Make birthday food kid-friendly and your party will be a hit.
Take the stress out of planning your child's birthday party by offering simple, kid-friendly food options. Also keep in mind that food allergies are a big problem; check with parents before party planning to make sure you aren't serving party guests a potential allergen. And have lots of napkins on hand--kids can get messy. Does this Spark an idea?
Munchies
Kids like to snack, so set out some snack bowls before the party. Goldfish crackers, pretzels, fruit slices and raw veggies with ranch dressing all are popular children's snacks. Kids also love dips. Consider a dip tray with several types of chips (potato, tortilla, etc.) and onion dip, queso dip and salsa. Finger foods are fun and easy; whip up some Jell-o jiggler cubes or serve peanut butter crackers.
Kid-Friendly Fare
Kid-sized portions will make lunch easier to deal with. Bake up some mini frozen pizzas or make homemade ones using biscuit dough, spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. Finger sandwiches made of peanut butter and jelly, pigs in a blanket or chicken nuggets with a variety of dipping sauces are sure to please young palates. Or make a big pot of macaroni and cheese and serve it up in child-sized bowls with a side of garlic bread. Kids love to fix food themselves, so if you're up to it, consider a taco, nacho or baked potato bar. Have all the fixings set out and help kids fix their own meal.
Cake and Dessert
If you're having a big party, avoid having to cut and dish out plates of birthday cake by having cupcakes instead. You could even have a cupcake cake, which is rows of cupcakes frosted to look like one big cake. Serving and cleanup will be easy. A plate of cookies or brownie bites, as well as individual ice cream servings (sold at most grocery stores), will make dessert a snap.
Tags: before party, peanut butter, will make