Kids are picky eaters. If you are planning a party for your child, you need to take care to choose the right foods. You don’t have to get super-fancy with your ideas–most kids enjoy the basics–pizza, sandwiches and cake. Think about your child’s tastes when planning the menu for his birthday.
Types
The birthday cake is the most important food you’ll serve for the birthday party, so ask the birthday girl what she wants. You can create a cake at home from scratch or with a mix or purchase a pre-made one from a bakery. You may also want to prepare kid-friendly snacks, like chips or fresh fruits, or a meal, like hamburgers or tacos.
Features
The menu of a kid’s birthday party should be easy to prepare, so that you are able to supervise the children at the party. If the children are young, you should avoid foods that could cause choking. Birthday party food for kids can also be cute or fun, such as cutting sandwiches into animal shapes or allowing the children to decorate a pancake.
Considerations
Children are notoriously picky eaters. It can be difficult to find a food that will please all children. Offering a variety of foods can help to avoid these problems, as can creating a meal that children can make themselves, such as a “pizza bar.” You should make or prepare all the food before the party starts so that you can attend to your guests.
Size
The size of your menu depends on the time of day and the number of kids you expect to attend. If you are having the party during a meal time, you must plan to serve a meal, which requires more food. If your party is in the afternoon or evening, you will only need to provide cake and snacks. Expect each child to have one serving of the food with a bit left over for any children who want second helpings.
Warning
Though peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a classic lunch time meal for children, a child who has a peanut allergy could become ill–even die–if he is around peanuts. The same is true of other allergies. Always ask parents about allergies or other food restrictions before serving a meal. Additionally, some parents are quite strict about what they allow their children to drink. Avoid sugary sodas. Instead, serve 100 percent fruit juice, milk or water.
Photo Credit
- birthday cake image by tomcat2170 from Fotolia.com
