Birthday Party Newbie Menu Critique

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Birthday Party Newbie Menu Critique

By irene Dec 30, 2016

I am planning an early afternoon (1:30-4pm) mini home party for my 5 year old (I am only inviting 6 kids and their grown ups+some families, so hopefully under/around 20 people?). I want to hear your opinion on this "menu" and see if I am serving too much food and what I should cut back / consolidate / scale down so I won't unnecessarily be killing myself!

For grown ups:
-2 varieties of Trader Joe's bought appetizers
-Maybe a veggie tray

For the kids:
-ham and cheese skewers (pin together with popsicle sticks)
-sunflower-seed-butter jelly tea sandwiches
-goldfish crackers

General:
-fruit tray (will make kabobs with pocky chocolate sticks)
-mini muffins
-the cake
-skinny popcorn

Beverage:
-water
-white wine and champagne (1 bottle each) for the grown ups if budget allows
-I don't know if I want to get juice boxes really because DS doesn't even drink them.

I admire those pinterest parties but I also don't want to unnecessarily kill myself. I want to do a bit better than just yogurt sticks and juice box. Kids and grown ups really don't each much realistically on a kid's birthday party (especially when I am not serving the meal). So I would love a reality check from you - thank you!

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23 comments

Miss Ariel
nectarine / 2210 posts

Dec 30, 2016

This seems reasonable to me. Although I always wind up with a ton of leftovers after my parties.
SLR
clementine / 824 posts

Dec 30, 2016

If it were me, I think I'd add a beverage option (iced tea or lemonade perhaps) and another food item that may appeal to both grown ups and kids. If you have a GFS by you, they have big things of frozen meatballs and cans of sauce that are pretty decent and reasonably priced. Or a big store bought sub and chips/dip maybe.

I tend to always get too much food though, so what you have might be perfect.
Mrs. Oreo
pear / 1677 posts

Dec 30, 2016

I agree with @SLR about having another food item, especially for grown ups, and another beverage. If there's a Costco near you, they have great appetizers that are frozen or just cold and ready to serve!
irene
nectarine / 2964 posts

Dec 30, 2016

@Miss Ariel: @SLR: @madisonbee: Thanks!!! True - I will get some soda, and we have a ton of sparkling water I wonder if that's considered a beverage option We just don't drink anything other than water and sparkling water now. DH doesn't drink lemonade but he may finish up any leftover soda. Thanks guys!!!

In that case maybe we'll get a pimento cheese/hummus and get some crackers and veggie platter to go with it. Then some salsa and chips too. Thanks! Would that be enough or do I need more?

Boy, I always thought what I had was way too much! I guess I never ate anything at all at a kids party and assume no one eats also. It is too exhausting to watch the comotion going on. I just hate to end up with a bunch of leftovers and no one is going to finish them.
looch
wonderful pear / 26210 posts

Dec 31, 2016

I think that sounds fine. I probably would have eaten lunch and given my son something to eat as well and would be saving my points for a slice of cake anyway.
hellobeeboston
honeydew / 7235 posts

Dec 31, 2016

That sounds good to me, but I might just add a cheese plate (crackers, various cheeses, grapes) since adults and kids both usually like that and it's easy to pick at! Definitely have a little alcohol for adults!
gingerbebe
cantaloupe / 6131 posts

Dec 31, 2016

I would skip muffins if there's cake. I would not serve booze at a kid's birthday and just serve lemonade (you can add sparkling water to make it a spritz if you like). I have you made the fruit skewers with Pocky before? I would think they'd be pretty thin and fragile for that. I'd do a warm heavier appetizer for the parents like spinach artichoke dip in a crockpot or something with chunks of bread or tortilla chips.
LemonJack
persimmon / 1130 posts

Dec 31, 2016

I think the food sounds good, but agree that something like a cheese tray might be nice too. I also agree that some sparkling water and maybe soda would be nice options too.
Boogs
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts

Dec 31, 2016

I would use your alcohol budget and put it towards maybe a sandwich platter. Maybe even do away with the muffins and popcorn and do chips and a dip. As far as the fruit skewers, I would just leave it as a fruit platter so people can choose what theh like. When I've done fruit skewers I've noticed kids and adults just eat what they like and waste the rest. Otherwise, I would probably make it clear on the invite that you are just serving appetizers and cake.
irene
nectarine / 2964 posts

Dec 31, 2016

@looch: I know, that's what I thought! 1:30pm is an after lunch party....

