Any Birthday Party Food ideas?

[dahrjo]

Hi, my DDis turning 9 and having a party at a Gymnastics center. It will be from 12-2. They will eat at about 1:15 and do cake and gifts. Does anyone have any simple, do ahead food ideas? Besides Pizza!! We've kind of had enough of that, although it is a good, convenient idea.
Thanks for any input here!

 

[stephbillalec]

What about one of those really long grinders that everyone shares? We've been to a few parties that have had those and the kids seemed to like it.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Finger sandwiches are always a big hit for me. You can use either canape bread, regular bread (cut into quarters), small rolls (I like the little potato rolls and parker house rolls)...sometimes I use a combination of different things. I fill them with egg salad, tuna salad, roast beef and/or turkey. You could use the same filling with wraps, then slice each wrap into 4. Serve with fruit salad and chips.

 

[tinytink]

For my DD's 4th Mermaid birthday party at our local rec center(pool in Feb) and we too were tired of the pizza and cake I served PJ&J (uncrustable style made at home with a Pampered Chef sandwich thingie), Fruit&Veggie Tray, Sloppy Joes (transported in a crock pot to keep warm), hot dogs, chips and salsa. I also froze those big things of Hawaiian Punch the night before so I didn't have to worry about ice. I also had a cake for her to blow out the candles but I make cupcakes for all the kids. It made for really easy clean up and most of the stuff can be prepared the night before. Good luck.

 

[jennifer293]

I just had a party on Sunday for DD3 and we went to Wal-Mart and got those foot long subs..6 of them were like $32.00....A lot cheaper than Quiznos or Subway..we served chips and dip, pasta and potato salad, and I made a watermelon fruit basket.

 

[mookie]

Hot Dogs! It worked out great for our dd's birthday party about a month ago. We ordered from a local hotdog place. We got plain hotdogs and then they put all the toppings in big containers on the side, so they could build their own. Then, I went to Costco and got the individual big packs of chips, so they could pick their own of that, as well. It was cheap and a big hit with everyone. Good luck!

 

[drivencrazy]

I was going to say hotdogs as well. We had a big party in December and provided the hot dogs (all beef). Bought the buns at the bread store at only $.50 a package (for the good saralee ones). Then chips, snack food, fruit platters... and finished it off with cupcakes!

 

[dahrjo]

Thanks for the ideas. The finger sandwiches might work. I guess I would need to choose 3 types or so, and hope everyone will like something.
Fruit salad sounds good, too.
Hot dogs aren't my dd's favorite at all, but I'll ask her about those.

 

[vassello]

Ever since my kids were small, we have had at their birthday parties both a veggie platter and fruit platter. The veggie platter - cut up carrots, celery, broccoli, mushrooms, etc. with a small bowl of ranch dressing. You'd be surprised how many kids eat that! I also always have a ton of cut up fruit and then I make a fruit dip with strawberry yogurt mixed with cool whip. HUGE hit every time. When I serve these, most of the potato chips, etc. go hardly touched.