Kids' Birthday Party Food Ideas

When it comes to kids’ birthday parties, choosing the right foods to serve is essential. With picky eaters and kids with allergies likely in attendance, having the kids participate in making their own birthday party food can be a great idea. When the kids are involved, they can choose what they want to eat, making your job as a party hostess much easier.

Pizza

Purchase premade pizza dough, sauce, cheese and a variety of pizza toppings, including pepperoni, pineapple, ham, broccoli, mushrooms and onions. Give each child a small portion of dough and have him roll it out on the table. Help the children add sauce, cheese and any toppings they would like. Bake the individual pizzas in the oven, according to the package’s directions. For younger children who have smaller appetites and may not be able to manage the dough, consider using English muffins for the pizza’s base.

Fruit Salad

Purchase and cut up a variety of fresh fruits, including grapes, blueberries, pineapple, bananas, watermelon, apples and strawberries. Set each fruit in its own bowl with its own serving spoon. Give each child a small bowl or cup and let her select the fruits she wishes to include in her fruit salad. For small children, be sure to cut the fruit in tiny pieces. For example, cut the grapes into quarters, rather than halves.

Cupcakes

Instead of serving birthday cake, consider serving birthday cupcakes. Purchase or make an assortment of frosting colors. Fill several small paper cups with frosting and stick a plastic knife or spoon in each cup. Present each child with an unfrosted cupcake, and allow the child to frost his own. Set out a variety of cupcake toppings, including colored sprinkles, all black sprinkles, small chocolate candies and cut-up licorice. Encourage the kids to make faces on their cupcakes or to decorate them in any way they desire.

Sundaes

Nothing goes better with cake than ice cream. Scoop out a small bowl of ice cream for each child. You may wish to offer chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream. Put out an assortment of toppings, including sprinkles, hot fudge, marshmallow, chocolate candies, gummy candies and cherries. Allow each child to add her own toppings to her ice cream.

Juice Boxes

Cut out one 9-by-3 inch strip of colored cardstock for each party guest. You may wish to have a few extras on hand should someone need a second piece of paper. Put out stickers, markers, glue, glitter and tape for the children to use. You may wish to use stickers and colors that coordinate with your child’s birthday party theme. Encourage each child to decorate his own strip of paper. Once the strips are finished and dried, wrap them around the juice boxes.