyone. At the very minimum - pizza, juice and cake - for kids birthday parties.

Anonymous
Post 05/29/2015 21:26     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
Anonymous wrote:99% of kids parties have pizza + cake + a veggie/fruit tray at the end. Just go with the flow. It doesn't matter what time the party is, this is what is expected.


Why does OP have to do what's expected??
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2015 21:25     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
I, for one, would be grateful to attend a party where something other than pizza is served! Sounds good, OP. Our synagogue does a similar spread after Saturday morning services, and my kid and her friends love it.

Add some fruit kebobs, maybe a couple of spreads like sunbutter and jam, and call it a day.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2015 19:23     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
Anonymous wrote:99% of kids parties have pizza + cake + a veggie/fruit tray at the end. Just go with the flow. It doesn't matter what time the party is, this is what is expected.


Exactly. I personally hate pizza but we just serve it at parties.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2015 19:23     Subject: Re:s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
Pizza.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2015 19:18     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
I think it would be weird to have pizza at 10:30 or 11.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2015 16:38     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
99% of kids parties have pizza + cake + a veggie/fruit tray at the end. Just go with the flow. It doesn't matter what time the party is, this is what is expected.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2015 16:01     Subject: s/o Party 10-Noon what food to serve?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. We won't be able to heat up quiches or have pizza delivered but we'll add some kind of extra protein. Not trying to be cheap or stingy but have always done bagels at the park for our kid. We used to do it earlier and I just now realized the lunch time issue for our new time. (Btw I'm not sure pizza and cupcakes is all that much better than bagel and cupcakes in terms of carb overload).


What about adding a few other kid-friendly bagel toppings like PB&J, sliced turkey and cheese, etc. to add a little protein? That plus adding some yogurts with the fruit sounds like a fine spread.