Cake only is totally fine for any party completely between 1 and 5:30. Just mention it on the invite. Many PPs are nuts. I would say that I'd have a serving or two of cake alternative handy (pack of goldfish or an apple, nothing substantial) if you know of any allergies/diabetics/etc (or even if you don't know that there aren't), since you won't have anything else.

I think whichever you choose is fine, as long as you put it on the invite. We usually eat early. If my kids were invited to a bounce house (most of which are also 45m from our house) party that ended at 5 or 5:30 and the invite said, "join us for cake and punch," I would just make sure to have some apples, PBJs and/or granola bars in my bag for the ride home, and that would be dinner. If it said "join us for pizza, cake and punch" then that would probably be dinner (w/ a light bedtime snack, fruit probably). Either way, I'm glad to not have to cook a big meal. Just communicate what you plan to do. People who find it your choice appalling can then choose not to come.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 3:30 no way. Your party will be going on at 5 still and supper zone begins then. Move it earlier or feed them something more.

Parents can plan accordingly then.

It's really shocking to me that so many kids past the infant stage of life have to be fed on the dot and constantly snacking or they lose control.

It must be a Gen X parenting thing.

NP here.
Actually, I can't plan if I don't know there won't be food. And it's not that they need to eat constantly. We went to a 3:30pm party with only cake served at 5. This isn't the norm so I didn't consider that there would be no other food. Kids were starving after running around during the party and wanted extra cake. We were 45 minutes from home. And limited food options nearby. I thought it was so rude of the hosts , who were simultaneously making their own dinner plans while serving cake. Gee, if you're hungry don't you think your party guests are too?
Move it 2-4pm and you'll be fine op.

There were no restaurants of any kind that you could stop at or drive thru on a 45 minute drive home? How is it rude for the hosts to discuss their dinner plans for after the party? If they had brought food in, only for themselves and not the guests, that would be rude. Learn not to expect for your kids to be fed a meal for a party that ends at 5 or 5:30. Most times, not all kids in the family are invited to a party so if you haven't encountered that yet, you will soon, and you'll need to feed your other child(ren) anyway.

Anonymous wrote:Order pizza and cake. Pizza and cake is not a meal. It is party food. Add some soft drinks too.

Geez!

Pizza is not a meal? I serve pizza every weekend for dinner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is 6 and I have only been to ONE party where there was no "real food", just snacks and cake. It was at 1.30 and luckily my kid has eaten, but still! It was also a joint party for siblings.
Please mention on the invite explicitly that you won't be serving food. I would have saved on gifts if I knew and brought some cute inexpensive stuff. I brought nice gifts for both birthday kids. Felt I was lured into some gift grab thing (it was also at a playground, not a venue).

You were lured? What a strange way of looking at it. Did the invitation not state that it was at a playground?

Also, you gauge the amount you should spend on gifts based on venue and type of food served? That's so bizarre!

Anonymous wrote:My child is 6 and I have only been to ONE party where there was no "real food", just snacks and cake. It was at 1.30 and luckily my kid has eaten, but still! It was also a joint party for siblings.
Please mention on the invite explicitly that you won't be serving food. I would have saved on gifts if I knew and brought some cute inexpensive stuff. I brought nice gifts for both birthday kids. Felt I was lured into some gift grab thing (it was also at a playground, not a venue).

You were lured? What a strange way of looking at it. Did the invitation not state that it was at a playground?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 3:30 no way. Your party will be going on at 5 still and supper zone begins then. Move it earlier or feed them something more.

Parents can plan accordingly then.

It's really shocking to me that so many kids past the infant stage of life have to be fed on the dot and constantly snacking or they lose control.

It must be a Gen X parenting thing.

NP here.
Actually, I can't plan if I don't know there won't be food. And it's not that they need to eat constantly. We went to a 3:30pm party with only cake served at 5. This isn't the norm so I didn't consider that there would be no other food. Kids were starving after running around during the party and wanted extra cake. We were 45 minutes from home. And limited food options nearby. I thought it was so rude of the hosts , who were simultaneously making their own dinner plans while serving cake. Gee, if you're hungry don't you think your party guests are too?
Move it 2-4pm and you'll be fine op.

So your kids had lunch, and cake, and can't hold unti 6:30 or 7 for dinner?

Cake is fine. I do not want my kid eating pizza at 3:30 because then she won't eat dinner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 3:30 no way. Your party will be going on at 5 still and supper zone begins then. Move it earlier or feed them something more.

Parents can plan accordingly then.

It's really shocking to me that so many kids past the infant stage of life have to be fed on the dot and constantly snacking or they lose control.

It must be a Gen X parenting thing.

NP here.
Actually, I can't plan if I don't know there won't be food. And it's not that they need to eat constantly. We went to a 3:30pm party with only cake served at 5. This isn't the norm so I didn't consider that there would be no other food. Kids were starving after running around during the party and wanted extra cake. We were 45 minutes from home. And limited food options nearby. I thought it was so rude of the hosts , who were simultaneously making their own dinner plans while serving cake. Gee, if you're hungry don't you think your party guests are too?
Move it 2-4pm and you'll be fine op.

Some of you are amazing. When I pick my kids up from a party, I ask "so, what did you eat?" If the answer is just cake, I feed them. If the answer was pizza and cake, they get fruit and yogurt as a snack. Not rocket science, nor something to get offended by.

I think you will be fine if you move the party back to 2. 2-4 is not a mealtime. We have been to several afternoon and morning parties that don't serve meals. No big deal as long as Otis the mealtime.

The bounce house parties I have been to kick you out after 90 minutes. Parents can pick their kids up at 5, and they will be good and hungry for dinner. No pizza required.

Anonymous wrote:At 3:30 no way. Your party will be going on at 5 still and supper zone begins then. Move it earlier or feed them something more.

Parents can plan accordingly then.

It's really shocking to me that so many kids past the infant stage of life have to be fed on the dot and constantly snacking or they lose control.

It must be a Gen X parenting thing.

At 3:30 no way. Your party will be going on at 5 still and supper zone begins then. Move it earlier or feed them something more.

Anonymous wrote:I hate it when my kids attend mid afternoon parties and they serve pizza. Why do people think its a good idea for kids to fill up on cardboard pizza right and spoil any chance for a healthy dinner?

Me too. We eat dinner at 6pm. I am always kind of annoyed when one kid has just eaten a meal of pizza at 4:30.