https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 20:40:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2181614 Mon, 18 May 2015 09:56:46 +0000 daniellemybelle 2181614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You've gotten some great ideas - I am taking notes! We went all out for LO's first birthday too and definitely will not do that for her second birthday. We will probably have it in the afternoon and just do desserts. I love the tea party idea from @ShootingStar! </p> <p>I went to a third birthday party once and they did popcorn in cute bags with different topping options in addition to other light snacks and birthday cake. It was Daniel Tiger themed so it kind of went along - popcorn &amp; TV/movies. It was fun and perfect! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2181597 Mon, 18 May 2015 09:45:42 +0000 Smurfette 2181597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to a party, 2 yr, that was at their house. They had a mini petting zoo come to the house. It was 10-11:30. I think it was around 1145/noon when we left. But they had some cheese, fruit, crackers, and mini muffins for everyone. Then cake. She put something on the invitation about cake before lunch, so we knew. I thought it was a great party. The kids had a blast. She still ate lunch when we got home and still took a nap.</p> <p>They also had mimosa's for the adults, which was awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2181585 Mon, 18 May 2015 09:39:14 +0000 Kimberlybee 2181585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How about an ice cream social birthday party from 2-4pm? I would provide desserts, ice cream and cake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2181451 Mon, 18 May 2015 08:26:26 +0000 Mamaof2 2181451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: For my DD's 4th birthday we had the party from 1-3 and did pizza (delivered, so easy) and fresh fruit and then the cake. It was perfect! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180369 Sat, 16 May 2015 09:40:42 +0000 gingerbebe 2180369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: "Please join us for cupcakes, lemonade, and sunshine." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180366 Sat, 16 May 2015 09:33:52 +0000 PrincessBaby 2180366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: We just went to a party at a fire station at 10am on a Sat and it was cake only after the activities. We also attended a 230 party that was pretty much cake only- just had bowls of snacks here and there. Both parties were short, 1.5 hours and were at times of day where people weren't expecting a full meal and it was fine:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180350 Sat, 16 May 2015 09:11:28 +0000 Pancakes 2180350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were just invited to a park birthday party. It started at 3, and the parents just had a long table set up with fruit snacks, assorted bagged snacks from costco (pretzels, popcorn, etc), applesauce pouches, and birthday cake. They had bottled water and juice boxes/pouches. The only "activity" was squirt guns brought and filled at the park water fountain. It was super casual and I think everyone had a great time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180280 Sat, 16 May 2015 07:52:44 +0000 Andrea 2180280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did this and started at 3/3:30 so people wouldn't expect a full meal. We had a dessert bar and fruit skewers. The kids ran around our backyard and played, very low key! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180253 Sat, 16 May 2015 07:23:50 +0000 babynumber1 2180253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are doing pizza and cupcakes. Much easier and less labor intensive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180245 Sat, 16 May 2015 07:05:43 +0000 looch 2180245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you've got to plan it outside of a meal time, like 3 pm. No one is going to expect lunch or dinner, so you can totally get away with lighter food. Morning is more challenging, though, in terms of a non meal time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180204 Sat, 16 May 2015 01:26:02 +0000 Ginabean3 2180204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a 2nd bday party at the park around 9:30a and served only juice, a snack, and cupcakes! Worked great. Might be a little early for some people but not for our early bird crowd! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180196 Sat, 16 May 2015 00:21:27 +0000 sarac 2180196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter's next birthday is shortly after I'm due, so I'm already planning easy food. We'll have cut up veggies and fruit, hummus, pitas and olives, maybe some cheese and crackers and meats. And cupcakes. Maybe chips and salsa too. Generally tasty snacky mid afternoon food, but absolutely nothing cooked or fancy. If someone wants, they can bring a pasta salad or something, but that's even too much effort for my plans. It'll be at 3 in the afternoon, probably, so no expectation for a meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180101 Fri, 15 May 2015 19:55:45 +0000 deerylou 2180101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great ideas, everyone; thank you, kindly!</p> <p>@regberadaisy: I've seen this, and think it's so cute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180097 Fri, 15 May 2015 19:49:16 +0000 MamaCate 2180097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think mid afternoon is your best bet. Just be specific on the invitations--we had a lunch time party so I wrote specifically "join us for pizza and cupcakes" so people knew what to expect. If you said something about "join us for cake and ice cream and fun at the park" I think that clears it up.</p> <p>As a parent, I get it that it doesn't always work for everyone to do a meal, I just like to know so I can plan to eat or not and avoid a cranky LO! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180076 Fri, 15 May 2015 19:23:09 +0000 PinkElephant 2180076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Recently went to a bagel party at a park and it was fun - mini bagels, cream cheese, a little lox for the grown ups, and cupcakes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180064 Fri, 15 May 2015 18:57:51 +0000 regberadaisy 2180064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: just saw an idea for pajamas and pancakes! How cute will that be?? A pancake bar and just have people show up in Jammie's! Coffee, OJ, apple juice and you're done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180055 Fri, 15 May 2015 18:38:53 +0000 regberadaisy 2180055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: that is sooooo cute! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180046 Fri, 15 May 2015 18:29:10 +0000 Truth Bombs 2180046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For the second birthday we went full on kid mode. Only invited LOs friends and their parents (so none of our friends without kids). We also had it at Gymboree so I feel like the planned activity lets people know the party it not about food. They had the Gymboree class from 2-3 and then cupcakes in the party room from 3-3:30 and then we were done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180038 Fri, 15 May 2015 18:19:21 +0000 ShootingStar 2180038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My friend recently threw a "tea party" for her 3 year old. She had a couple types of iced tea, scones, cake and a few other desserts. It was at 1:30 so I figured it would be lighter fare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180036 Fri, 15 May 2015 18:17:41 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2180036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Join us for Pizza at the Playground (and cupcakes to celebrate our course)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2180028 Fri, 15 May 2015 18:10:37 +0000 hilsy85 2180028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think morning is hard because even at 10:30, people might expect brunch food. I think if you did 2:30 or something, that's definitely in between meals. An ice cream party is cute! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-providing-a-full-meal#post-2179997 Fri, 15 May 2015 17:00:22 +0000 deerylou 2179997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daughter is turning two, this summer, and we're looking to host a laid back, simple shindig at a local park. </p> <p>Don't get me wrong; her first birthday party was lovely. However, we thought we had picked a pretty simple menu (backyard picnic lunch), but it still ended up being quite expensive and labor intensive. This time, I just want to go an easy and frugal route.</p> <p>What are some food alternatives to having a full spread? Best party time/invitation wording that doesn't leave us with a crowd of people, expecting a square meal? So far, I've pondered a late morning donut party, or a mid-afternoon popsicle/ice cream party. </p> <p>Has anyone else done something similar? How'd it go? Thanks, in advance! :grin: </p>