Help with catering for a childs party

narabanekeater

Its the quanities im totally stuck with. Ive 30 children and a few adults coming
For the mums that stop im planning on getting a couple of large gateux on a help yuorself basis with soft drink tea and coffee
Some adults will be eating from the buffet
So far ive come up with
Ham and cheese sandwiches
coctail sauages
sausage rolls
savory eggs
Ice cream cones with sweeties
Jaffa cakes
asorted biscuits
Cheey toms
Cucumber sticks
Pizza slices
ice creams for afterwards

Can anyone else please think of anything and the amount I should provide
Im totally stuck and new to the world of childrens parties

jlp123_2

I have catered for several parties for my children over the last few years and I found the best way was to provide a "food box" for each child ( or person - I did some for the adults as well).

I bought party boxes and then put in a ham, jam and cheese sandwich, a packet of crisps, sauage roll, couple of mini sausages, small box of raisins, choccy biscuit (jaffa cake type thing) and a fairy cake.

This way each child had their own food and swapped with someone else if they didn't like the sandwiches etc.

I found there was so much less waste adn I was able take advantage of BOGOFs on crisps choc biscuits etc.

Hope this helps!

esmf73

Sounds like you have LOADS - what ages are the kids - 15?? I've always found at parties the kids never eat very much - they are too busy playing. Don't worry about the parents, unless you're really bothered in which case get some mini cakes or something - a lot less hassle to clean up and you can freeze the leftovers! I've never catered for parents unless it was tea & coffee wise - they're usually happy eating what the kids eat!

tessie_bear

sounds lovely...some salads for the grown ups maybe...leaves rice pasta...chicken nuggets/dippers ?

bubblegumcola

When I've done a kids party in the past, I find they pick at bits and pieces and don't really eat alot. I think some sandwiches, crisps, cocktail sausages and crisps is plenty. As for the adults, sometimes I find they are awful polite and decline the food!! The adults really don't expect to be catered for usually. They will usually have some juice though.

I like the idea of the food boxes for the kids, you can divi all the food up and have a small amount as back up just in case some are really hungry. Usually the kids just want to get back to playing games etc. How long is your party?

stormbreaker

If they are going to be sat round a table, plates I should imagine will work out cheaper than boxes. Set out a quarter sandwich or two, small sausage roll or cocktail sausages, small pkt crisps, biscuit and a fairy cake. Snack size boxes of raisens are also popular, cubed cheese or dairylea triangles. Not the most healthy of food but then party food rarely is. If you want healthier options, some cherry toms, grapes,carrot sticks and cucumber cubes/sticks.
Have some extra, esp. cocktail sausages as these are always popular and the adults can help themselves. To provide gateux would mean lots of extra plates, cutlery, mess and all the kids would want a piece too. Best to look after the kids and most adults will make do by pinching what their child does not like!

SugarSpun

I'd make up individual plates with

a quarter sandwich with cheese
a quarter sandwich with ham
a quarter sandwich with jam
a mini sausage roll
a couple of cherry tomatoes
a handful of crisps

then have choc ices for afterwards and maybe a plate of biscuits at strategic intervals in the middle if the kids will be sitting at tables to eat.

You could have a plate of larger ham and cheese sandwiches for parents and a few extra small sandwiches/sausage rolls/packets of crisps on hand if any kid needs to eat more.

flea72

i would say one bite foods, get eaten the most

so grapes, cherry toms, cocktail sausages, chicken nuggets and crisps

i find sandwiches, have one bite taken and then they are left, so i dont tend to bother with those now

Also hide the cakes/biscuits until they have eaten some of the savoury stuff, otherwise most kids would just much their way through 10 jaffa or fairy cakes

For 30 kids, i would say you need about 100 cocktails sausages, and then base the other items off that

unless the adults have been specifically invited, i wouldnt cater for them, other than a drink, they dont expect it, and if one parent does it, then the onus is on the others to follow suit at their parties (dont get into those sort of politics). Most just nibble at the bits their kids leave on their places anyway, so they do get to eat something

Also by getting different food for the adults (ie the gateaux), you may find some children will cause a scene because they want 'mummys' food, again its best to avoid any possible conflict, espec with 30 children around (also alot of gateaux have nuts for decoration, and its best to avoid possible allergies)

Flea

cyclingyorkie

i'd hide the sweet stuff until the little darlings have eaten the savoury stuff.

I'd agree about the sandwiches - they were always the things that were left when mine were little.

Also agree about the one bite food -eg cherry tomatoes....my youngest - nearly 16 still insists on grapes/cucmber/carrot sticks/breadsticks and hummus for dipping.

I think the point about different food for the adults is a good one - some child will create if they want it - and you don't want 30 children begging for gateau do you?

You may well end up with loads left....you have been warned.........

Oh - and i think you will need crisps

sandiep

Also, kids will only eat about half of what you think they will, and that at most kids parties normally the majority either gets binned, eaten by the dog, or nibbled by the mums when they think no-one is looking.

Beware of overcatering.

Another good idea is to put left over sweeties/buns etc into the party bags

narabanekeater

thanks for that guys
Sorry I didnt reply soone rive had my soon poorly