Any good/easy food ideas for a childrens party?

[Kimberle]

Hi,
I'm planning my dd's 5th party. It's being held at The Little Gym at 1 pm on a Sat.

I'm looking for food (munchie type) ideas that:
Can be served at room temp
Easy (no mess) to eat
No peanut butter
Adults & kids would like
not to expensive
easily transportable

The adults will hang out in the adult room. The gym provides coffee & tea. I'd like to do some horderves or something for them. I guess I could do trays of cookies, fruit & veggies. I'd like something more imaginative.

For the kids, I'm thinking maybe cake will be enough (plus juice). They don't eat much at these parties. I'd add something else if I can think of something.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[KimRaye]

veggies & fruit sounds good, carrot sticks with dip maybe. You can even skewer the fruit pieces with a party toothpick to add some pizzazz.

Hot dogs, chicken nuggets and mac & cheese were gonna be my food suggestions, until I read your thread.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Chex mix! You can make several different varieties.... or just stick with traditional.

Or how about soup/oyster crackers with ranch dressing mix? I have a recipe for that one... if you want it I would be glad to dig it out.

Another option would be an M&M/Popcorn snack mix.

 

[geffric]

I suggest cupcakes instead of a big cake.. no mess to cut etc.. juice boxes and maybe goldfish for a snack for the kids..

 

[FloridaCat]

Cracker Jack and small bag of M&M was always a hit at our BDay parties.

 

[Griggle]

I suggest cupcakes instead of a big cake

I echo that whole heartedly!!

I just had two b'day parties (one family, one friends) for DS and I went the cupcake route and both I and the kids were happy!

To make it more *cakey*, I made a cupcake cake - I stacked the cupcakes in tiered levels so that they resembled a tiered cake.

For the familiy cake, where it was mostly adults, I did all large cupcakes. For the friend cake where there was a mix of adults and kids, the bottom layer was large cupcakes and the rest were mini cupcakes.

Topped it off with those long skinny sparkler candles....was kindof cool.....

 

[RUDisney]

For the kids, why not make a plate of apple butter sandwiches and bologna sandwiches that are cut into shapes? Kids love that stuff.

For the adults, bring a crockpot of little smokie weiners that are cooked in jelly. Yum!

 

[CEDmom]

How about spiral sandwiches for the adults. Also cupcakes baked in ice cream cones are fun and easy to eat. You can pipe the frosting on to look like ice cream.

 

[clh2]

Did anyone mention cupcakes yet? (just kidding...)

I agree with the previous posters who suggested cupcakes. I also agree with the ice-cream cone cupcake idea. Anytime I make those for a PTA or school function, the ice cream cone cupcakes are always gone fast.

 

[clh2]

Did anyone mention cupcakes yet? (just kidding...)

I agree with the previous posters who suggested cupcakes. I also agree with the ice-cream cone cupcake idea. Anytime I make those for a PTA or school function, the ice cream cone cupcakes are always gone fast.

 

[FloridaCat]

You sure attract a crowd when you start a thread. You go girl.
Lot of cool ideas. Is there a rack you use for the ice cream cone cupcakes?

 

[Otto's Doll]

A twist on the cupcake idea is to mix up a box of brownies, and put them into the cupcake holders, then unwrap a bunch of those little peanut butter cups and put one into each of the brownies. They will melt just a bit as the brownies cook. Yum. The kids love these. I see you said no peanut butter, so I guess you could make some of them without the peanut butter cups (perhaps using chocolate chips instead). It is best to use the foil cupcake holders with these.

Hmm.. wonder if the Tag Fairies would like these?

 

[sheilarose2]

My neighbor gave my family a xmas tub with a snack mix in it. All of my kids-9,3,1-LOVED it! It had:
Honey nut cheerios
regular cheerios
goldfish
honey roasted peanuts
White chocolate,milk chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch
morsel chips
Heath toffee chips
pretzel sticks
M&ms

You could add raisins, gummy bears/worms, mini marshmallows
to it also.

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by FloridaCat
You sure attract a crowd when you start a thread. You go girl.
Lot of cool ideas. Is there a rack you use for the ice cream cone cupcakes?

When I've made them I just wrapped a small piece of foil around the bottom of a cup cone and then put the cones in a muffin pan. You only want to fill the cone about 2/3 or the batter will overflow.

 

[Kimberle]

Thanks for all the great ideas!

 

[Maritime Girl]

I usually scatter jelly beans all over the table cloth. It makes the table look festive, and the kids love it! You wouldn't believe how fast it vanishes! For my son's party, I added gummy worms.

 

[sha_lyn]

To make it more *cakey*, I made a cupcake cake - I stacked the cupcakes in tiered levels so that they resembled a tiered cake.

Check out the books at the local grocery store bakeries. Even if you make your own you'll get some great ideas if they have htem. Our Super Walmart does many "designs" with cup cakes, from fish to flowers etc. What they do is frost them in different colors and arrange them in patteren.