You may be a gourmet cook and love to cook but my advice would be to
keep the party food simple. Many a time I have spent worrying and
slaving over recipe books up till midnight but when the day comes, only
half of it is eaten.
You should have some party food but food is a lower priority for the
kids than playing games, friends getting together and simply having fun.
Teenagers are an exception, as teenage boys especially seem to have a
voracious appetite so make PLENTY of it.
Remember a lot of kids are fussy eaters, even if your child is not, so
err on the side of caution. Concentrate on child friendly and fun party
foods. Let your standards slip for once, but do bear in mind that too
much sugary foods and drinks can cause very hyperactive children.
Tips for perfect party food planning:
* Plan ahead
The time of day for the party will influence the type of party food that
you may want to provide. If you are going for mid morning or mid
afternoon, snacks will be fine. Think about how much you and the kids
would normally eat around that time of day. Plan how many kids are
coming and allow 3–4 different savoury plus 2-3 sweet party food choices
as well as the cake. Don't forget that some kids have ALLERGIES
especially to nuts, but in general their parents should inform you of
this before hand.
Prepare as much party food as you can in advance. Make use of your
freezer if you have one, as you really won't want to be doing much
cooking on the day. Leave yourself time to be having fun with the kids.
* What party food should you have? Discuss with your child what party
food she/he would like and allow treats to make the day feel special. If
you are having a theme party this may well dictate the sort of food that
you might choose. Finger foods, especially for the under 7's, are much
more child friendly and practical than a child balancing a plate of food
on their laps. Younger kids are also likely to eat more if they can come
and go to the food table.
* Allow 2-3 drinks per child although that will change according to the
weather and how boisterous the activities are. Make sure that disposable
cups aren't too flimsy, as with little kids paper cups tend to get a bit
soggy round the lip and thin plastic ones tend to get crushed by little
hands. The same applies to paper plates. I always write names on each
cup and plate (or stick pictures on) to save mixing them up as the kids
always forget which one is theirs. Party Food Boxes are a great and fun
alternative and are much easier for the younger kids to use.
* To bake or not to bake
Ask yourself how much time you have, how good are your cooking skills
and what is your budget. I tend to do a mixture of both shop bought and
homemade party food. I must admit that shop bought party food often
works out cheaper if you buy the shops own brand and in bulk and
obviously saves a huge amount of time and energy. Buy foodstuffs that
have a long shelf life or are freezable so then there is less wastage.
Or you could do a mix such as buying a packet biscuit/cake mix and
decorating the goodies yourself. Your child will love to help I'm sure!
* Where you are going to set up the party food table and where do you
want the kids to eat?
Remember, if it's a buffet the guests will need somewhere to sit. We
often lay down a big mat which all the kids sit on and have a sort of
indoor picnic if it's too wet/cold to be outdoors.
* Will some of the parents be staying for the party? I don't usually
cater specially for the adults but if you have the time it's nice
sometimes to prepare one party food item that is more adult appropriate
although adults still like crisps and popcorn!
* At the end of the party you won't feel like cooking for the family so
make sure that you have something ready cooked in the freezer.
If you would like some really easy party recipes that always go down
well with the kids, take a look at
www.kids-partycabin.com.
You will also find lots of ideas for kids party themes and games to
ensure that you have a great party.
Nicole is the mother of 3 children and the author of
www.kids-partycabin.com.
Kids Party Cabin came about as Nicole realised that busy parents were
often in need of a place to go for advice, ideas and resources to help
them plan a kids party.
Kids Party Cabin does just that - party themes, party food, games,
decorations, entertainment directory and lots of great resources.
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