Why bother making specific kids party food? Can’t they just eat whatever the adults do? Well, the very short answer to that is: ‘Yes, they could…’ But here’s why that might not be the best idea:
What is kids party food?
When you’re trying to wrangle a bunch of young ones at home or in a dedicated party venue, you don’t need more things to think about. Kids party food are dishes that are made with busy mums and dads in mind (but are still fun for little ones to munch on). They won’t have staining sauces or tons of dishware requirements.
Think bite-sized or easy-to-handle options over full-plated versions of food items. You might want to skip sticky icing and crumbly foods like crackers. But don’t skrimp on variety. You’ll want to cater to different tastes and preferences so every child eats something and no one gets hangry. Colourful decorations and fun presentations can tie the food items in with your theme for an added layer of fun, too. And if you find smart ways to include fruits and vegetables, the food you serve will be nutritionally beneficial as well.
Kids party food that can be made in advance
Some of our favourite dishes don’t need any prep other than perhaps heating up on the day.
You could try:
- Mini sandwiches
- Sausage rolls
- Baby quiches
- Cheese & crackers
- Pizza pinwheels
- Veggie sticks with hummus
- Chicken nuggets or tenders
- Swedish meatballs on pretzel sticks
- Cupcakes
- Fruit kebabs
- Cereal bar treats
- Chocolate-dipped pretzels
- Oatmeal cookies
- Cheese puffs
- Trail mix bags
Kids party food to avoid
Now that you’ve got some ideas, here are a few options to cross off your list:
- Choking & safety hazards - Whole grapes or cherry tomatoes, nuts and popcorn, hard candy, lollipops, large marshmallows, gum, candy canes
- Common allergy triggers - peanut butter & nuts, raw honey, dairy, shellfish, egg-based dishes
- Strong foods - spicy snacks, smelly cheeses, fish, pickles, olives, sushi
Even though you might be throwing a party for older kids or the parents say their kids don’t have any preferences, these are just foods we think are more trouble than they’re worth.
We have another full article on catering for allergies, which might be worth a read too.
Can you have a kids party without food?
Depending on how long your event is, you could have a kids party without food, but that would be fairly unusual. Unless you’re doing something active for less than one hour, parents will expect their children to be fed. That’s because kids get hungry during active play. If you don’t feed them something, the parents will deal with a cranky child after your event. Plus, food is part of the fun! If it’s a short thing and you’re not going to feed them, make sure to let the parents know in advance. Set your event times for outside of mealtimes, so parents can make alternate food plans around your party. And, lastly, provide juice boxes and water so they don’t get dehydrated.
Not sure where to host your event either? Check out these venue ideas.