@hellobeeboston: @LemonJack: Yes, now I am thinking either a cheese plate, or 2 dips with mini toasts and/or chips. RE: Alcohol - yes I always wish there would be boosts when I am at a kid's party lol. And I've seen people serve wine before (even though I didn't drink it)

@gingerbebe: I tried it and it actually holds up! I only give it a try for a few hours. I should make a few and leave it overnight in the fridge and see what happens. I will add 1-2 more things, but probably not cooking a spinach artichoke dip. I will get it if trader joes offer it

@Boogs: Thanks!! Yes my party starts at 1:30pm, and my invite says "afternoon snacks, refreshments and cake". I don't want it to be overkill with sandwiches.... I keep thinking all these "non-home" parties I've been to and they are only serving pizza and water anyway. I don't think people would assume a gourmet luncheon from me at 1:30pm, hopefully?
irene
nectarine / 2964 posts

Dec 31, 2016

MENU UPDATE:

For grown ups:
-2 varieties of Trader Joe's bought appetizers
-store bought hummus with veggie and chips
-salsa and chips
-cheese and mini toasts (maybe)

For the kids:
-ham and cheese skewers (pin together with popsicle sticks)
-sunflower-seed-butter jelly tea sandwiches
-goldfish crackers

General:
-fruit tray (some are pinned together with pocky chocolate sticks)
-the cake
-skinny popcorn

Beverage:
-water
-soda
-champagne (1-2 bottles) for the grown ups if budget allows
-juice boxes (maybe)
gilmoregirl
persimmon / 1273 posts

Dec 31, 2016

Looks good to me. I wouldn't expect or want a full lunch at that time of day, so a snacky menu sounds perfect.
Boogs
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts

Dec 31, 2016

It think it's all depends on your crowd, if that's the usual for your crowd, no problem. My family parties usually start anywhere from 1-3 and we serve full meals and have plenty left for people to eat throughout the day. But, our families usually also stay for the rest of the night. It think with your crowd and invite, you should be good.
Mrs. Oreo
pear / 1677 posts

Dec 31, 2016

I like the menu update! I agree with @boogs about how it depends on your crowd. When I or my family throw gatherings (small or big), we go big or go home with food. When some of DH's family does the hosting, we end up going home complaining about the lack of food.

But it looks like you've a great spread! I kinda want some of those ham and cheese skewers...
SweetiePie
honeydew / 7463 posts

Dec 31, 2016

@irene: I think that's a good amount and variety on the updated list. Agree with @gingerbebe that Id skip the mini muffins (seriously, do we share a brain? I was going to say that before I even read your response).
irene
nectarine / 2964 posts

Dec 31, 2016

@gilmoregirl: thanks!!!

@Boogs: @madisonbee: oh I see where this is coming from now! No this is not a family gathering at all, our families live very far away from us so it is strictly kids and their parents. 2-3 hours max. If some of our closer friends stay for dinner then we will probably go out after that think a typical kids gym birthday party they serve pizza and water, I just want to do slightly better than that since I don't have to worry about venue fees the whole reason for this was because we don't see the point blowing $600 for a birthday party, but we want to do something special for DS.

@SweetiePie: ok ok.... I deleted the maybe muffins lol. I just thought it will look good, and I bought a tray for it lol. Coming to think of it I can use that tray to serve the other kids food items
Cole
grapefruit / 4649 posts

Dec 31, 2016

I think this is perfect, pizza and a couple of snacks are the norm here for kids parties too and only if during a meal time so this is perfect.
youboots
honeydew / 7622 posts

Dec 31, 2016

Good call on getting rid of the muffins. I'd do mini meatballs in a slow cooker with sweet & sour sauce as one of the apps- you can get them at TJs

As a frequent kids party attendee I appreciate wine or beer at kid parties especially in the afternoon.

For some reason the popsicle sticks seem like a bit of a safety issue. I'm not sure they are needed to hold it together and I'm imagining kids running around with them.

I'd forget about Pinterest the point is to get people together not have everything picture perfect. It will be great.
erinbaderin
pomelo / 5573 posts

Dec 31, 2016

I would totally serve alcohol at a kid's party but I think that if you're looking at having 10-15 adults one bottle of champagne won't be enough. I know not everybody will drink it but if everybody did you'd be pouring everybody a half a glass. I would either find a bottle of wine cheap enough that your budget will stretch to 2-3 or not bother. Nobody will care if you don't have it but it will be strange if you only half enough for half the crowd to have a single glass.
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Jan 1, 2017

I like your spread. You have the right kind of variety, it's just now figuring out the quantities of each to make sure your guests don't go hungry or you have too much left over.

@erinbaderin: I agree. If you serve alcohol you should have enough for everyone to get a full serving. One way to stretch alcohol is to make a punch. Verdi is very inexpensive and taste good on it's own, but also great in a punch or mimosa. lemonade + Verdi= festive! http://verdispumante.com/
farawayyama
kiwi / 556 posts

Jan 1, 2017

I think it sounds awesome
irene
nectarine / 2964 posts

Jan 2, 2017

@Cole: @farawayyama: Thank you!

@youboots: Thanks!! The popsicle sticks I got are round ended, literally the kind you get from eating popsicles.

@erinbaderin: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Thanks! I will keep 3 bottles in my fridge Mimosa would be a great idea but we're in the afternoon... and I am not crazy about lemonade personally. I'll have to look it up though! The problem is now figuring out the budget. Today I saw $20 for a fruit tray and $10 for a veggie tray at Whole foods. Sigh... Things add up quick!
Greentea
pomelo / 5678 posts

Jan 3, 2017

I would definitely try to do a cheese tray/ cheese and crackers or cheese and olives. It can hold someone over if they are pretty hungry, especially us vegetarians!

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